Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

I know this is supposed to be a blog about the Euros, but is it my fault that I'm having fun in the sun in Trinidad? Here we are in Port of Spain, Trinidad's low-rise capital sprawling at the foot of tree-coated mountains at the island's centre.

Low-rise except for the brand-new gleaming . Sumptuous, luxurious sofas perch next to gleaming marble pillars. Here and there lurk attentive staff so expert that they cater for one's every whim almost before you have had chance to whim it. It's the kind of hotel that leaves you feeling vibrant and young, reflecting that you are one of life's chosen few as you saunter from the silent lifts onto its plush embracing carpets.

A warm welcome to on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.

Over the course of we will be asking for suggestions for scenarios that we can pose for You Are The Ref.

I love Spain. I love the food, I love the price of wine in restaurants, I love the fact that I don't feel like a complete imbecile when I'm there because I can speak a little of their language, and I love the fact you can watch top-flight football without your bank account taking a pounding.

But there are things about Spain that trouble me, peculiarities that defy reasonable explanation. One of them, for example, is the curious way in which some Spanish men drape pastel coloured V-neck sweaters over their shoulders.

Another is the poor record of Spain's national football team. at major tournaments equates to one of life's great imponderables.

I'm off to Trinidad today to commentate on England's friendly for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One this weekend. I'm not complaining, but this is a game that shouldn't be happening. England should be heading for the Euros not the Caribbean.

While Fabio Capello's boys are getting down to some , back in Europe there are 16 squads hard at work preparing for the big kick-off in Austria and Switzerland.

How on earth did we miss out?

I had my last taste of live football on Saturday before heading off to Austria and Switzerland for .

The occasion was the at Wembley between Hull City and Bristol City, two clubs not normally associated with days like this.

People were dressed as Tigers, behaving as though they would be similarly attired on any given Saturday, while men in red chanted "cider, cider, cider" as if it was some mystical mantra from a lost age.

Every now and again the two sets of fans would find themselves chanting "City, City, City" at each other.

Popular comic strip You Are The Ref, which has been produced by artist Paul Trevillion for half a century, will be part of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Sport's Euro 2008 coverage.

Trevillion, who began creating his as a teenager standing behind the goal at matches, started his career with The People newspaper and has also worked for Shoot! magazine and The Observer newspaper.

Welcome to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Sport's Euro 2008 blog.

Yep, the champagne may still be flowing in Manchester and Glasgow, not to mention Hull, Doncaster, Stockport and other footballing hotbeds around Europe, but already the focus is shifting towards the international arena.

In little over a week, the European Championships will kick off in Austria and Switzerland as 16 countries begin their quest for the .

For some fans, most notably those with an English, Irish, Scottish or Welsh bent, Euro 2008 will have about as much appeal as a in Wolverhampton.

Keep reading this blog for the latest about the Euro 2008 football tournament in Switzerland and Austria.

News and reports will be on the but our experts will bring you behind the scenes access right here.

All of our bloggers are keen to hear your views and we want people to comment on what we have to say.