EURO 2008 INFO

Many representatives from the Premier League will be strutting their stuff at Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland this summer.

Players such as Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa), Ricardo Carvalho (Chehsea) and Nico Kranjcar (Portsmouth) could all make a decent impression.

There are, however, four big names who could steal the show not just for themselves but for their country by helping them lift the Henri Delauney Trophy in Vienna. It's no surprise then that all four play for clubs in the top four.

Manchester United are represented by Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani, Arsenal have Cesc Fabregas and Liverpool are represented by Fernando Torres.

Ronaldo and Torres are receiving the kind of attention usually reserved for the likes of Diego Maradona, Marco van Basten and Zinedine Zidane at major tournaments. It's not surprising considering the respective seasons both players have had so far.

They have scored 68 goals between them and have set Europe and the Premier League alight with some scintillating performances. I can't think of many who have had such a prolific debut season in the Premier League, such has been the impact of Torres.

Ronaldo has proved that he is probably the best footballer on the planet right now, adding an amazing goal-scoring ratio to his game this season.

Thanks to a rather shabby final third of the season, Fabregas's original impact has dissipated, allowing others to grab the limelight. Mainly due to Arsenal's terrible form, Fabregas was not experienced enough to change much for the Gunners during the sticky patch that all but killed their title aspirations.

I do not agree that a long and hard season can affect players' performances come a major tourney. Surely the chance play for your country in Europe's premier international footballing event is enough to get anyone going? Indeed, the performances of Fabregas for Spain could go a long way in determining just how effective or not Torres wil be.

Torres relies on his midfielders to present him with the chances to convert. Ronaldo is different - he can score from anywhere and has an attitude second to none. The dark horse in all of this is Nani, who is without doubt a genuinely gifted player with enthusiasm and determination.

Portugal may have said goodbye to the "golden generation" some time ago but with these two in the team and a strong squad behin¡d them, it could be Portugal's year.

Spain always seem to time their form completely the wrong way before a major tournament and just don't seem to be bothered at all. It's time the lazy attitude and bickering stopped and the country stepped up a gear and produced the football that they are more than capable of doing.

It is Spain's difficulty in dealing with the big time at international level that leads me to backing the Portuguese duo to shine the brightest of the Premier League stars in Euro 2008.

Ronaldo is established now but needs to have an explosive tournament so that he can start to be mentioned in the same breath as legends.

Nani does not have much pressure on him and I believe he could just steal the whole show from his compatriot.