大象传媒

Geneva

Switzerland at last, but it's a shock to the system. Thirty-six hours ago I was in Trinidad with England - and after spending five days gently poaching in ninety degrees heat, the weather in Geneva is something of a jolt.

I've been covering major tournaments from USA '94 onwards and I can honestly say that I can barely remember a day of rain. Even Euro '96 back in beloved seemed to be bathed in sunshine. Well, not this time. Euro 2008 is going to start with a splash from the sky, or possibly a torrent; and it is cold.

But the famous Lake Geneva fountain is spouting high, soon to be embellished by a huge football which will be balanced on top of the jet of water.

The ball has been sent from England, apparently, so that's ref Howard Webb, London-born Turk Colin Kazim-Richards, Italy's (who first drew breath in Ashton Under Lyne) and a big ball to which England can lay claim at these Euros. "Who will you support?" Thanks again, Mr McClaren.

My colleagues for the Euros are floor manager Nick Bushell and soundman Phil Gibbens. As a team we are on our fourth tournament, though Nick and I have also been to two African Cups of Nations together. Fair to say that by now we all know each other pretty well and the next few weeks should be free from any major disagreements. It should also be lots of fun and good to watch from here and at home.

Mark Bright, Garth Crooks and Ray Stubbs will be coming and going along the way as we move around the country, and we'll spending some time with Motty, who is also based in Switzerland.

We start here in Geneva with Portugal v Turkey on Saturday, followed by France v Romania in Zurich. Then it will be in Basel, back to Zurich for Italy v Romania, down here again to Geneva, where Turkey play the Czech Republic, and then to Berne for Romania v the Netherlands.

After that it will be the knockout games - and who knows who'll end up where? I'll do my best to keep you up to date with the interesting, amusing, weird or wonderful as we go.
For the moment, though, it's time. I need to soak up as much information about Turkey, Portugal, France, Romania and the rest as my poor jet-lagged brain can take.