The European Championship is an unmitigated success so far, with plenty of goals, no red cards and well-behaved fans filling stadiums in Austria and Switzerland.

That was the message from UEFA on Wednesday after it released TV viewing figures, crowd numbers at fan zones and the corporate hospitality ticket sales after the first set of games at Euro 2008.

European soccer’s governing body is just as happy with on-field performances.

After eight games played over four match days, there have been 16 goals with no red cards and only 24 yellows, including none in Spain’s 4-1 win over Russia on Tuesday in Innsbruck.

UEFA president Michel Platini believes his organization’s campaign of showing respect for players and officials is obviously working.

“First of all, there is no denying that the instructions calling for respect have had an undeniable impact,” Platini said in a statement. “The number of yellow cards is down by 40 per cent compared with Euro 2004.”

William Gaillard, director of communications for UEFA and senior adviser to Platini, is even pleased with the pre-match formalities.

“One thing that had caused a lot of dismay over the last few years with observers was the systematic whistling and booing of the opponent’s national anthem,” Gaillard said. “We’re seeing now that the national anthems are respected by the fans of all teams. Not only that, but they’re applauding the opponent’s national anthem, so we can only praise teams for behaving well in this tournament.

“The players are also behaving. Very few yellow cards, no red cards - it’s something we must rejoice in.”

The biggest controversy so far has been Netherlands striker Ruud van Nistelrooy’s contentious opening goal in his team’s 3-0 win over Italy on Monday. Van Nistelrooy looked to be offside when he scored, but was played onside by Italy defender Christian Panucci, who was lying injured off the field of play.

“This first series of matches also produced a nice bit of controversy about the laws of the game, which triggered a superb debate about the offside rule which was worthy of the finest debates that take place in the courts of our continent,” Platini said. “I think everyone has learned something from this episode.”

Euro 2008 tournament director Christian Mutschler said the TV figures in Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands and the two host countries had exceeded expectations, gaining audience shares of between 70 and 82 per cent, while more than 850,000 people have watched games at fan zones, where fans without tickets can watch games on giant screens in a party atmosphere.

UEFA is also happy with the corporate side, with 80 per cent of all hospitality tickets being sold and 17,380 clients attending the first eight matches.

Gaillard said TV ratings for Germany were especially impressive and predicted the Netherlands’ 3-0 win over Italy on Monday will bring similar results. About 23.7 million people watched the Germans beat Poland 2-0 in Klagenfurt on Sunday for an audience share of 69.6 per cent.

“The figures for Germany are absolutely astounding,” Gaillard said. “Never before at a Euro have we had this kind of figure, and I think probably the Dutch figure for the Netherlands-Italy game is probably an all-time high for Dutch television.

“I don’t think it is possible to get more than 70 per cent of the population that is watching TV to be watching one program with so many channels.”

One downside was the 157 people detained Sunday by police in the southern Austrian city of Klagenfurt, where the Germany-Poland game was held. Police said 144 Germans, 10 Poles, two Austrians and one Slovenian were held, and that 140 of the arrests were for shouting Nazi-like slogans.

“I know the president (Platini) had written to the Minister of the Interior of all 16 participating countries before the tournament, just asking them to apply the full force of the law against people who are known to disturb the football matches, the so-called hooligans,” Gaillard said. “And we must say that up to now, the behaviour of fans, the crowds inside and outside stadiums, have also been outstanding, apart from the very few individuals of no consequence.

“We had some individual issues in Klagenfurt, which were actually outside the fan zones, but there were no injuries and no damage to property.”

One fan zone at Klagenfurt’s fair grounds will be shut down completely, while booths at others have been forced to close due to limited support by locals. There have been reports that other booths in the city are threatening to go on strike because their sales expectations were down by up to 90 per cent.

Spain and the Netherlands have made the early running in the race to be crowned kings of Europe, with Germany and Portugal not far behind. But a look back to previous tournaments emphasises the danger of making hasty predictions at this early stage of UEFA EURO 2008.

Portugal revival
Remember four years ago when the host nation lost to Greece in their first fixture but then recovered to find a route that led all the way to the final? In Austria and Switzerland, Portugal could become the first team to book a quarter-final place should they beat the Czech Republic in Geneva tonight and the other Group A tussle in Basel between Turkey and Switzerland ends in anything other than a Swiss win. The qualifying ticket with one group game to go could, alternatively, be in Czech hands should they win and Turkey fail to do likewise.

Improvements needed
The way Luiz Felipe Scoilari’s team recovered in 2004 shows that the despair of a first-day defeat can be overcome. Italy and Russia were on the wrong end of three-goal deficits against the Netherlands and Spain respectively, yet need not be too despondent. Improvements can be made – and sooner rather than later. On the other side of the coin, those with three points already to their name – a list that also includes the Czechs, Croatia and Sweden – will be much more satisfied. Perhaps none more so than the Spain. Top of the scoring charts after the first round of games, they have, in David Villa, a player on cloud nine after scoring the first hat-trick in a UEFA European Championship final tournament for eight years. Perhaps Spain have at last assembled a team who can end their long drought for a major trophy. Not since 1964, when they made host status count in this competition, have they truly given their supporters something to shout about.

Serious thinking
The Netherlands have produced the first surprise result of the tournament – burying Italian pride in a three-goal, counterattacking masterclass. Next, against France in Berne, they have to show that was no fluke. For Raymond Domenech’s team some serious soul-searching has been undertaken since they launched their campaign with a disappointing 0-0 draw with Romania, the only stalemate in the eight matches that have taken place so far. At the 2006 FIFA World Cup the French also began disappointingly, with two draws. Then they put matters right and travelled all the way to the final, beating Spain in the Round of 16. A Spanish team, no less, that had begun with a 4-0 victory. Tournaments evolve, things can change in an instant. So, like Italy and Russia, the other teams languishing on zero points – co-hosts Austria and Switzerland, Turkey, Poland and defending champions Greece – should not call time on their challenge just yet.

Croatia playmaker Luka Modric likes big challenges, so it’s no wonder he’s looking forward to Thursday’s European Championship game against tournament favorite Germany.

"I love the big challenges and I play better when under pressure," the 22-year-old midfielder said. "The match against Germany is exactly what I like."

The rising star is optimistic about the Group B match despite his team’s lackluster 1-0 opening win against Austria, considered the weakest squad at the 16-nation tournament.

"We have a lot of self-confidence, and despite the poor second half against Austria, I’m convinced that we can do well against Germany," Modric said.

Modric, who has agreed to a €21 million (US$32 million) transfer to London club Tottenham after the tournament, struggled against Austria despite scoring the earliest ever penalty kick in history of the European Championship — netting in the fourth minute.

"I agree that my performance fell short in the second half, like the rest of the team," Modric said. "We will certainly play better against Germany."

Modric missed a training session on Monday because a strained tendon, but the injury is not serious and he will play against Germany, Croatia coach Slaven Bilic said Tuesday.

"Modric is OK, he received a knock in the match against Austria, but he will be ready for Germany," Bilic said.

Despite the poor opening match on Sunday, Modric has Bilic’s full support.

"He’s a type of player who can play anywhere in the midfield, up front or more defensively," Bilic said, defending his decision to play Modric in a more defensive role. "He’s our best player. Without him we would be half of what we are."

"I told him that I expect him to be the best player at the tournament," Bilic said. "Not to put more weight on his shoulders, but because I mean it. Modric is a calm player and very mature for his age. That’s why he’s our penalty taker."

But it isn’t self confidence that Modric lacks.

"I had no fear when I took the penalty against Austria, I did it exactly the way I planned it," Modric said, refusing suggestions that the shot to the middle of the goal — barely missing the feet of diving goalkeeper Juergen Macho — was a fluke.

"You guys always have something to complain about," Modric told reporters. "When I play defensively, it’s not good for you. When I play more offensively, it’s not good either. I play where my coach wants me to, and that’s my best position."

Asked if he feels like a rising football star, Modric responded with a shot of humor.

"No, I don’t feel like a rising star," Modric said. "I feel like I’m already there."