4 things we learnt from the first Euro weekend

1. The expanded 24-nation Euro is a quality compromise

For the longest time, many football fans deemed Euro a tougher tournament to win than the World Cup. They argued that a compact, 16-nation contest in a continent that fewer minnows than elsewhere, was more difficult to fluke. The Fifa WC, in the interest of globalisation, often let in decidedly third-tier teams such as New Zealand in 2010. But the Euros too, succumbing to expansionist temptations, has made it into a 24-team event that has certainly diluted the intensity of the games. There's no group to truly warrant the moniker 'group of death'. 

In the 2014 World Cup, Germany's had to come through a group that included Portugal, Ghana and US. That was a real group of death. 

The list of table toppers in the group stages is a conclusion foregone, going by the quality of the opening games of half the groups in action so far.

2. But count on England to make even a dreary format interesting

Only the South African cricket team match the English national football team in the international sporting arena when it comes to freezing up on the big stage. And they find the most creative ways to do so, making it exciting for the neutrals. 

The new-new England blessed with unprecedented attacking talent were supposed to waltz through the group stages. But they conjured up a way to squander a one-goal lead in the closing stages of their opener against Russia, a team the country's press pack had dismissed oil-money soaked softies in the build up. 

3. France can make home advantage count

It took a wonder goal from West Ham midfielder Dimitri Payet for France to stave off the Romanian challenge, but all things considered, they look more reassured than all the contenders on display so far. 

4. Germany coach Joachim Low has bizarre dugout manners

The World Cup winning coach was once filmed tucking into dried viscous colloidal mucus of the nose, also known as snot. There you go:

And that's not all. 

After his team scored the second goal against Ukraine, Low, quite evidently, gave his nether regions a nice naily scratch and took a long whiff of the resulting smorgasbord of smells off his fingers. Aromatherapy, did you say?