The Euro 2008 web site has recorded more than 1 billion hits since it was launched in February, and UEFA claimed internet traffic is up from the tournament in Portugal four years ago.

"Page views are an old way of measuring the internet," said Alexandre Fourtoy, the CEO of UEFA Media Technologies, which is body's subsidiary in charge of site production.

"Today it is the number of visits and visitors that counts. Depending on the sections, traffic is between 2.5 times and three times that of 2004, which is really much more than the average growth of the internet during this period."

UEFA said the site has had more than 42 million visitors from around the world this month.

"We have had an extremely good response about everything from those surfing the internet," Fourtoy said. "We also see a lot of interaction between the fans and ourselves. As our Web site was made for the fans by the fans, it is really a pleasure to see everyone participating all day long."