MUNICH, Germany -- You couldn't have asked for a better start to settle the nerves. And, yes, these were genuine nerves, despite the somewhat blasé, let's-just-enjoy-it-vibe they were giving off back in March.
When you're Europe's historical footballing superpower -- with the four World Cups and the three European Championships -- and you've gone to three major tournaments without making the Elite Eight, the screws turn, no matter how much you will them away. Especially when you're hosting the party and the uppity neighbours whom you routinely humiliated in the past (France and England) are coming to visit wishing you nothing but schadenfreude.