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ZURICH — Time to catch your breath, to reflect, to savour, to absorb what's happened here so far and to consider just how good Euro 2008 has been.
Three matches remain: the semi-finals on Wednesday and Thursday and the final on Sunday in Vienna. And even those who don't live and die with one of the four countries left standing have to admit it has been a marvellous ride so far.
Some heavy hitters in the soccer world have already declared this the best major tournament since the World Cup in 1986 (don't think they're waxing nostalgic over Canada's lone appearance on the big stage, but perhaps have fond memories of that Maradona fellow).
Holding off on the grand pronouncements here, except to say that in terms of the quality of play, skill, storylines and results, it has already exceeded each of the World Cups (1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006) viewed first-hand.
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Some of those were better run – in Germany two years ago, for sure – and all of them drew more emotion out of the host country or countries. (The only disappointment here has been the outright ambivalence of the Swiss and Austrians, to the point where it probably didn't matter whether their teams had performed better or not. The trains run on time and all, and no one has shuttered doors in the face of the advancing soccer horde, but it has been absolutely clear since Day 1 that they will be overjoyed when we're all gone.)
But soccer-wise, there is no comparison.
The highlights so far from this side of the tournament? Where to start?
The Dutch carving up world champion Italy in Bern, 3-0, reminding everyone why they once called it Total Football, setting off a massive, high-spirited party all over town.
Spain putting on a clinic in Innsbruck against an apparently green, confused Russian team that was minus its best player because of a suspension. Some magic from Ronaldo, Deco and company for Portugal against the Czechs.
Gigi Buffon's miracle save on the Romania penalty kick, barely keeping the Azzurri in the tournament. Italy proving that it should never be counted out in its match against France. Germany proving that despite the stumble against Croatia, its quality runs deep, knocking out the Portuguese in the first quarter-final.
And perhaps best of all, the scene in Basel on Saturday: The 3-1 extra-time win by Russia over the Netherlands, which confirmed Guus Hiddink's coaching genius, which turned Andrei Arshavin into an international soccer sensation (just watch the bidding war that ensues this summer when he goes on the transfer market) and which proved how quiet 100,000 people decked out in every variety of Day-Glo orange gear can become in the wrong circumstances.
Old powers rising and falling and rising again. Underdog countries Russia and Turkey reaching the semi-finals. The happy triumph of attacking soccer after Greece won four years ago by not taking any chances
A few refereeing controversies, but by and large a tournament in which diving was discouraged and in which the players were encouraged to stay on their feet, fight through and use their skills. Barely a murmur of trouble with supporters, and no sense of menace.
That's but one rave review among many – hardly a discouraging word has been written about Euro 2008 anywhere. And now, one more week, three more matches and several compelling storylines.
The semi-finals stack up this way:
Germany, a pretournament favourite, and the one side that is a threat every time it is handed the chance for a set piece, against a brave Turkish side that has been devastated by injuries and suspensions. And as anyone who has spent time in Germany understands, there's plenty of historic tension between the nationals and the large, at-times-persecuted Turkish minority.
On the other side, we have the bright young Russian team, having already defied expectations, flying high, against a Spanish side that survived a grim penalty-kick victory against Italy last night – exactly the kind of match it normally loses in big tournaments – and now might finally be poised to perform like the sum of all that talent.
Even if they're duds from here to the finish, this has been a wonderful month for soccer.
But that hardly seems likely. Expect a great final act, and kudos all round.
