The joy of the Euros

Euro 2008 has flown by and with great games a plenty and goals galore its been hard to keep up. Spain's progression to the semi finals at the expense of Italy on penalties in Vienna tonight brought 15 days of non stop football to an end and what a 15 days it's been.

My prediction that the winners would come from Germany, Spain or Holland was not too far off the mark with the former two potentially facing off in the final in Vienna next Sunday.

That said it has been the march of the smaller nations, Turkey and Russia (small only in football terms I hasten to add) that has been the most impressive aspect of the tournament so far.

Russia's sparkling display against Sweden in their final group game is perhaps the tournament highlight so far given it caught the eye of even people I know who are totally apathetic towards football.

That and their disposal of hot favourites Holland on Saturday night. Had they been more clincal, Guus Hiddink's side would have finished off his fellow countrymen long before extra time and their ultimate 3-1 victory.

Whilst Spain fought hard to see off the world champions and Germany were impressive in beating a Portugal side hotly fancied before Phil Scolari's new job at Chelsea and Cristiano Ronaldo's wet dreams about Real Madrid ultimately undermined their chances both are suspect at the back and it is the Russian's incisive attacking which may be both nation's undoing in the end

Russia are certainly miles away from their opening game defeat to Spain and will provide a much tougher test for Luis Aragones' side in the second semi final in Vienna on Thursday.

Finally, Turkey are the real fairytale of the tournament. Not given much notice beforehand, their unlikely but stunning comeback against the Czech Republic in the last group game spurred them on to another stunning turnaround against hotly fancied Croatia last Friday.

That was without six of their squad unavailable through injury or suspension. That list has grown in the lead up to Wednesday's semi against the Germans meaning they are even more of an underdog now but then so were an extremely limited Greece (whose defence of their title must be the most pathetic we've seen in any major tournament) in 2004 and we all know what happened then.

It's been a fantastic tournament so far. Let's hope it continues.