With just five days before Euro 2008 kicks off, it is clearly time to pick a team to follow in Austria and Switzerland.

And there are several potential strategies to adhere to.

You could go with one of the favourites - Germany or Spain - in a bid to bag some glory from a competition without England.

You could pick a side that includes a player from your favourite team such as Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal or the Czech Republic's Petr Cech.

Or you could go for the side most like England.

That is what I will be doing for the next month (hopefully) and for that reason I am backing Russia to claim the crown on June 29.

Always considered a major footballing power, always underachieving.

The perfect description of a Russia side that should be far better than it ever actually is.

But this time they have a secret weapon - Guus Hiddink.

Seldom can a manager have done so well with such limited resources than Hiddink has throughout his career.

He was in charge of PSV when they won the European Cup in 1998.

He got an average Dutch side to the last four of the 1998 World Cup, did the same with Korea four years later and managed to get Australia to the last 16 a couple of years ago.

Now he has to sprinkle his magic over the Russia squad - and I predict he will.

Six of them are from UEFA Cup winners Zenit St Petersburg and the squad is almost exclusively taken from the domestic league.

That hands them a real advantage as the Russian League is still in its early stages so there will be no jaded players.

Spain will be overwhelming favourites to take top spot in Group D but the second qualifying place is up for grabs and they take on the Russians in the group opener next Tuesday.

If Hiddink's side can get something from that game - and the Spanish are notoriously poor at finals - they could even top the group.

Even if they lose in a week's time Russia, with holders Greece and ageing Sweden in their group, have every chance of progressing.

At 28-1 with most bookies they offer an outstanding outside bet for a competition that can throw up unlikely winners.

And can you really see yourself supporting Germany?

CRISTIANO Ronaldo's immediate future is likely to be settled in a matter of hours if reports emanating from the player's camp are to be believed.

But what I don't understand is how Real Madrid can even start to believe they have a chance of prising him away from Old Trafford.

The Portugal international's contract with the European champions runs until 2012.

And for once I agree with Fergie when he says he would rather see the player rot in the stand than let him move.

For far too long players had no power - now it appears they hold all the cards.

This could be a fight all clubs will be following with great interest.