Day 2: LFC TV at Euro 2012

I guess that most people would have been pretty un-excited by the thought of Poland v Greece and Russia v Czech Republic as the opening two games of Euro 2012, but in the space of 180 minutes we saw just about everything!  

I was at the National Stadium in Warsaw to watch the hosts and I have to say that the atmosphere was amongst the best I've experienced.

The local supporters really got behind their team and they played some great stuff in the first half. I couldn't see Greece coming back into the game but all credit to them for battling back for a point.  

There's always some sort of a Liverpool connection when two games of international football take place in one day and it was the Czech Republic that provided it yesterday - although it was obviously a day to forget for former Reds Milan Baros and Vladimir Smicer, who is the Sports Manager of his national side.

I've never interviewed Vlad in the past but I know a few of the boys from LFC TV have been away with him to various Masters events and say what a great guy he is. He also features in a fantastic video a colleague of mine, Mark Volante, produced for the website last week - if you haven't watched 'Liverbird on my Chest' yet, I suggest you get onto it pretty quick!  

Jason McAteer has been off perfecting his tennis so I didn't catch up with him yesterday, although I did run into Steve McManaman who is travelling around Poland and Ukraine, working for ESPN America. His knowledge of the game is first-class and it's always great to have a chat with him. He's tipping Spain for the title.  

And that's where I'm heading right now - an hour's flight lies ahead as I'm off to Gdansk to take in the Spain v Italy game there tomorrow. Sadly I don't think I'll get to see Pepe Reina in action (how unlucky can you be to sit behind Iker Casillas for all these years) and it'll be interesting to see if Fernando Torres starts - but most of all I'm just looking forward to seeing Spain live for the first time.

For the record, my tip for the tournament is Germany but Spain certainly won't be far away.  

Thanks to all of you who tweeted me in response to my first blog (particularly those of you who corrected my Polish!) - would always welcome your thoughts, @mattcritchley1. Until tomorrow, 'do widzenia!'