EURO 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just in time to ease the Stanley Cup woes. Appears most of the action can be caught on ESPN2, here's the entire viewing schedule...2-a-days in Group play through June 18 prior to the Quarterfinals which start on June 19.

Think...world's biggest futbol tournament after the World Cup. The best teams in the world, sans South America.

OK...a day late, but here's my official picks, like I know what the hell I'm talking about. Like always, though, I do put my $$ where my mouth is:

Group Winners:
Portugal, Italy, Germany, Spain (that's really stepping out on a limb)

Others to advance:
Switzerland (to get in over Czech Rep, and yes I know they lost yesterday)
Netherlands (yep...France exits early, that's my pick)
Croatia
Sweden

Winner:
my beloved Italy. FORZA AZZURRI!!!!!!!!!!!!!

minus all-world defender Fabio Cannavaro (and as its looks, maybe Panucci as well), we'll still march on in front of the planet's best GK (after Fleury) in Gigi Buffon.

Runner-up:
not sure if it would work out this way, but I'll go with Spain after their disappointing showing in the WC.

Top Goal Scorers:
Luca Toni
Fernando Torres
Antonio Di Natale (semi-darkhorse)