Euro 2012: Poland and Ukraine has given us excitement, new stars and the hallmarks of a classic tournament Gerrard's England have joined the party in Poland and Ukraine, serving up the magical mayhem of the 3-2 win over Sweden. Tournaments are often seen through the prism of England fortunes and domestic viewing figures have been excellent, peaking at 15-16 million for the games with France and Sweden. If the ratings have been slightly assisted by inclement conditions keeping people indoors the numbers do not account for the throngs in pubs. Drama has flowed through all four groups, commanding attention. Germany's opening game against Portugal got nine million on the Beeb. Russia-Greece drew 2.3 million on BBC3. The football's been terrific. Those of us gathered around a TV set in Kiev, tuning into Spain's clinical dissection of the Republic of Ireland in Gdansk, found the feed lost for 90 seconds during an electrical storm. When the picture was restored Spain seemed to be still on the same move, passing the ball effortlessly around green shirts. In their opening two games, Spain's most important player was Andrés Iniesta, who would shudder at the thought of being hailed as a star. He is a cultured cog in the Spanish machine. Euro 2000 was more about the individual; Euro 2012 has been about the team being the star, of flair expressed within a well-drilled framework. Worryingly for the rest, Germany have won three out of three without the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm and Mesut Özil hitting top form. Mario Gómez has plundered goals but the real story has been the excellence of their centre-half, Mats Hummels. Managers are not building around individuals. Even Cristiano Ronaldo knows his instructions with Portugal, tactical demands that slightly inhibited him against Germany and Denmark before he tore Holland apart with his pacy runs and technique. So much motivation courses through those on show. Some are running on the adrenalin of patriotism, an emotion helping drive Giorgios Karagounis and his Greeks. Andrei Shevchenko embodies Ukraine's passion and it will be a cruel loss to the co-hosts if he fails to feature here in Donetsk on Tuesday. Some players appear stirred by more calculated thoughts. Wayne Rooney observed that he felt some contestants were raising their game, looking "for moves to Spain or England." Or away. Few would be surprised if Bendtner headed off with reports linking the Danish striker with Benfica. For some, it is simply a case of opportunity. Bacary Sagna's injury created a vacancy at right-back for Debuchy. Many crave the chance to make a point, reminding others of their enduring qualities. Shevchenko's travails at Chelsea will surely add to his desire if passed fit to run at John Terry on Tuesday night. Fernando Torres played against the Irish as if on a mission to demonstrate his starting worth. Some like Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben have flopped, adding to the drama. Total football's going home. The Dutch meltdown even included the extraordinary sight of Bert van Marwijk dropping his son-in-law Mark van Bommel on Father's Day. The group stage of Euro 2016 should be easier to survive as Uefa intends diluting the quality with the crazy decision to switch to a 24-team format, sapping the momentum. Pity. In France in four years" time, there will doubtless be rueful reminiscing about Poland and Ukraine. Little images help make up the big picture of this tournament. It was the sight of two Ukrainian policemen pointing out the gap in the fence of an empty Kiev schoolyard for six Swedes to climb through and have a kickabout. It was the petrol-station attendant in the Krakow suburbs who called a cab when the last tram had gone. It was the bar-staff in the late-night bar who agreed to ask the DJ to play some music other than Polish heavy metal. Concerns persist, especially over racism, but Euro 2012 already has all the hallmarks of a classic.