Day 13: We're lucky to have him
LFC TV's Matt Critchley is in Poland and Ukraine to bring us daily updates as 16 nations compete for the Euros crown.
It's been said before and it will be said again, but just how lucky are Liverpool and England to have Steven Gerrard?
The skipper was absolutely magnificent in the win over Ukraine yesterday, a view shared by the ex-pros and journalists I watched the game with. It was a performance of efficiency and diligence - not the headline-grabbing goals of previous super shows - but still as effective.
Another assist (with the help of one or two Ukrainian body parts) takes his total in this tournament to three. You wouldn't bet against more to come.
And it will be Italy next up we now know, a sizeable task but a much more approachable one than facing the reigning World and European champions, Spain. England have a real chance of reaching the semi-finals and a possible date with Germany, in Warsaw. It would be nice to welcome them here after waiting so long!
So what to do with the first day of the tournament with no games? Brush up on my Italian, that's what.
I have interviews with Pierluigi Collina (postponed from yesterday) and Arrigo Sacchi today, neither of which are particularly fluent in my mother tongue. The old 'translator app' may be getting another bashing.
Sacchi is one of the greatest coaches of all time, the boss of that Milan side in the early 90s. Rafa Benitez regards him and that team as the ultimate footballing efficiency; I remember having a long chat with him about it off-camera when he was the manager. Despite the language barrier I'm hugely looking forward to what Mr Sacchi has to say - especially on his country's next game.
Other than that it's time to re-charge and re-group for the quarter finals. I'll be at Czech Republic v Portugal here in Warsaw and then Germany v Greece in Gdansk on Friday. A feast of football lies ahead.