Let's set the ball rolling

England might not be invited, but that didn't stop Europe's biggest football party getting underway last night: 31 matches between 16 teams spread over 23 days makes Euro 2008 just what the doctor ordered for football fans who have been suffering withdrawal symptoms since the regular season ended.

But what does the tournament have in store for the teams? Who will be champs and who will be chumps? In the interests of fair play and as a confirmed neutral, here are my thoughts on the protagonists:

Switzerland

I'm not quite sure how a team that has never won a match in the finals of a European Cup is given the privilege of hosting the tournament. Home advantage could very well see them break their duck this time round. Even so they are destined to do little more than make up the numbers which is hardly surprising from a country where skiing, snowboarding and, quite probably, yodeling are more popular than football.

Key player: Phillipe Senderos. Arsenal's worst defender is Switzerland's best and his job will be to stop their defense resembling one of their most famous dairy products. That's cheese, by the way, not chocolate.

Czech Republic

Definitely going to be the surprise package of the tournament - either unexpectedly good or astonishingly bad. There is always the possibility that the ageing stars are keeping something in reserve for this final push for glory but, more likely, they will be hanging their boots en masse come June 19.

Key player: Petr Cech. Despite the fact he seems to be falling to pieces from the neck up - hence the increasingly elaborate head gear - and despite the recent admission he needs contact lenses, Cech remains one of the world's best goalkeepers. And he will need to be.

Turkey

If nothing else, Turkey will at least bring some passion to the tournament. Unlike another European country I could mention whose name begins with 'E', playing for Turkey seems to bring out the very best in their patriotic players who give it their all. Backed by equally passionate fans their games will be played amid buckets of atmosphere. Sadly there is only so far passion can take you when it comes to football and it won't be anything near far enough.

Key player: Nihat. As strikers go he is one of Europe's best. Sadly too many of his team mates clearly aren't.

Portugal

When you think of Portugal you inevitably think of one player. Christian somebody or other. But there is so much more to this Portugeuse side than the Manchester United star. Ricardo, Quaresmo, Carvallho, Nani, Gomes and Deco are all quality and there are some who would argue that Portugal has, pound for pound, the most skill of any team in the tournament. And, in Philippe Scolari they have a proven manager. My only concern is that they may lack a little experience and it could be another two years before you see the very best of this Portugal team.

Key player: Christiano Ronaldo. Needs to prove himself on the biggest stage and they don't come much bigger than this. Just keep him away from penalties.

Austria

If they weren't hosting the tournament Austria would not be in it. Fact. They are, in a word, useless. So embarrassingly bad have they been over the past few years that over 10,000 Austrians have signed an on-line petition begging their team to withdraw from Euro 2008. As possible contenders for the crown go, Austria are as likely to win the tournament as England. Possibly slightly less so.

Key player: Emanuel Pogatez. A beacon of dim light amid a sea of darkness, Pogatez is an average Premiership player but he looks like Maradona in comparison to the rest of his Austrian team mates.

Croatia

Many experts are tipping Croatia to be the surprise package of the tournament. They have some of the most talented players in Europe and they will play pretty football packed with flair. But, without Eduardo, they lack the cutting edge to see teams off and there could be a lot of flicks, spins and back heels without any end product. Manager Slaven Bilic is the worst paid of all the bosses at Euro 2008 which is an interesting, if entirely irrelevant, fact. They could surprise but I think they will vanish without trace after the group stage.

Key player: Niko Krancjar. Creative, intelligent and quick like most of the Croat midfield, he could be the one whose tricks and flicks actually pay off.

Germany

There can be no disputing that Germany are the favourites for Euro 2008. They always seem to peak at exactly the right time and take penalties like they have been practising them since birth. They have the players, the manager and the attitude to walk away with this summer's biggest football prize. And, as much as it pains me to say it, they probably will.

Key player: Michael Ballack. A supreme penalty taker and allround star performer. Wish he were English.

Poland

Write Poland off at your peril. They may not be everyone's cup of tea but they certainly have the talent to make decent progress. During the qualifiers they beat Portugal and that has done their confidence no harm at all. Their group includes Austria, so that's three points in the bag and I wouldn't be surprised at all if they managed at least runners-up spot behind Germany. Not even the most passionate and patriotic Pole can believe they will win Euro 2008 but I very much doubt they will be humiliated at any point in proceedings.

Key player: Euzebiusz Smolarek. A decent player with a name like an explosion in a Scrabble factory. This commentator's nightmare is well worth keeping an eye on.

Romania

One of those teams that makes England's absence all the more depressing. Never overly spectacular in qualifying they are even worse when the finals themselves come round. In fact they have only ever won one of their Euro matches - beating England 3-2 in Euro 2000. Their squad contains roughly one name you might have heard of before - Mutu - and that is mostly because he was banned for drug offences. Their players can safely book family holidays for any time after June 17.

Key player: Adrian Mutu. Their only hope of not finishing bottom of the group of death. But they will anyway. Even if he gets back on the happy pills.

France

On paper they have one of the best squads at the tournament. Skill, flair and experience aplenty. And they would be a sensible bet for the title if it weren't for their manager, Raymond Domenech who I feel is incapable of making them into the sum of their parts. Henry has a lot to prove on the big stage and he will be keen to put his nightmare season at Barcelona behind him. However, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they failed to make it through the group of death.

Key player: Samir Nasri. The 20-year-old has been labelled the 'new Zidane', presumably because of his exquisite talent and not because he looks like a monk and headbutts people.

Italy

Being an England fan I am forbidden by Malta's unwritten football constitution to want them to win Euro 2008. And that's just as well, as I don't think they will. The World Champions did have a tidy blend in all departments and would have been a good bet for the trophy until Fabio Cannavaro showed it is not just English players who get stupid injuries at the worst possible times. In my mind they were slightly fortunate to win the last World Cup and they will need another slice of luck to win Euro 2008.

Key player: Gianluigi Buffon. Up there with Petr Cech in terms of ability and he will need to be at his very best to compensate for Cannavaro's absence.

Spain

When I drew Spain in the office sweepstake I was not overly unhappy. In fact, I actually believe they can win this. In midfield and attack they are blessed with some outstandingly talented players and only their suspect defence rules them out of being among the pre-tournament favorites. In Cesc Fabregas they have a player who could well turn out to be the star of the tournament. Even if they don't manage to win Euro 2008 (and end a period of hurt not unlike England's) they should be a joy to watch. And that's just as important as far as I am concerned.

Key player: Fernando Torres. Liverpool's goal scoring machine enters the tournament on fire and he is my bet for the Golden Boot.

Russia

Only at Euro 2008 because England managed to snatch failure from the jaws of qualification. They are a poor side that will struggle without the advantage of playing on a home-made plastic pitch. Having said that, Gus Hiddink is a shrewd manager and he has already taken South Korea and Australia to the knock out phases of World Cups. If he manages something similar here it will be an even greater achievement. True, Russia under Gus do play to their strengths. Trouble is they don't have very many of them.

Key player: Andrei Arshavin. The playmaker is suspended for the first two games which is certainly not going to help Russia's chances.

Greece

When Greece won the tournament last time round they did so by combining passionate spirit with tactics so boring, watching their games was like watching oouzo ferment. This time they have one or two better players but that still won't save them. The bigger nations will be ready for them if they try to bore their way to victory and, if they actually play football, their inadequacies will be badly exposed. Their finest hour is well and truly behind them.

Key player: Giorgios Samaras. Leaves his awful club form behind when playing for his country. Could be hampered, though, by his girl's hair and tendency to miss sitters.

Sweden

The very fact that Sweden have bothered to persuade Henrik Larsson out of retirement yet again for a major tournament indicates that they are struggling for talent. They do have a couple of quality players - especially Ibrahimovich - but unfortunately those individuals are surrounded by others who are past their best. Like the Czech Republic they could spring a surprise but I certainly wouldn't put any money on them doing much more than bowing out gracefully at the group stage.

Key player: Olof Mellberg. Despite having facial hair that is entirely reminiscent of a 1970s porn movie, Juventus' new signing is quality. Can hold the whole team together. Question is for how long.

Holland

So much talent, so little team spirit. Every time a major tournament comes round the Dutch start as one of the favorites. However, by their second match they have traditionally been involved in several public disputes and half the squad won't be talking to the other half. And none of them will be talking to their manager. If they can avoid beating each other up on the training ground, they could go on to win this. But I fear it will once again be a case of an unharmonious dressing room scuppering their chances.

Key player: Ruud van Nistelrooy. The man with the longest face in football will be out to prove his sparing use in the last World Cup was a grave error. Never pretty but always dangerous in front of goal.

sportscolumnist@timesofmalta.com