William Telford, investigations editor of The Herald, Plymouth, has been tucking into each country's traditional treats while its players battle for supremacy on the pitch, then writing up his verdict on his blog.

For instance, when Spain played Italy in the quarter finals, William was busy sampling the respective merits of Manchego and Parmesan cheese and San Miguel and Menabrea beers.

While Spain triumphed on the pitch, William's blog pronounced the Italian beer as the winner. "With a fuller flavour than the bland San Miguel, the Menabrea is definitely the David Villa of this encounter," he wrote.

Said William: "The quality of football is one way to define a nation, but equally as important are their food and drink. We are lucky that here in Plymouth there are some great sources for food from even the most obscure of places, although I've had a little difficulty finding Romanian cheese."

Much of William's alcohol supply is coming from Moor and More Beer, in Frankfort Gate, a specialist beer seller which has so far managed to provide brews from countries including Russia, Austria, Sweden and Portugal for The Herald man's gastro-sporting journey.

He rates the jet black Russian Ochakovo beer as his favourite tipple so far, and the Swiss Reserve Gruyere and France's Pie d'Angloys as his number one cheeses.

He added: "It's been an eye-opener. I was a straight cheddar and Dairylea triangles man before this."

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