By Khilen Mehta

With Euro 2008 only 11 days away, the EV guide to the championships begins now. Everyday I will whet your appetite for the summer by giving you the lowdown on two teams from each group. The key facts, the key players and my very own predictions for each group. Let us begin with Group A…

1) Switzerland- This is the first time the UEFA EURO 2008 co-hosts will have played in consecutive UEFA European Championship finals and the 2008 tournament will be their third finals overall. They look far better prepared then fellow hosts Austria with encouraging results including a draw against Argentina followed by a victory against the Netherlands. With a solid defensive base, scoring goals will be Switzerlands main concern. Their record prior to the finals of UEFA EURO 2008 was 80 matches played with 29 wins, 22 draws and 29 losses, with 119 goals scored and 108 conceded. Both of their finals campaigns in 1996 and 2004 have started with draws - 1-1 against hosts England in 1996 and 0-0 with Croatia in Portugal - but ended with two subsequent defeats.

Manager- Jakob Kuhn, “Success would be to reach the quarter-finals. Of course it won’t be easy, but that has to be our goal”

Key Player- Alexander Frei will be relied upon to score the goals

Prediction- Will struggle to finish anywhere but bottom

2) Czech Republic- The Czechs have the pedigree to go far in this competition. They retain a 100 per cent qualification record for the UEFA European Championship with four appearances from four attempts and they reached the final in Euro 96. However with the retirements of Poborsky and Nedved, and the potential loss of Rosicky to injury, it remains to see whether they will be as creative in front of goal to match their solidness at the back. Koller and Baros link up brilliantly up front, and Koller even finished second top goal scorer in 2006 FIFA qualifying with nine goals. Up until the end of UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying, the Czech Republic had played 54 matches in the UEFA European Championship, winning 39, drawing eight and losing seven. In that time, they scored 117 goals and conceded 37.

Manager- Karel Brückner, “Qualifying is nice but the way we did it is even better.”

Key Player- David Rozenhal will keep it tight at the back

Prediction- Will fall to one of the bigger nations in the quarter finals

By Khilen Mehta

So if you’re like me, you are probably thinking what you can do this summer now that your domestic football season has drawn to a close. Your teams fate has been decided, you’ve shed your tears and you promise yourself that next season you will listen to your partner when they say, “it’s only a game, love!”

But is it really worth all the drama? Is it worth losing your beloved fingernails? Is it worth your wife or girlfriend threatening to leave you? Too damn right it is! And that’s why, even though England aren’t in it this time round, all football fans eyes will  be peeled on the European Championships this summer.

You can never get enough of football. Even if your team isn’t in it, there is always some member of your team playing, and you even get an early opportunity to scout some of the targets your manager is after. Seriously, what more could you want? So let’s get the lads round, crack the beers open and read my guide to the top three countries this coming summer.

1)     Spain- The Perennial Under-achievers

Every tournament pundits say the same. This is their best chance. They have the players and they have the support but every tournament they fall away at the quarter-final stage. So why should this year be different I hear you shouting? Because this time, Spain are coming into the tournament on a great run of form. 14 games without defeat including games against England and Italy. Fernando Torres will lead the line, Cesc will be tougher after a hard season and Ramos oozes class at the back. Could this year actually be their year?

Key Player: Fernando Torres to continue to knock the goals in

2)     Italy- The reigning world champions

So can the best team in the world, become the best team in Europe? Arguably the best passing team around, Italy’s only problem has been their lack of pace in going forward. However with a new fluid front three, they have a new attacking dimension that could catch teams out. They have the experience and they have the players. A definite threat.

Key Player: Andrea Pirlo will hold the team together and provide a set piece threat

3)     France- Last chance for the golden age?

Raymond Domenech has been bold in his squad selection. He has left out David Trezeguet and in his place fans will be itching to catch a glimpse of the countrys new gems, Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa. They have a solid, experienced spine with the likes of Thierry Henry, Claude Makelele and William Gallas all itching to make amends for their World Cup  misery.

Key Player: Thierry Henry to make up for his Barcelona misery

Call me biased, but I actually believe this could be Spain´s year. I´ve probably just jinxed them…