Following the display at the Stadio Dall’Ara on Sunday night when the stadium applauded the Spanish anthem following the first hints of whistles with Spain flags flowing in the stands, Spain’s side did themselves credit with a wonderful sporting gesture. Before leaving, the Spaniards cleaned their dressing room, writing ‘Grazie Bologna’ on the whiteboard. It was a touching display of fair play considering their disappointment with the result, gracias España.

With the FIGC hosting the tournament for the first time, the organisation wants to promote a new, healthy way of displaying support with it becoming something tangible. Elsewhere, at the Stadio Friuli in Udine, the Danish delegation sang their own anthem before joining in with the German one after.

Tomorrow, the Stadio Dall’Ara will host the match with Poland in Italy’s second match. It promises to be another unforgettable night with a full stadium and 8,000 Polish flags distributed in the Distinti section with the aim of repeating Sunday’s scenes by flying the flags and applauding the national anthem. As Rocco Hunt would say, benvenuti in Italy.