Konami Digital Entertainment has just announced that the debute of Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 on the Nintendo Wii will come out in March for all major territories (except Japan which wasn’t listed).

Unlike some games for the Wii, PES 2008 doesn’t necessarily seem tact on. Players (you) will be using the point-and-drag functionality of the Wii remote to guide players onscreen, selecting to receive a pass, latch onto the soccer ball or perhaps steer the player. The Nunchuck comes into player when its used to perform sliding tackles and send the goal keeper out to clear a loose ball.

PES 2008 for Wii will retain the traditional game modes, spanning Match, League and Cup elements and Training and Trade Section. But in this iteration of the series, it’ll include a new game mode called Champion Road. In this, players (you) take their team to compete in league competitions all over the world, come out on top and build a team from the defeated opposition. The game will also have rpg elements since every match adds experience points to used players, increasing stat abilities such as attack, technique and stamina. With all the customization, players (you) can build the perfect dream team!

Exclusively for the Wii version, PES 2008 will feature Mii integration in which teams can be created with up to 16 pre-defined Miis, while the ever-changing teams can be stored on the Wii remote. And (thankfully) online is supported with “Free matches against unknown opponents” or “Friend matches” which allows you to battle against anyone (with a copy of the game of course) on your Wii friends list. Team data can be sent to and forth using the WiiConnect24.

“It was vital that the Wii version of PES 2008 made full use of the hardware’s innovative control system, and we are extremely pleased with what the team has come up with,” commented Jon Murphy, Pro Evolution Soccer Team Leader. “It feels as if you have total control over the entire team and the use of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to both implement moves and send players into space or off to make runs is remarkably intuitive. It adds a new layer of realism, and makes this Wii version an essential PES experience.”

Expect PES 2008 to kick off in March in North America, Australia and Europe!