3 Jun 2008, 0000 hrs IST,TNN

Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta, forget cricket and look at soccer instead.

That’s what John Abraham is doing. The Bollywood hunk is excited that the UEFA Euro 2008 is kick-starting this Sunday in Austria with eight teams — Spain, Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Czech Republic and Croatia — providing some adrenaline-pumping, kick-ass action. “I’m a football fanatic,” says the ESPN STAR Sports’ soccer brand ambassador, “and if I’m not shooting, then I will definitely catch the action live on a big screen here.”

He is rooting for Germany. “This team, led by Michael Ballack, has spark, and is contrary to the earlier German team which was pretty boring. They have every chance of lifting the trophy,” predicts Bollywood’s shy sportsman. Does he hang out with the guys to watch soccer? “It doesn’t matter whether I’m alone or with friends. I watched the semi-finals of the English Premiere League with Abhishek Bachchan in Miami where we were shooting for Dostana,” reveals John.

His last film Goal gave John the opportunity to display his soccer skills. “Someone remarked that I looked quite convincing as a player in the film. Well, I am one,” says the actor whose kicks and head-butts would have made Cristiano Ronaldo himself proud. “People ask me if whether I still play soccer. I used to do these things even before I got into acting. I’m passionate about bikes and soccer, films is just an extension of my passion.” He has watched all the World Cups gone by and been to Berlin for the edition where Itlay beat France in 2006. “I must have been five when my dad used to wake me up in the middle of the night to watch World Cup matches,” reminisces John, who’s now counting the days for Euro 2008 to begin.

So has he booked his tickets to Austria? “No. I can’t go there, though I’m all charged up and how!” says John, who doesn’t mind staying up all night to watch the matches and risk getting dark circles the morning after too.