No Euros for England? No worries

All England's eyes are on the possible domino effect Luiz Felipe Scolari's hiring at Chelsea will have, especially on Cristiano Ronaldo. Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images The Limey's Mailbag Keep the banter flowing to The Limey. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND

You find Team Limey in good mood this week. As we write, relaxing in the fustiest of fustian armchairs, watching Croatia beat Germany 2-1 at the European Championship, it makes England's failure to qualify ahead of the Croats seem a little less embarrassing.

On this balmy spring evening, with the hazy sunlight from the arrow slits softly illuminating the dusty portrait of dear old uncle Horatio Ethelred Leopold Limey, who could be in bad cheer? Indeed, this is a month for the football purist. It is a time to sit back with a pint of the warmest frothiest ale, enjoy Euro 2008, and appreciate all the advantages of England failing to qualify. Even Lukas Podolski smashing home his third goal of the tournament for Poland -- sorry, Germany -- can't unsettle us.

We're in a blissful world, where people who know nothing about football aren't suddenly taken with talking incessantly about it just because England is in a tournament, there's no tedious faux-patriotic fervor where England's fate becomes a metaphor for world survival, the jingoistic tabloid nonsense has been minimized and, best of all, we've had to put up with refreshingly few commercials where footloose multi-nationals try desperately to claim passion for our country, culture, national team and game.

Yes, dear readers, watching Euro '08 here has made football feel like it's one's hobby again, an interest and, dare we say it, a sport, rather than an over-hyped commodity. We're enjoying it so much that we might even move across the border to Wales, which never qualifies for anything. And to cap it all, Bastian Schweinsteiger was sent off in the final minute of Croatia's win. Schweinsteiger -- is that really German for pig herder? We couldn't find the answer, but while searching, we came across pictures of his girlfriend, Sarah Brandner, that certainly raised our portcullis.

Over the last week in England, the press has focused mostly on four things: Luiz Felipe Scolari's appointment as Chelsea manager, Mark Hughes' appointment as Manchester City manager, Ronaldinho potentially playing in the English Premier League and whether Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Man. United for Real Madrid. Interesting stories individually, but a veritable web of intrigue when the links between them are examined.

Let's start in Manchester, the blue side of it. In the dying weeks of the season, as it became clear that Sven-Göran Eriksson didn't have a future at Manchester City, a strong favorite emerged for the position: Portugal manager Scolari. Indeed, Scolari seemed the only serious candidate for the job, until when, days before his appointment, Blackburn manager Hughes' name emerged.

But could City really secure Hughes when he was the pick of Chelsea CEO Peter Kenyon for his club's vacant post? Yes, because Kenyon was overruled by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who wanted and got Scolari, which would also explain why City's interest in Big Phil suddenly waned.

City has also been heavily linked with Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho. Executive Chairman Garry Cook stated that: "He has intimated he is interested, otherwise we wouldn't be at the stage we are now. Ronaldinho has an interest in coming to City."

Man. City apparently took lead position in the race for the player when AC Milan couldn't match the financial terms. That was until Scolari, who managed Ronaldinho on Brazil's '02 World Cup-winning team, arrived at Chelsea.

"There are options for next season and obviously he knows Scolari very well and they have enjoyed great success together," Cook said.

"We'll see what happens but my brother will be ready for next season," hinted Ronaldinho's brother and agent, Roberto de Assis.

And if the suits at the City of Manchester Stadium are becoming frustrated, it's nothing compared to the anger supposed being vented across town by Sir Alex Ferguson regarding Cristiano Ronaldo being told by his Portugal manager -- Scolari -- that he would regret not moving to Real Madrid. Words seen at Old Trafford as a deliberate attempt to sabotage the team of Chelsea's biggest EPL title rivals.