Here they go!

There was only one place on the planet to be today.

Lifelong fans and celebrities, multimillionaires and supporters so broke they barely have enough to keep themselves in beer have all made the journey to Lisbon and provincial outposts for the opening of the Euro 2004 tournament.

Some have hired private villas, some are staying on their yachts - and as for those who find themselves short of cash, or just foresight: well, the beach isn't too bad at this time of year.

Among the celebrities who have arrived are Zoe Ball and Norman Cook - aka Fatboy Slim - who both describe themselves as "football nuts" and are prepared to stay until "England win the trophy".

Cook, who has a share in Brighton and Hove Albion and is the official tournament DJ, said: "This is going to be massive. I'm here for the duration.

"I was there for the World Cup in Japan and I'm here again this time. You cannot beat the atmosphere of a massive tournament. I'm playing before England's matches and I will be there to watch them win."

The real story of Portugal today, however, was not Fatboy Slim or other celebrity fans, it was the beaches of Cascais thronging with Beckham shirts, Rossio Square in the city centre heaving with fans, and the arrivals hall at Lisbon airport resounding to the sound of England chants. More than 3,000 England fans poured into the airport yesterday with double that number due today and many more set to arrive by car and boat.

For the moment any signs of rivalry were forgotten as fans savoured reaching the tournament proper alongside those from France, Switzerland and Croatia. Zoe Hartridge, 28, who arrived in Lisbon wearing an England top, said: "The atmosphere here is electric. This is going to be amazing." Lee Kirmin, 39, has only missed two England matches in the past eight years, and has spent ?1,800 on the trip with his wife Julie.

They have tickets for all three of England's group matches. He said: "This is our year. We are going to beat France 1-0 and defeat everyone else who stands in our way. I have never felt so confident."