Real Madrid

The league may be over, but football fans will be far from bored this summer. The Austria/Switzerland Euro 2008 kicks-off on 7 June with the Switzerland-Czech Republic inuagural match. Eight Real Madrid players will participate in the competition with their national teams; there is at least one of them in each of the four groups.

CASILLAS & RAMOS LOOK TO END WITH THE CURSE OF THE QUARTERFINALS
Morale is high in the Spanish camp thanks to the team's brilliant performances in their last three qualifiers. Despite much early suffering, Luis Aragonés' men managed to finish as Group D leaders, followed by Greece, Russia and Sweden.

Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos are Real Madrid's two representatives on the squad, whose first match will be against Russia in Innsbruck on 10 June. The Madridistas are key players on the Spanish national team and they will try to put an end to the team's curse of the quarterfinals. Spain won the Euro in 1964 at the Santiago Bernabéu and haven't been in a final since the 1984 edition of the tournament, where they lost against Platini's France. The Reds didn't manage to get past the first round four years ago.


IL CAPITANO WANTS HIS SECOND TITLE
Italy are the great favourites to win. Their squad is very similar to that which won the World Cup two years ago. Nevertheless, things won't be easy for them. Donadoni's team qualified fourth in Group C, where they will fight with France, the Netherlands and Romania -who finished first-.

Fabio Cannavaro will once again lead his national team. The Real Madrid defender will also be in charge of organising the team's defence with Alessandro Nesta. Pirlo will act as the main playmaker and Luca Toni will be a constant threat in attack.

Cannavaro's first game will be against the Netherlands in Berna, where he will face his Madridista teammates Sneijder, Robben and Van Nistelrooy.


ROBBEN, SNEIJDER & VAN NISTELROOY: PILLARS OF THE NETHERLANDS
The name Holland is always synonimous of good football, but titles have eluded the team in recent years. Their last was the Euro 1988, when current coach Marco van Basten was still a player.

Robben and Sneijder are part of the new generation of Dutch footballers that are seeking to retrieve the team's former glory. Ruud van Nistelrooy's experience could be a key factor in the Netherland's success, but he will have to fight for a starter position with Huntelaar, Kuyjt and Babel.

PEPE, PORTUGAL'S LOCK
Portugal are one of the favourites because they reached the final in 2004 and played in the World Cup semis two years ago. Their first match will pitt them against Turkey in Geneva.

Pepe is part of a team that no longer counts on the presence of legendary players like Luis Figo and Rui Costa. Other young quality players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Quaresma and Joao Moutinho have been drafted to fill the gap they've left. The Madridista and Ricardo Carvalho will no doubt form one of the best centre back teams in the competition.

METZELDER: BACK IN TIME 
Cristoph Metzelder managed to recover from his plantar fasciitis in time for the Euro. He will be one of the leaders on the German squad, looking for a new success since their 1996 Euro triumph against the Czech Republic.

Germany has gone through a generational reshuffle, most notable in the absence of keeper Oliver Kahn. New coach Joachim Löw has kept the core of the team that finished third in the 2006 World Cup.

Germany are the leaders of Group B, which also comprises Austria, Croatia and Poland. They shouldn't have much trouble against these teams in order to make it to the next round. Thier first match will be against Poland in Klagenfurt on 8 June.