Wolverhampton PodJockey Adam Thompson is not going to let England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008 stop his enjoyment of the tournament and has decided join the media bandwagon in adopting a nation to follow.

I support 3 teams Wolves, England and anybody who is playing The Albion. Wolves did their best to give the annual May disappointment, and England have been looking for summer holiday destinations since the back end of autumn.

Knowing England weren't going to Euro 2008 allowed me a long time for me to assess the teams that actually were and which team I would be backing. At first I was hounded by my mates for even considering chanting another nations name but as other media outlets have made it somewhat of a novelty to pick a team for the summer and be stress free if they don't make it (Something unavoidable being an England fan) several of these friends of mine all of sudden turned into fellow ‘turn coats' like myself.

For the Manchester United fans, Portugal seems to be where their allegiance lies; no prizes for guessing why? Liverpool fans are backing Rafa's home nation, the Spanish, and Arsenal fans are continuing their French connection with France.

I have been told by an Ex University colleague of mine that England should back Holland as ‘William the Orange' was their patron saint and converted England into protestant but ‘nah' I thought if I'm picking a team it shouldn't be religion based or if they get on with the English at all or as my friend Alan said "The Italian's, I like their kit." No I was picking a team where I know 75% of the squad, a team that plays good football and most importantly has a genuinely chance of winning the tournament. It is why this summer I will be shouting ‘Allez les Bleus' as I back the French.

"The French?" I hear you shout. "Those snail eating, poodle walking, snotty nosed posers." Maybe so and every time I mention my summer team to anyone a story of how a French person was once rude to them in Paris promptly follows. My reply "So is everyone in London is friendly then?"

But why the French - this is why?

Depending where you live in the country France is the closest nation to us that are attending Euro 2008, after all in England there is an un-written law of supporting your local team.

The squad

Six of Raymond Domenech's players ply their trade in the Premiership, but with former Gunners Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieria present not to mention two of the hottest talents in European football in Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema there is plenty to keep you interested in the French

Smart money

France are 8/1 at some bookies to go and win the thing, surprising Germany and Spain have shorter odds. Germany do perform on the big occasion but their last harah was in 2006 surely, where as Spain tend to do and England show up and expect to win. France have won it before and with Henry,Vieria and Lillian Thuram expected to retire from international football after this tournament, expect the taste of World Cup defeat to spur them on especially when they face the Italians in the group stages.

What have you got to lose?

 So France doesn't win and they fail to get through the ‘group of death' which includes Italy, Holland and Romania. You go back to being English and hating the French, refuse to by any French cheese for a month, pick another side and enjoy a summer of football what's the problem?

I genuinely believe the French have what it takes to win Euro 2008. Admittedly they don't have Zinedine Zidane who can't and will never be replaced but have so many positives for them it's harder to dismiss them as genuine contenders. Ribery is hitting his peak after another league title with Bayern Munich. Expect Benzema and Flourent Malouda to surprise this tournament. Benzema has been on fine form for French champions Lyon and Malouda has shown his capabilities at the back end of the Premiership season for Chelsea. Put this with the experience of Claude Makelle, William Gallas and Thuram and I think the question asked wont be "Why France?" more like "Why not France?" and at 8/1 as well.