Viva la Portugal

Euro 2008 begins today kicking off another 45-day soccer bonanza for lovers of the beautiful game. Sadly though England is missing. Deservedly they did not qualify. However, that leaves a huge vacuum in the hype and hoopla surrounding the tournament, evident where I am from the lack of advertising or marketing blitz that would have normally surrounded the event. Why England has such an effect on neutral nations would be worth a study. So in the absence of the team I normally back I have decided to go with Portugal for this Euro. I pick them to win it.