As such it is important that everyone has a team to support, so they can have the opportunity to drink beer, swear at the television in language that only a sailor would understand and try to cop off with your newly adopted countries men or womenfolk.
Feel free to declare you allegiances here, or I can select a team for you determined by the moon, stars and what I ate for lunch that day.
As a quick guide here's my Euro 2008 run down of what team is what.
GROUP A
Switzerland
Pros : We live here
Cons: They haven't got a chance of getting out of the group, and Phillipe Senderos, one of the most boring men on earth.
Czech Republic
Pros: Consistent in tournaments, beat Germany to qualify, Petra Cech.
Cons: No Poborsky, Nedved (retired) or Rosicky (broken) Jan Koler (tall and attracts long balls)
Portugal
Pros: Best player in the world
Cons: Greasy haired falling down merchants.
Turkey
Pros:nice place for a holiday
Cons: Not actually in Europe, the women have moustaches.
GROUP B
Austria
Pros: Unlike their co-hosts they actually like to drink beer and have fun.
Cons: Utterly hopeless, even their own fans thought they shouldn't qualify automatically. Get mistaken for an Australian.
Croatia
Pros: Dark horses of the competition
Cons: They can't play England in every game.
Germany
Pros:"Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win" - G.Linkeker
Cons: Will probably play David Hasselhof songs if they win. Hated by almost everyone else in the competition due to beating them at war's and stuff.
Poland
Pros: Have a good chance of getting out of the group
Cons: When drunk people call it Pooland.
Group C
Holland
Pros: They play good football, the women are all nympho's and the orange shirt will get you safely across the road when battered.
Cons: Will have a major race war in the camp (as always) no longer have Cruyff, Van Baston, Guillit, Berkamp, but do have Dirk Kuyt.
Italy
Pros: World Cup winners
Cons: Falling over and crying like a girl are actively taught skills. You will never see more than 1 goal in a match
Romania
Pros: no idea
Cons: You will be asked about orphans and Gypsies a lot.
France
Pros: Point to prove after the world cup and have Riberry and 4 top quality strikers.
Cons: Surrender monkeys, women don't shave, and Thierry Henry is old and a champion moaner.
Group D
Greece:
Pros: reigning champions
Cons: Used all their luck up for the next 100 years in winning it last time.
Sweden
Pros: Blonde, Blue eyes, long legs (calling Salsalover for a picture of Swedish Fans)
Cons: Ibrahimovic is actually rubbish, lost to Norn Ireland in qualifying.
Spain
Pros: Man for Man the best squad on display.
Cons: Red and blue still don't go together. Are Spain. Puyol has a perm and a mullet.
Russia
Pros: Gus Hiddink
Cons: Only marginally better than England and worse than Croatia.
Let the team choosing commence.