After the "lively" trip to Marseille, it was up to Northern France for the game against our friends from West of Bristol.

Our host organisers have not exactly proved to be on the ball so far this tournament. Explosives and pyrotechnics are the order of the day it seems. And full marks to the genius who decided to host a game with over 100,000 fans visiting in a town the size of Bingley. With less pubs.

An alcohol ban on the Eurostar you say? Our staff can refuse to do their jobs you say? Kind of like a strike? Oh yes. Job done. Full marks. Well done indeed!

In fairness, you don't really need a beer at 7 in the morning. It's the principle though. It's like the Jocks wishing they could be at the tournament even if they lost every game. You really really really want what you can't have...

These situations generally work out ok though, and as we found a bar on the edge of a deserted square half an hour from Lens just before midday all was well with the world. A crowd attracts a crowd as they say, and we were soon enjoying a few beers with England and Wales fans alike. Shock horror...all very friendly and lots of laughs. And not a riot shield in sight...

Taxis to the ground were sorted without too much hassle and much to our shock it was relatively easy to get in this time. The Welsh anthem was respected well in the main before 3 quarters of the ground belted out God Save The Queen. It was quite surprising how few Welsh fans were in the ground but I can't remember a more passionate rendition of the anthem from the England end for many a year.

Unfortunately the intensity wasn't really kept up through the game. For me the supporters were as poor as the team in the first half, in a game where passionate support was clearly needed for what was basically a local derby. Fair play to "Woy" though. Most people were calling for the changes he made at half time but very few thought he would actually do it. The crowd got a boost and the 2nd half support was generally excellent bar a lull in the middle.

Two finer strikes you could not wish to see as Vardy then Sturridge scuffed us to the top of the group. Absolute SCENES, as they say, when the winner went in. The bruises are taking a while to go down as limbs flew everywhere in the stands.

The atmosphere continued to be excellent after the game. A big tip of the hat to the Welsh who took the defeat exceptionally well. These things can go one or two ways but everyone had great fun in to the early hours. After the end to this season it wasn't exactly hard to join the Charlton fans in their usual modification to the Wonderwall lyrics as the dj went with the usual singalong classics in the pub. "YOU ARE SHIT MILLWALL" was sung particularly loudly in these quarters.

The gap between the Wales and Slovakia games gives us the opportunity to stay out in France without taking too many days off work. We have a couple of days in Reims planned to soak up some Champagne and enjoy life. "When in Rome"...

Then it's down to St Etienne for the Slovakia game. After the Marseille calamity it feels like the tournament is starting to get going now and the late winner against Wales makes topping the group far more likely.

Fingers remain firmly crossed for that given the relative ease of games in Paris and Lille in the 2nd round and quarters should that be the case. These things tend to go wrong though, so contingencies are being drawn up for emergency flight bookings to Nice and Toulouse.

Regardless of results, there will be many more laughs to come and doubtless a few tears. The hope will continue to kill...