Day 14: Lunch with Martin Tyler

After a day's rest, Euro 2012 got back into its stride last night. It took a little while, in what was a pretty ordinary game, but we now have our first semi-finalist. Today we'll find out our second.

More on my experience watching the Czech Republic v Portugal in a little while but yesterday afternoon was just as, if not more enjoyable than last night for me. The reason? An hour spent in the company of a real legend. The commentating Don that is Mr Martin Tyler.

A few colleagues and I were lucky enough to grab some lunch with Martin and took great delight in quizzing him on his amazing career. The best player he's ever seen? His favourite commentary moment? 'That' Stevie G goal against Olympiakos?

Martin is in Poland and the Ukraine working for Australian television and let me tell you, you couldn't wish to meet a nicer man. Did you know he was coach of London non-league side Kingstonian? No? Neither did I!

His favourite player of all time: Pele followed by Di Stefano followed by Cruyff. Maradona not even in the top three but then Martin was there for the 'Hand of God' goal back in 1986. Maybe that put him off.

His favourite, or one of his career highlights in terms of commentary, was the David Beckham free kick against Greece in 2001 to take England to the World Cup.

And that Olympiakos goal? Of course everyone remembers Andy Gray. 'What a hit son, what a hit'. But watch it back today and watch how Tyler brilliantly sets him up and then takes the commentary over again once Gray has finished. This man is pure class, he has been there done it and bought the entire factory, never mind just the t-shirt. It was a pleasure to listen to his words of wisdom.

As for the game itself - well it wasn't a classic was it? The Czech team looked as if they were playing for a break-away goal.  Portugal had all the pressure and eventually that told. The goalscorer was a tad predictable.

It was great to watch the match alongside Jason McAteer, who was at his first live game of the tournament with me yesterday. I've watched many Liverpool games with Jason but former pros see it all so differently to you and me, his insights into the game were really good to take in.

It's that stage of the tournament where all the journalists - having been spread over Poland and Ukraine for the past few weeks - suddenly all come together for the knock out stages. This means a lot of former Reds about. I hope to catch up with the likes of Alan Hansen, Ronnie Whelan, Ray Houghton and Steve McManaman over the next few days.

Yikes! Final call to Gdansk...I've been writing too long. Off to see Germany take on Greece tonight. Until tomorrow...do widzenia.