It's the third biggest sporting event on the planet. The hopes and fears of more than 300 million Europeans will be focused on Portugal and Euro 2004 for the next three weeks. But have we got it all out of proportion?
As the Roman Empire declined, the emperors provided "bread and circuses" to keep people's minds off other problems. Is this the role football now plays - something to placate young people and stop them thinking too deeply about other issues? Shouldn't we aspire to something a bit higher than a pint and the match on TV? Or do events like these provide a welcome break? And besides, what else nowadays can bring a nation together in such a way?
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