Bangkok--29 May--Nielsen In spite of no English football team qualifying for Football Euro 200, over half of Thai online consumers express strong interest in the tournament - particularly younger Thais - while 67 percent plan to follow the games, according to a Your Voice online survey conducted by Nielsen Thailand in March 2008. Nielsen polled 489 internet users aged 18 and above across Thailand in March 2008. Among football fans men made up the majority, with close to two thirds of males (62%) claiming to be very interested or somewhat interested in football, while half of females surveyed claimed to be football fans. The Nielsen survey found that, among young and old Thais registering interest in Euro 2008, the strongest interest was found in those over 40 (61%) followed closely by young viewers aged between 25-29 (59%) and 21-24 (58%) respectively. 77 percent of those 40+ plan to watch Euro 2008, while younger Thais aged between 21-24 (72%) and 25-29 (76%) were similarly interested. Italy - Thais’ favorite team When asked which team was their favorite, regardless of their chance of winning,19 percent of Thai fans voted for Italy, followed by Germany (15%) and France (13%). The survey also found the Italian team garnering strong support from young Thai fans aged 21-24 (26%) while Germany was more favored by mature adults, aged 40+ (29%). Less mentioned “favorites” were the Netherlands (7%), Spain (4%), and Portugal (2%). Close to one third (32%) had no favorite team. Thai football fans expect to see France and Italy in the Final France, Italy and Germany are expected to play in the final round of Euro 2008, with France VS Italy hotly tipped (19%), followed by France VS Germany (17%) and Germany VS Italy (14%). Host teams Austria and Switzerland are not expected to reach the final. As the Nielsen survey reveals, France and Germany received equal votes to win Euro 2008. Once again, almost half of those aged 40 and above believe Germany will win (45%) while the younger people in particular are tipping Italy and France. About The Nielsen Company The Nielsen Company is a global information and media company with leading market positions in marketing information (ACNielsen), media information (Nielsen Media Research), online intelligence (NetRatings and BuzzMetrics), mobile measurement, trade shows and business publications (Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Adweek). The privately held company is active in more than 100 countries, with headquarters in Haarlem, the Netherlands, and New York, USA. For more information, please visit, www.nielsen.com