Two players rising to challenge for a high ball not yet in picture and the concentration on the faces altering in proportion to the closeness of the ball demonstrated effectively how many decisions are made in a milli-second.

On the debit side of the TV coverage I again am disappointed with the commentaries.

I have found the commentating in itself reasonable but the co-commentators have been frustrating. A commentator can only relate what is on the screen. He has to keep his eye on the ball and relates to you and I what we are already seeing.

Indeed in many ways there is a case for not having a commentator at all. The viewers can see whats happening on the screen so why do they need someone to tell them what is happening.

The co-commentator is different. He should be telling us what is happening off the screen. I want to know the formations of the teams and how they constantly alter through the game and the impact these alterations are having on the game, but most co-commentators only emulate the commentator and tell us what we already have seen with our own eyes.

Stating the obvious

What good is it to me when a co-commentator tells me that the centre forward "should have scored there" when we all know he should have scored there.

What really gets up my nose is when the commentator and his side kick have what seems like a private conversation between themselves as if they are watching a game in the local park. I feel like an intruder when this occurs.

It is almost as if I am eavesdropping in on a important personal conversation. I fully expect my front door to come crashing in and two burly policeman to whisk me from my armchair and off to be interoggated down at the cop-shop.

If the Semi-Finals and the Final itself can manage to replicate what has been provided so far this may go down as one of the best European Championships ever.

Pity we weren't a part of it. Ah well! Its over to you Giovanni. South Africa in 2010?

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