Tonight, at the Wörthersee Stadium in Klagenfurt, a match unlike any other was charted and the victors wholly deserving of the title, ‘Heroes of Hrvatska’.

As the Croatian team and their dynamic manager, Slaven Bilić, celebrate their win, the tournament surely has been thrown wide open.

For a lack of any other word, Euro 2008 has been completely bonkers and it is becoming increasingly difficult to ascertain who will win.

Italy, the current World Cup holders, went down in flames to the Netherlands in a 3-0 defeat.

Greece, current European Cup holders, lost 0-2 to Sweden in an insipid display of ball-kicking.

Turkey defied all expectations last night and romped home with a 2-1 victory over Switzerland.

But by far the most astounding, skilled, and undeserving of such surprise at said virtues, is the Croatian side.

I will concede, their opening game against Austria amused me not; indeed, as the newly coiffed players-in-checks indulged in a spot of am-dram, I found myself worrying that they had attended the Italian Summer School of Football Drama and Posturing.

As they glided around the pitch like love-sick couples on a Sunday afternoon in Hyde Park, I yanked at my hair in frustration over the demise of perhaps the last, true team of real men playing the beautiful game.

Tonight, however, I see that it was merely a clever disguise behind which to enter the tournament under the radar, before casting off their mimsy cloak and whomping the Germans with goals so fast the ball was but a blur and Ballack doubtless strained his neck perpetually wondering from whence the next strike would come.

As a team, Croatia has long impressed me by its power; the word ‘formidable’ was surely invented to describe their playing style and presence on the pitch.

While veteran teams such as Italy, Portugal, and on a wider level Brazil and Argentina exude a superstar allure, Croatia is all about winning. And winning well, with as little shirt-tugging, amateur dramatics, histrionics, and simpering as possible.

Although, it must be said that in the final three minutes of tonight’s tussle with Germany, Belgian referee, Frank De Bleeckere, administered more bookings than a receptionist at Disneyland in high season.

Nevertheless, while Italy is, and always will be, my number one team – my mother would probably disown me if I even brushed an England shirt – Croatia will equally always gain my utmost admiration.

They bring true, hard passion into the game and in my view are the most deserving winners so far.

And so it is: naprijed Hrvatska!