Euro 2008 - If You Can't Beat Them, Join Them!

Join the men and get involved with the biggest football tournament in Europe this summer!

Even though no UK countries qualified for the Euro 2008 tournament, that doesn't mean that men all over the country aren't still obsessed by watching 22 men running around a field kicking a ball.

While it's easy to focus on the things about football that make women (and even some men) groan - the overblown 'injuries' that involve rolling on the ground like toddlers, the extortionate salaries, the fact that sexy Jose Mourinho's hardly ever on TV any more - sometimes you have to just give in. Which is why we here at 888ladies have decided to do things differently this year - we're joining in with the football mania!

Since resistance is futile, start your new career as a temporary football fan by doing a bit of research into the teams. Brush up on the basics by reading the back pages of the newspaper and checking out some stats online. Ask a fella to give you a crash course in football terminology and the major players - he'll probably be delighted to convert a woman to the dark side (and flattered that you asked), but just make sure he doesn't get carried away and start giving you the history of the FA cup from 1871 to the present day...

Germany and Spain are the favourites to win Euro 2008, so if you want to add an extra element of fun, you could even have a flutter. Better still, start or join a fantasy football league, where you select players from the tournament as a whole and get points if they play well. It's a fun way to get involved even if you have no idea who the players are.

When the kids aren't around, head to the pub to watch the major games, and drag your female friends along too. The blokes will be chuffed to have some women around, but be warned that they might expect you to actually know what's happening on the screen. Make sure you put up a convincing facade by 'oohing', 'ahhing' and cheering in all the right places - like you mean it!

Decorating your house is an easy way to make it seem like you're truly into the football, even if you have no clue whatsoever about the offside rule. If you choose a team to support, hang its flag in your window and make yourself an honorary Greek, for example, during the two-week tournament period. You could even serve up food themed around your chosen team!

If you have young children around, football tournaments can be especially fun - get them drawing some footie scenes, facepaint each other with the Euro 2008 teams' flags, or decorate fairy cakes in team colours (and maybe even throw in some red, white and blue regardless!).

If you're feeling really adventurous, why not even let Euro 2008 inspire you to have a kickaround yourself? From playing in the garden with the kids to actually making a trip to the recreation ground with some likeminded ladies, there's no doubt that playing football is a great way to stay fit and have fun.

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