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Euro 2008 a turn-off for British fans

31/05/2008

A new survey has discovered that four out of ten Britons are not planning on watching Euro 2008 this summer.

With none of the home nations qualifying for the European championship in Austria and Switzerland, today's survey by Opinium also finds that most people are unwilling to support any other country in the tournament.

Three-quarters of people polled claimed they would not be 'adopting' a nation to support at this summer's competition.

Of those who said they would be, Holland was the most popular choice for supporters, followed by Spain and Italy.

Mark Hodson, head of research at Opinium, said: "Despite our obsession with football and footballers it would seem that people have been left disillusioned by England's failure to qualify with a number of people planning not to watch any matches.

"Although the British bulldog spirit seems to have got the better of most fans, with the majority not wanting to back any other nation. It was interesting to see Holland and Spain being the most popular adoptive nations.

"Perhaps Holland because of their outlandish orange kit and Spain because they are a team England actually managed to beat at penalties back in Euro 96".

People who were planning on spending less time watching football over the summer claimed they were looking forward to spending more time outdoors and with their family.