The dust has settled on another dramatic, frenetic and typically unpredictable domestic campaign across the top leagues in Europe, and only the international feast of football that is Euro 2008 remains on the soccer calendar this season.

Supporters and enthusiasts across the globe will gaze and admire the brilliance and technical prowess of Europe’s elite on their flickering television sets throughout June, as the world’s greatest footballing continent stages what will be a titanic battle between nations of such class.

And English fans will no doubt join them. Which football supporter could possibly turn away from a tournament showcasing such ability, technique and skill, and such passion, patriotism and pride?

Europe’s finest modern artists will paint pictures of glorious goals, mesmorising moves, spellbinding saves and fabulous football. They will parade such passion for the country, sweating through every gland in their bodies in a desperate attempt to bring home glory for their watching supporters. The combination of world-class skill and determination can only produce a summer of sophisticated and superb stuff for us all to drool over.

Forget England, we will sadly turn our attention to Fabio Capello’s below par squad of failures when the World Cup qualifying gets underway in September. For now, we must watch how the successes of Europe pull together as a team and give their heart and soul in their focused missions geared towards lifting the glamorous trophy in Vienna on June 29th.

There will be no biased thinking from England fanatics in this international tournament, no slaughtering opinions of other nations and no constant concentration on our own disastrous national outfit. This summer, everybody in the UK, from north to south, can be open-minded, flexible and relaxed. We must enjoy such brilliance before our staggered eyes, and just prey we can be a part of the prestigious plate of Europe’s finest dish next time around.

There is sure to be controversy, drama and fall-out like in any major sporting occasion, but the pure class is certain to out-perform any stupid sending offs or reckless tackling that will always occur to some degree.

But for all the quality competitions taking part what will inevitably be such an emotional event, there can only be one victorious ensemble of playing talent. Will Italy outshine the rest, or will the swagger and style of Spain seal their first ever international honour? Can Luis Felipe Scolari conjour another remarkable triumph on the international stage, or will France repeat the glory they achieved in the same tournament eight years ago?

Greece, remember, are the current holders, and Switzerland and Czech Republic get the ball rolling in 12 days time in an attempt to nock them off their glamorous and prestigious perch.

Get ready for a truly enthralling rollercoaster ride starting on June 7th in Basel.