As most people break up for their Christmas holidays this weekend, the football fixture list goes into overdrive.

This week confirmed again why everybody loves the cup competitions so much, with Arsenal of the Premier League beaten on penalties by Bradford City of League Two.

Last weekend saw Robbie Keane win his second MLS Championship in as many years, scoring yet again when it mattered most for LA Galaxy in a 3-1 victory over Houston.

Going into our game away to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, I was unsure as to whether I would be playing after not featuring as much as I would have liked in the two previous matches.

Looking back on the match against Greece, I genuinely think there were a lot of positives to take from it.

I remember years ago my mother told me about how a friend of hers was asking how I was.

There’s no getting away from the fact that the last few days have been very tough and although it would have been easy not to write this piece — especially in the midst of all the headlines surrounding the manager’s position — I think it’s important that the fans know exactly how much we the players and all the backroom staff here are hurting.

SO here we are, finally, on the eve of Euro 2012 and what, for me, will be the three biggest games of my life. With, hopefully, a few more to come. Although I’m fully aware of the magnitude of what’s at stake, one of the biggest things for me and for all the lads is that we play the game and not the occasion. As it happens, I’ve always felt that the big pressure games bring out the best in our team and I’m hoping that will be the case again in the Euros.

My intention this week, for one week only, is to make this a Euros free-zone.

We were all eagerly anticipating the squad announcement on Monday.