We've just had our first full day in Switzerland and it's great to be here after all the waiting and anticipation.

Everything has gone really smoothly so far. We had a good meet-up before leaving and it was great to see the lads again after a long season. Everyone's really buzzing at the moment and the atmosphere within the camp is brilliant. As captain it's part of my job to make sure that we all get on together, but I have absolutely no worries - there's a great spirit and most of us have known each other for years now. I'm rooming with Luke Young who I've known since the Under-18s, and a lot of the lads have come through the age groups together.

It was great when we left England because there was a crowd of kids as well as TV cameras and photographers to see us off at East Midlands. It reminded us of how the whole country is rooting for us to win this Championship. I know the senior team will be following our fortunes and that also gives us a massive lift.

The first thing that hit me when we arrived in Basel was the heat. The weather is amazing and the evening kick-offs should be perfect for playing football. I've been to Switzerland a couple of times before with Blackburn's youth teams when we played summer tournaments near Zurich, but I can't ever remember it being this hot!

We trained yesterday morning and the facilities are really good. The lads were in high spirits and the session was relaxed but sharp at the same time. I've also had a chance to walk around the town and see a few of the sights. It seems like a really nice place, with an old part around the river which has a lot of character, and I'm sure we'll get a chance to see more over the next few days.

We just can't wait to get started now. These championships are a great way to end what has been a fantastic season for me. Playing in the Premiership was a brilliant experience and I've learned so much. We finished well and winning the Worthington Cup and qualifying for Europe has to be one of the highlights of my career so far. But now I'm just thinking about the game with Switzerland on Friday.

Tomorrow David gives his thoughts on Englands first opponents, host country Switzerland. The match will be live tomorrow on Channel 5 at 7.15 pm British time.