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.

More closed training sessions, more cautious remarks.

Striker Angelos Charisteas said Greece was keeping its game plan for its European Championship opener against Sweden a closely guarded secret.

Asked about the tactics Greece would use in Tuesday’s Group D match, the 28-year-old forward was coy.

"That’s our secret weapon we can’t reveal it," he said.

Greece coach Otto Rehhagel has closed five of his team’s pre-Sweden training sessions. The caution matched the mood in the Swedish camp, where players practiced set pieces in closed training on Saturday.

Greece also faces Russia and Spain in the group, but has billed the first match as being all-important for its Euro 2008 campaign.

"Of course we’d like the win the first game. That would be a big advantage for us. I’d like to score against the Swedes, but winning is the main thing," Charisteas said. "We play a similar game, and focus on the same things: strength, speed and tactics. One side will prevail in one of these areas and win the game."

Charisteas scored the winning goal in the Euro 2004 final, when Greece beat host Portugal to seal the upset.

He scored three goals in qualifying, helping Greece earn 31 points from 12 games. But like other Greece players, Charisteas balks at talk of luck in 2004.

"We have to show that we were deservedly called European champions, and the best way to show that is on the field and not just by talking about it," he said.

Although seen as a likely starter in Tuesday’s game, Charisteas has struggled at club level. He scored six goals this season for FC Nuremberg, which was relegated.

"I’m here for the national team, not for Nuremberg," Charisteas said. "It’s a completely different thing … I’m very happy to be back at a big tournament. We all have to put in our maximum effort."

Teammates also defended Charisteas’ place on the roster.

"All the players here are important for the team," midfielder Costas Katsouranis said. "(Charisteas) was our best scorer at Euro 2004. He’s a core member of the squad."

EURO 2008 will really start tomorrow night when heavyweights Holland and Italy collide in Berne.

This is the game that might just shape how exciting these finals could be.

We’ve had two matches already and the Group B clashes today will hopefully also produce their fair share of thrills.

But I’m hoping the competition will come alive when the Dutch play the world champions.

This section is the one to watch with France and Romania joining Holland and the mighty Italians in the so-called Group of Death.

Any two of these four could make it to the quarter-finals and the ability to cope with three massive games in such a short space of time will prove crucial.

Teams can ill afford to lose their opening match but I’m hoping both sides go for it in Berne instead of playing safe.

I want Euro 2008 to produce a winner that plays with flair - a side we will speak about for years to come. Greece, surprise victors in Portugal four years ago, won’t be remembered fondly by anyone outwith their country.

Otto Rehhagel’s men were defensively sound and capable on their run to glory at Euro 2004.

But they’re hardly the words we want to be using about the team crowned European champions in Vienna three weeks from now.

For the good of the game, attacking football has to come to the fore at a major tournament.

For that reason alone I’d love to see Portugal, France, Holland or Spain win it. These teams have the special talent that can light up a game.

What I’d really love would be to see games as entertaining as the Champions League Final.

So much was at stake for Manchester United and Chelsea in Moscow. But their decision to play attacking football and take some risks helped make the match so enjoyable to watch.

If Cristiano Ronaldo can put the speculation about his future to one side then Portugal have a real chance. The Manchester United winger has been in fantastic form and it’s little wonder Real Madrid are doing everything they can to steal him from Old Trafford.

If he plays like he did in the Premiership last season then it could be Portugal’s turn to lift the Henri Delaunay trophy.

In Euro 2000 they lost to France in the semi-finals and four years later it was agony in the final as Portugal were pipped by Greece in front of their own fans.

But Phil Scolari has the players to go a step further this time.

For France, the key to the tournament might just lie in the first game.

Hours before Holland and Italy go head-to-head, three points against Romania in their opening game would be a huge boost.

Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka have a better pedigree but the man I fancy to make a name for himself is Karim Benzema.

The Lyon kid has scored big goals in the Champions League and after seeing him destroy Rangers at Ibrox he could prove to be the surprise package of the tournament.

Few teams are better than the Dutch in full flow but what a tough start they have against world champions Italy.

Holland have always been easier on the eye than the Italians but lack the Azzurri’s maturity, experience and know-how to get through tough games.

I see it as champagne football against organisation and grit but if both sides play to their full potential I expect the Dutch to win. It’s good for the game when teams try to be expressive and concentrate on attack.

So I want to be talking about all the thrilling football on offer over the next month rather than moaning about a dull, organised team marching to the final.

The fear of losing the opening game could make Holland’s match with Italy a poor spectacle because theremay be no way back after dropping three points.

But playing it safe has never been the Dutch way and I hope that continues in these finals. I’ve always admired their mentality and I played alongside Pierre van Hooijdonk at Celtic for a short time.

Say what you like about big Pierre but I found some of the arrogance his countrymen are famed for quite admirable.

He would often say nonchalantly before a game: “I’ll be surprised if I don’t score today Andy.”

More often than not he did just that and I liked his style.

I think the Dutch can go far. They’ve always had the players to shine on the biggest stage and I expect Wesley Sneijder, Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben to ease the burden of goalscoring on Real Madrid hitman Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The eventual winners will have the top scorer in their teamand that’s one of the reasons I’m going for Spain to finally shake off their tag of underachievers.

Like England, Spain can boast some of the best talent in the world but always seem to fall short.

Striker Fernando Torres had a magnificent debut season in the Premiership with Liverpool and anyone who can score goals at such a quick rate really is special.

They are also strong defensively with Carles Puyol and Sergio Ramos at the heart of things.

In midfield Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta and Xavi are a joy to watch but it’s up front where Spain really come alive for me.

I doubt if we’ll watch a better striker than Torres over the next fewweeks and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him and Spain overcome Portugal in the final on June 29.

It’s a dream scenario with some of the world’s best players fighting it out on the European stage.

And let’s hope the tournament is won by a side playing free-flowing, attacking football.