Time for me to eat a rather large slice of humble pie: Not only were Austria nowhere near as awful as I expected, they were darned unlucky not to take anything out of their game with Croatia.

There’s no disputing the penalty that ultimately proved to be the difference between the teams. But, bearing in mind the home side’s dominance, especially in the second half, they can rightly feel aggrieved to have lost.

Considering everyone’s pre-tournament predictions - including mine - that they would be hammered on a regular basis, their performance bordered on inspirational. They probably won’t qualify now but they won’t bow out humiliated either.

Germany, meanwhile, oozed class in their encounter with Poland. It was, just as I thought, a tight match and Poland were unlucky to have a goal ruled out for offside when it clearly wasn’t.

But Germany’s quality shone through and the 2-0 win will have sent out a clear message to the other title hopefuls that they mean business this time. Clinical, efficient business.

Now on to today’s matches which includes the one that at least half of Malta has been waiting for. The early kick-off between Romania and France is one of those games that you watch because it’s on and not because it’s particularly glamorous.

However, come 8.45 p.m. the island will tune in to watch Italy take on Holland in what promises to be one of the games of the tournament so far.

Not only are we talking about the first clash between two teams that are serious Euro 2008 contenders, the fact that they are both in the ‘group of death’ means defeat would seriously dent their hopes of making it through to the knock-out phase.

Of course, for us Maltese this particular encounter is made all the more intense by our local rivalries. Supporters of Italy will be willing their team on in the knowledge that progress in the tournament will rub further salt into the wounds of their English-supporting counterparts.

England fans, on the other hand, will be cheering on the Dutch in the hope that Italy’s failure will give them some crumb of comfort from a summer of despair. Which it won’t.

Personally, I think this ‘match of the day’ will either peter out into a snore draw or will finally be the goal fest this tournament needs to shake things up a bit.

If the latter does happen I expect Italy to come out on top. Sorry England fans, but there is no point in living in denial. Unless, of course, you are Steve McClaren in which case denial may be the only thing keeping him sane this month.