Mike Hammond

30 years as the author and editor of The European Football Yearbook. Now moving into the 21st century on:

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

Everyone has had their say about last night’s disturbing crowd behaviour in Sofia but nobody it seems has dared to ask - or clarify - what the result would have been had England walked off? Was their decision to play on influenced by the scoreline? What if they’d been losing?

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

My memory is hazy but I think it is 30 years ago today that I woke up to the awful news that Nick Facer, pioneering publisher of the first ever European Football Yearbook, had been killed in a car crash. I'm forever grateful to you, Nick. RIP.

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

Unless you're Irish this has to be the most boring Sunday of @TheOpen in living memory.

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

Only scar on the U21 tournament is the ridiculous 12-team format and the unfair advantage to the teams in Group C (playing last) for the best runner up spot. France v Romania was always going to be a mutually beneficial non-event. Fortunately there will be 16 teams in 2021.

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

Spain deserved European U21 champions. 2-1 winners v Germany. Played some really smart, skilful football in the final third. Fabian, Dani Ceballos, Dani Olmo all excellent - and Borja Mayoral was outstanding when he came on up front. It's been a really high quality tournament.

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

Aidy Boothroyd says his U21 players are not 'streetwise' enough. What I think he's trying to say - while masking it in pseudo-cool vernacular - is that they're a bit thick.

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

Some quality play in the first half of this @UEFAUnder21 game between Italy and Spain, but also lots of shocking 'going to ground easily' from both teams. Fortunately the ref has ignored most of them.

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

Impressive half from Harry Kane - England's only top-grade international footballer. Sterling and Alli characteristically wasteful, both in possession and in front of goal.

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

Classic England. No luck when it really matters. But ultimately players are not good enough.

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

Apparently we are all obliged to love Raheem Sterling these days. But tonight - on one of his biggest nights - he has been invisible. England captain? You're having a laugh.

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

@Cristiano. The man who always makes the difference. Phenomenal. Repeatedly phenomenal. He never ceases to amaze. In big games. For club and country. Switzerland were every bit as good as Portugal tonight but...

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

@XherdShaqiri reminds me of Gheorghe Hagi. Stocky, skilful, strong, all left foot, invariably brilliant for his country but rarely for any of his many foreign clubs.

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

How's Brych given a penalty for that? The only clear and obvious evidence from those images is that Seferovic tripped over his own leg. What caused that is not clear and obvious at all. Another dreadful VAR decision in a big game.

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

I see Sky have the D listers in the studio for tonight's game. As a Leicester fan I was a big fan of Emile Heskey the player. But as a pundit he is beyond embarrassing. Muddled words and zero insight. How does he get the gig? Is everyone else on holiday?

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

@ChampionsLeague final? Woeful quality from both teams in that first half. And yet another ridiculous 'punishment doesn't fit the crime' handball penalty decision in a big game. I just hope that doesn't decide the outcome.

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

The agony and ecstasy of football encapsulated in one moment. Sporting drama beyond compare. Feel sorry for @AFCAjax but @SpursOfficial never gave up, bossed the second half and Lucas Moura's must go down as one of the all time great hat tricks.

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

@LFC's heaviest ever European defeat? 5-1 by @AFCAjax in foggy Amsterdam in the second round of the 1966/67 European Cup. They drew the second leg 2-2 (a teenaged Johan Cruyff scored twice for the visitors) and haven't faced them since.

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

Sensational @LFC. Nothing is impossible in sport. That's what makes it such a joy. @FCBarcelona were just blown away. Away from home they are pretty useless in the @ChampionsLeague. Look at their record on the road in big knockout games. Paris. Turin. Rome etc etc.

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

With this @AFCAjax side the Beautiful Game is alive and well. Phenomenal passing at pace. Absolute joy to watch.

[Mike Hammond @EuroFootMike]

Love @TheMasters. Hate their restricted TV coverage. All you get early on is 'featured groups' or Amen Corner - all in prehistoric blurry non-HD with commentators you've never heard backed by a mellow piano soundtrack. Just show it all - and properly - for heaven's sake!