COME ON YOU POLES...OR CZECHS...

Yes, folks, the Euro 2008 Football Championships start today - either in Austria or Switzerland or possibly both. Sadly, there are no representatives from the `home` countries of England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland and the manner of their collective failure to even qualify for the finals said a lot about each team. Northern Ireland, Wales and particularly Scotland fought brave campaigns with their limited resources and their eventual failure to cross the finishing line was the stuff of gallant defeats.

England`s dismal failure, however, was met with a bout of national hand-wringing. You see, it was almost assumed that they would qualify as of right especially given the stockpile of resources available to them. Then there were the expectations. Now, some say that we expect too much from the gang of overpaid, pampered poseurs who make up the core of the England team. As for me, I`m afraid I quite enjoy seeing them exposed for the limited, predictable outfit they truly are. Put simply, we did not deserve to qualify....and we didn`t.

Which leaves me with the dilemma as to which country`s fortunes to follow over the course of the next 22 days. But, despite the never ending circus that Southampton FC has become (don`t get me started!) I have opted to follow the fortunes of Poland and the Czech Republic, for two players still on our books are included in the squads for those two countries.

Marek Saganowski might get a game for Poland even though his goalscoring form for Saints has taken a bit of a tumble over recent months. And Rudi Skacel might turn out for the Czech Republic, if selected. Now it`s entirely probable that these two gentlemen may never be seen in Saints shirts ever again - in Saganowski`s case, his `wages` are becoming a problem to maintain for a club teetering on the brink of administration, so he might have to go. Skacel has already been sent out on loan to Hertha Berlin, from whence he may never return, despite Saints still holding his registration.

So, as that`s the best I can come up with, there it is - come on you Poles....or you Czechs, for truly I have nothing else, footballwise, to cheer about.