The New Derby With A Bitter History

In the footballing world this weekend, their is some mouthwatering derbies. Their is the Highland derby and the Edinburgh derby in Scotland, the South London derby between Millwall and Charlton, the East Lancashire derby between Burnley and Blackburn, the Turin derby in Italy and the Madrid derby in Spain. Feisty rivalries between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, as well as Ajax and PSV Eindhoven will also be contested.

However, the derby of the weekend is unique in that it is the first of its kind. When Wimbledon FC folded in 2003 two spin off teams were formed in the shape of MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon. The teams hated each other on separation from their mother club and have never previously had a chance to battle it out. However, the FA Cup has once again worked its magic and thrown up a tie between the two, that has the whole of England talking.

Wimbledon FC were formed in 1989 and spent their early years playing non-league football.  They were elected into the Football League in 1977-78 at the expense of Workington. And for the first few years they huffed and puffed without ever really causing a fuss. That was until their retched season of 1981-82, a season that involved relegation, the loss of their chairman and manager and the tragic suicidal death of player Dave Clement. It was as if the season was the wake up call the club needed, the catalyst to become something big.

Under the management of Dave Bassett Wimbledon achieved three promotions in four years. It was a meteoric rise that caught many by surprise. And they did little to harm their reputation by making a good account of themselves in England's top flight.

However, Wimbledon's monumental moment came in the 1988 FA Cup. The final was supposed to be a foregone conclusion. League champions, Liverpool, were expected to cruise to a second domestic double in three years. But the team from south east London had a reputation of being cup 'giant killers' and were ready to write their name into English footballing history.

A goal from part Ecuadorian, part English, part Northern Irish midfielder Lawrie Sanchez, along with a penalty save from goalkeeper Dave Beassant, ensured Wimbledon had pulled off one of the biggest cup upsets of all time. Incidentally Beassant's penalty save was the first of it's kind in an FA Cup final. But that meant very little in comparison to his clubs unlikely achievement. Wimbledon had become only the second club to win the FA Cup and the FA Amateur Cup.

However, the FA Cup triumph would be the pinnacle for the unfashionable London club. They went from being a decent top flight team, to a struggling top flight team, before eventually being relegated in the year 2000.

As quick as Wimbledon had shot up the leagues and risen to fame, a similarly quick demise now lay ahead.

On field and off field problems began to mount for Wimbledon, none more so than the ever lingering stadium dispute. Ever since Wimbledon moved from Plough Lane to ground share with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, they never had a place they could call home. The move was enforced by higher powers who deemed Plough Lane to be unsuitable for the Premier League, although the switch was only supposed to be temporary.

As time went by, the motivation to find their own home was lost, probably caught up in their new dizzying highs. With administration beckoning, owner Charles Koppel proposed a move to the National Hockey Stadium 56 miles north in Milton Keynes. If the move to Selhurst Park was controversial, then the latest move was seen as nothing short of a disgrace.

The outcome saw Wimbledon make the move to Milton Keynes before entering administration. A re-branding of the club post-administration saw them renamed MK Dons. Disgruntled fans formed a 'phoenix club' as they looked on in disgust at what their ex-club had now turned into. The new club was called AFC Wimbledon.

It must be said that the two offspring clubs have endured mild success since the dissolving of the old Wimbledon. MK Dons have developed into a successful Football League side, finding relative comfort in League 1, agonisingly losing out on promotion on several occasions. They won the Football League Trophy during the 2007-08 season and have had some notable managers such as Paul Ince and Roberto Di Matteo.

AFC Wimbledon have surged through the English lower leagues in a manner that is testament to their mother club. They have achieved five promotions in nine years, going from the Combined Counties League to League 2. Amidst their promotions they also racked up an incredible run of 78 consecutive league games without defeat, spanning from February 2003 to December 2004. It is the current record for the longest unbeaten run in English football.

That pretty much brings us up to date, a division between them, and an intriguing cup tie just around the corner at the Stadium MK. The hosts have had a good season, sitting third in League 1 and have not lost in their last eight games, a run that includes six wins and nineteen goals.

Contrastingly, AFC Wimbledon are finding life hard as a Football League side. They have won just two of their last eight and have conceded fifteen goals in the process. They linger just above the relegation zone and may have one eye on a relegation six pointer with Barnet next week.

The match will be a particularly interesting one for several personnel involved. MK Dons captain Dean Lewington and goalkeeper David Martin were once Wimbledon youth players and joined seamlessly during the re-branding of the old Wimbledon. Their assistant manager Mick Hartford was once a former player for Wimbledon, as was AFC loanee Neil Sulivan, who will be hoping his parent club allow him to play in Sunday's grudge match. Both were team mates of current AFC manager Neil Ardley who was once a 'Crazy Gang' legend with 291 appearances under his belt, making the match an emotional one for himself.

If the cup tie is played to a manner that resembles the old Wimbledon, we should expect hard challenges, red cards and maybe even the odd bloodshed. The old Wimbledon were notorious 'giant killers', and therefore the writing is maybe on the wall for AFC. However, Wimbledon never stuck to the script.

Unlikely Underdogs, Ultimately Underachieve

Since the turn of the millennium, in the footballing world, there has been several shock winners of the various continental tournaments. Each international association has had a surprise winner since the year 2000, with some winners coming from outwith FIFA's top 50 ranked teams.

On one hand, the probability of these unlikely nations winning their association trophy may actually have been quite high. More and more nations are trying to expand the great game by ploughing large sums of money into their domestic leagues and youth set ups. The game is becoming more multi-cultural, with many foreign players getting the opportunities to ply their trade in some of the worlds top leagues. However, toppling continental greats such as Brazil (CONMEBOL), Germany (UEFA) and Egypt (CAF) just seemed to be to big of an ask for FIFA's mediocre nations. But recent winners are proving that with a committed FA, the right manager at the helm, a bunch of hard working players, and a little bit of luck, upsets can be achieved, and winning trophies may no longer be a foregone conclusion for FIFA's powerhouses.

The first upset of the millennium came in its first year. North America's continental trophy, The Gold Cup, has been dominated by Mexico and USA. Since 1991, eleven competitions have been held, with Mexico winning six and USA winning four. The only team to buck the trend was Canada with their Gold Cup win in 2000.

Their winning adventure was fraught with danger. They had never previously been in a Gold Cup final and their FIFA ranking was 85. The pre-tournament favourites were hosts USA, along with Mexico and tournament guest Columbia. In December 1999 Canada qualified for the tournament through the qualification playoff. The top two teams from a four team group would qualify for the tournament proper. Canada kicked off against Cuba with a bore 0-0 draw. They, therefore, had to win their remaining two matches to qualify and to their credit, they did, just. The Canucks scraped two 2-1 wins against El Salvador and Haiti, both being reduced to ten men at some stage in the qualification matches.

Nevertheless, Canada had qualified and were drawn in Group D with Costa Rica and Asian invites South Korea. The group was very tight, with all three games ending in a draw. Costa Rica topped the group on goals scored, as they had drawn both their games 2-2. Canada and South Korea drew 0-0, resulting in the unlikely scenario of both teams being tied on points, goals scored, goals conceded and of course head to head record. Controversially, the second team to proceed from the group would be decided by a coin toss. Canada won the toss and proceeded to face Mexico in the quarter final.

It must also be said, remarkably, Canada progressed from their group in the following Gold Cup, by the same virtue. All they needed to do in their final group game was draw with Ecuador, in fact a 1-0 defeat would have even seen Canada through on goal difference. But a comical capitulation in the last two minutes saw Ecuador grab the two goals they needed to force the coin toss. Canada ultimately won the coin toss for a second consecutive tournament.

But back to 2000, and Canada faced Mexico in the quarter finals. Mexico were ranked 10th in the world and were expected to make cannon fodder of the Canadians. And after taking the lead after half an hour, it was surely a foregone conclusion.

But with just seven minutes of normal time remaining, Northampton Town striker Carlo Corazzin equalised, meaning the game went into the dreaded golden goal. Cue an unlikely hero in the shape of Inverness Caledonian Thistle left back Richard Hastings.

Hastings was playing second division football in Scotland and had never previously scored for his country. But after a counter attack stemming from a rather over indulgent Mexico corner, Hastings found himself one on one with the opposition goalkeeper, and subsequently scored the winning goal. It would be Hastings only ever international goal in 59 appearances. He was partial to a cup upset that year, going on to be a part of the famous 'Super Caley Go Ballistic, Celtic Are Atrocious' Inverness team that went onto beat Celtic in the Scottish Cup.

Canada would face a rather handy Trinidad and Tobago side in the semis, who had the likes of Dwight Yorke, Russell Latapy and Arnold Dwarika in their starting line up. The match would ultimately be one of those where the goalkeeper grabbed crosses, shots and the headlines. A penalty save in the 35th minute from West Ham goalkeeper Craig Forrest, was the highlight of a stunning display, which was capped off with a win, thanks to a goal from Oldham defender Mark Watson; a player I doubt much of Oldham will have known at the time, let alone now.

Against all odds, Canada were in the final, where they would now face pre-tournament favourites Columbia. The South American's would later go on to lift the Copa America the following year with the likes of Carlos Valderrama and Faustino Asprilla to call upon. Therefore, they were a real force to be reckoned with on the international stage.

However, the final was somewhat of an anti climax. It was expected to be one way traffic, with Columbia dominating. It was quite the opposite to be honest. Dundee United defender and Canadian captain Jason De Vos scored on the stroke of half time to give Canada a deserved lead, before Carlo Corazzin grabbed his fourth of the tournament to secure the win. Forrest saved a penalty for the second consecutive match, but it was the only time Columbia threatened the Canadian goal.

Canada were crowned champions of North America by Sepp Blatter for the first time in their history. However, it would be the peak for Canada, who failed to qualify for the next World Cup and struggled to match the results they achieved at the 2000 Gold Cup.

The world of football would have to wait just four years before the next big upset occurred. This time it was UEFA that would oversee one of the biggest shocks in football history. I am, of course, talking about Euro 2004 and it's unlikely winners, Greece.

In fairness Greece were ranked in the top thirty teams in the world and they did top their qualifying group which contained Spain. But, 2004 was their first tournament in 24 years and the European Championship was normally dominated by big guns such as Germany, France and Italy.

Greece were drawn in Group A with hosts and much fancied Portugal, Spain and Russia. Thanks to goals from Karagounis and Basinas, Greece stunned the hosts in the opening game of the tournament, winning 2-1. They would then go on to draw with Spain, in what was very much a backs against the wall performance from the Greeks. Heading in to the final group game against Russia, Greece just needed a draw to qualify for the next round. But they got off to the worst possible start, conceding the quickest goal in European Championship history after just 68 seconds. The match was a tightly contested affair, which Russia won 2-1. That meant that anything other than a draw in the other group game between rivals Portugal and Spain, would see Greece through. Indeed, Portugal won the other match and Greece were preparing for the quarter finals.

They would face the defending champions France in the quarter finals. France were undefeated in the tournament and had won all eight qualifying matches. But Greece now feared no one and under the lead of German coach Otto Rehhagel, they were proving very hard to beat.

They frustrated France in an enthralling quarter final encounter, and deservedly took the lead with a trademark Angelos Charisteas header after 65 minutes. It was enough to see Greece through, in what was one of the most remarkable results in the history of European football.

The Czech Republic were the semi final opponents for Greece. Under the alias of Czechoslovakia, the Czech Republic had won the tournament in 1976 and were now one of Europes strongest teams. However, Greece made winning 1-0 a habit, as Roma centre back Dellas powered home an extra time header that was enough to secure the win by the virtue of silver goal. The Czechs had their fair share of chances, but couldn't convert. Greece would romp on into the final, where they would face hosts Portugal.

Everyone was expecting a Portugal win. They were very much a team on form with Phil Scolari in charge and with home advantage their name was basically on the trophy before the final kicked off. But lets not forget, Greece had beaten them in the opening game of the tournament.

It was obviously a good omen for the Greeks, as they once again laboured to a 1-0 win, again thanks to a Charisteas header. Portugal were stunned by the goal and struggled to get into the game thereafter. Just like Canada, against all odds, Greece were crowned the champions of their continent.

Fast forward three years, and this time it was the turn of Asia to witness a surprise winner. It was no secret to any one in the world, that Iraq were a country riddled with trouble and disaster. Infact, just days before their triumph in the Asian Cup, 50 people were killed in the capital city of Baghad, as people took to the street to celebrate their semi final win over South Korea. Terrorists saw the mass gathering of members of the public as a chance to cause havoc, and havoc they caused.

Iraq were grouped with pre-tournament favourites Australia, who were participating in the tournament for the first time after newly becoming an Asian member. Co-hosts Thailand and Oman completed the group.

Iraq topped the group after drawing with Thailand and Oman, and incredibly making easy meat of Australia, beating them 3-1. They would progress to face unlikely opponents in the shape of Vietnam. It was a very kind draw for Iraq and they moved into the semi finals with a comfortable 2-0 win.

The semi final offered a much tougher task. Iraq would face South Korea, who had a large contingent of players playing in some of Europe's top leagues. However, Iraq defended bravely and forced the match into extra time after a 0-0 draw. Iraq scored all four spot kicks in the shootout, meaning they would play in their first ever Asian Cup final.

The final saw Iraq play Saudi Arabia in what was billed as a contest of the tournaments best attack, Saudi Arabia, and the tournaments best defence, Iraq. Therefore, goals were not heavily expected, and they were ultimately not delivered either, well all but one.

One goal was enough to secure victory for the Lions, sparking mass celebrations back home in Baghdad, despite a government plea to vacate the streets due to the bloodshed after the semi final celebrations. It didn't stop jubilant Iraqis, who celebrated well in to the night, thankfully this time with no bloodshed.

One of the most recent continental cup upsets occurred in February this year, and accompanying it was a fairytale story that would not look out of place in Hollywood.

The story is based around Zambia and their stunning African Cup of Nations win. At the beginning of the year they were ranked 71st in the world and went into the tournament as unlikely winners. They were drawn in a group with Equatorial Guinea, Libya and Senegal, a group which they topped with two wins and a draw.

They were drawn against Sudan in the quarter final, and comprehensively beat them 3-0. They then met Ghana who were one of the tournament favourites. Zambia rode their luck at times, highlighted by Asamoah Gyan's penalty miss in the first half. But Zambia stood firm in defence and nicked a goal in the 78th minute, enough to see them through to the final.

The final, against Ivory Coast, was a tight affair, with the Didier Drogba led men edging it in normal time. Infact the former Chelsea man missed a spot kick in normal time, meaning the game went to penalties after finishing 0-0.

It gave Zambia hope, as Ivory Coast had a rather rotten record in penalty shootouts. The first nine penalties were scored, then drama struck. Zambia's Mweene had to score and he did. Although he was made to retake it. He got the better of the pressure and forced the shootout to sudden death. As Arsenal forward Gervinho missed and Sunzu scored, Zambia were crowned African champions for the first time. The result meant so much to Zambia, with the win being dedicated to the tragic victims of the Gabon air disaster.

In 1993 the Zambian national football team, dubbed the golden generation, were travelling to Senegal for a world cup qualifier. They were one of the finest teams in Africa at the time and were one of the favourites to win the African Cup of Nations the following year.

Tragically, the plane crashed off the coast of Liberville, Gabon, killing all 25 players and coaching staff on board. Their golden generation had been wiped out, and Zambia never really recovered, until now. The scene of this years triumph was ironically in Liberville, Gabon, making success all the more sweeter for Zambian people.

The latest in the list of striking international victors, and possibly the most unbelievable of the lot, is Tahiti. The island, representing French Polynesia, has a population under half a million and, although they are one of the stronger teams in the Oceania region, they had never previously won the OFC Nations Cup.

The tournament had only ever been won by Australia and New Zealand. But with Australia opting to move into the Asian federation, New Zealand were by far the only realistic winners of the tournament. The Kiwis are miles ahead of any other Oceania team in terms of footballing prowess, highlighted when Tahiti found themselves at the wrong end of a 10-0 mauling from New Zealand just a few years ago.

But this summer Tahiti managed to stun everyone by winning the OFC Nations Cup, beating Solomon Islands in the semi final and New Caledonia, the conquers of New Zealand, in the final.

Although Tahiti qualified for the Under 20 World Cup in 2009, proving they have a decent batch of young players, It was still a remarkable achievement for a country ranked 138th in the world. Although it must be said that the quality of football in Oceania is nothing short of horrendous. If New Zealand were to follow Australia and switch regions to Asia, you cant help but feel it would signal the end of competitive football in the continent, that's if you can even call it competitive just now.

The unlikely victories of Canada, Greece, Iraq, Zambia and Tahiti are what keeps the romance in football. Everyone loves to see an underdog triumph, but with success, comes expectation. Everyone expects to see an underdog progress. And apart from Greece, who without setting the world alight, have been consistent within Europe, the others have failed to use their wins as a platform for better things. Canada failed to produce quality players as predicted, struggled in following Gold Cups and have failed to qualify for a World Cup since. Likewise, Iraq have failed to qualify for a World Cup, but did make a decent account of themselves at the Confederations Cup, conceding just one goal in three games, but scoring none. Just last week they were thrashed by Brazil 6-0 and have struggled to remain consistent. Zambia looked less than impressive against Uganda in a qualification playoff for the next African Cup of Nations, going through on penalties. Although it is maybe too early to judge their project.

As for Tahiti, I fear the worst. They recently competed in the Coupe de I'Outre-Mer, a tournament contested by French colonies. They entered as favourites, but went out at the group stage after an embarrassing defeat to Mayotte, a colony not even recognised by FIFA. Their latest qualification fixtures have seen them slump to defeats against Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and New Zealand, failing to score and conceding eight. Next year they will travel to Brazil to represent Oceania in the Confederations cup. There they will face the likes of Brazil, Spain, Italy and Uruguay. I cant help but feel they will be decimated by such quality sides. I wouldn't even be surprised if they withdrew, to preserve the national sides limited funding and decreasing confidence.

Bondax

A few months back, I posted an article on the Lawrence brothers, who together form Disclosure. I have stumbled across another talented duo, proving to me that two heads really are better than one.

The latest dynamic duo go by the names of George Townsend and Adam Kaye, or to me and you, Bondax. They hail from Lancaster and astonishingly, both of them are still teenagers. However, you wouldn't think so judging by the quality of their music, that would have many believing they were seasoned veterans of the industry.

Much like Disclosure, their genre is somewhat unprecedented. Their subtle use of bass, soulful vocals and melodic percussion provides a chilled out euphoria. I can only describe their music as being like Phonat or Bobby Tank on tranquilisers. I am a huge fan of both of these artists as well, but Bondax just offers a more subdued, but effective, end product.

The single 'You're So' oozes class. It accompanies their trademark R&B vocals and catchy piano riffs, with an almost drum and bass backing. However, it was their latest single that brought them to my attention, 'Baby I Got That'.

The single has had a lot of airplay on Radio 1, particularly from Annie Mac, and the video has featured on MTV, albeit you would need to be nocturnal to have heard or seen the song via these platforms. Nevertheless, it still highlights the fact that this song is getting the attention it deserves.

It offers a nostalgia to this years summer that never was. I really could picture myself ice cold beer in hand, laying by the pool, relaxing to 'Baby I Got That'. And thanks to San Francisco producer Justin Martin, an alter ego remix, more suited to nightclubs, is also available for those who are ready to party.

The two young heads have a rather slim portfolio at the moment, as far as their own work goes. Although they do have some rather interesting remixes under their belt. Remixes of Marco Del Horno's 'This Town Is Ours' and Monarchy's 'You Don't Want To Dance With Me' shows that the guys are more versatile than first meets the eye; a trait that will prove its weight in gold in years to come. But for the time being we will just have to wait in anticipation for the next Bondax release.

Nowadays, I find it hard to come across music that gets me head beating and toe tapping at the same time. But Bondax's self proclaimed 'airy sunny romantic vibes' ticks that unusual box. Infact for me, Bondax ticks all the boxes and I'm sure, in time, many more music fans will feel the same way. At the age of just 18, time is on their side. Lets just hope that they use their age to their advantage.

Bondax - Baby I Got That   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-YmjBdNqc4

Bondax - You're So   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH7cOkYBH_I

Bondax - Just Us   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3z6s224b8U

Bondax - Just Smile For Me   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2XBHEr9gKo

Monarchy - You Don't Want To Dance With Me (Bondax Remix)   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PSD_6zY8Oo

Marco Del Horno - This Town Is Ours (Bondax Remix)   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14ZHYj_x1Vk

Seye - Mexicana Bounce (Bondax Remix)   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f47O0nlEDAk

Freddy Adu. Who?

In 2004 a young African American, at the tender age of just 14, became one of the youngest athletes to sign a professional contract in the United States. He had already been tipped to be the next Pele, and outshine top American sportsmen such as Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. Sports Illustrated branded him the Superhero that would take Soccer to a new level in the USA. Manufacturing heavyweight, Nike, agreed a $1 million contract with the prodigy when he was just 13.

The man, or boy, in question is Freddy Adu. By the fall of 2004 he was a household name. Endorsed by the great Pele, he was destined for spectacular things when he signed for MLS side D.C United. However less than a decade later the once boy wonder, has now left everyone wondering how everything went so wrong.

Born in Ghana in 1989, Adu arrived on the shores of America in 1997 after his mother won the Green Card Lottery; a program that allows permanent resident visas to natives of countries deemed to have low rates of immigration to the USA. By 2001, it was the USSF (United States Soccer Federation) who thought they had won the lottery.

Adu immediately began to display his footballing capabilities to those in his adopted home of Maryland and moved up the ranks quick. At the age of 12, Adu joined the IMG Academy in Florida. As most MLS clubs did not have youth systems, the IMG Academy was considered as the step below playing professional football in the USA. He would be there for just two years, when the demand for him to turn pro became too tempting for the teenager.

Manchester United and Inter Milan were reportedly interested in bringing Adu to Europe. Although, Adu was now beginning to be viewed as a cash cow for American football. Therefore, the MLS ensured Adu remained state side by including him in the 2004 MLS Super Draft. A deal was cut with Dallas Burn, who owned first pick in the draft, that meant D.C United would have first 'dibs' on Adu, in order to allow Freddy to be closer to home. At least somebody was thinking about the well being of the misguided and heavily exploited 14 year old.

Although starting well, Adu's first season at D.C United didn't quite go to plan. He made his debut against San Jose Earthquakes on the opening day of the season, becoming the youngest player to play in the MLS. As he crossed the playing line, America celebrated what they thought was the beginning of a new era. Less than a fortnight later the teenage prodigy scored his first professional goal, again, the youngest to do so in the league's history. But this would be the highlights of Adu's baptism of fire.

His spell at D.C United gradually turned sour as the teenager seemingly became weighted down by the pressure. Game time was limited and goals were a rarity. Despite this, Adu was made the highest paid player in the MLS, earning $500,000 per year, most likely because his price as a commodity was outweighing his importance as a player. Nevertheless he was still given opportunities and even featured in two all star games.

After a fall out with D.C coach Piotr Nowak, Adu was treading thin ice and the door marked exit, was now gaping. The youngster did, however, continue to give his all, but it seemed that this was a last gasp attempt to secure a now desired move to Europe.

After 87 games and a mere 11 goals for D.C United, Freddy Adu did get his move, although he would remain in the MLS with Real Salt Lake. By this time, Adu's reputation was in decline, his confidence in concordance.

His stay in Utah with Real Salt Lake was short lived, 11 games to be precise. After an impressive Under 20 World Cup with the American national side, Adu earned his dream ticket to Europe when Benfica came calling. At a cut back price of $2 million, people in Europe thought Benfica had a bargain. You see, much of Europe were naive to Freddy Adu's failure to live up to the hype in America. They still saw him as a promising talent. They were wrong.

To say Adu didn't take Europe by storm, would be an understatement. Infact he was nothing more than a light breeze. He yet again failed to brake the 11 game mark at his new club, and left Benfica on loan, the destination Monaco, a team heading down the same bleak road that the once boy wonder now found himself on.

A season long loan at Monaco saw him make just 9 appearances without finding the net. Failure to score became a habit for Adu, matching the stalemate at Belenenses, although with just 3 appearances to his name, he didn't have much of a chance.

His troubled time in Portugal was made worse by injuries. It seemed that nothing could go right for the boy who seemingly had everything at the age of 14.

The following season he joined Greek side Aris. Despite finding the net for the first time in two years, Adu again failed to make double digits in terms of appearances. Europe were now well aware that the one time phenomenon was just another run of the mill American import.

Freddy hit rock bottom when he was loaned out, once more, to Caykur Rizespor, a Turkish second division side who weren't even regarded as promotion candidates. Although, he did form some degree of redemption in Turkey, scoring 4 goals in 11 games.

His name was thrown in the international pot once again, after a two year exile between 2009 and 2011. He was selected for the 2011 Gold Cup after impressing in Turkey, but made just two appearances, albeit in the semi final and final.

Failing to establish himself in Europe, Adu headed back to America. He signed on a free transfer for Philadelphia Union, ironically managed by his once D.C United coach Piotr Nowak. And if Freddy was expecting to be welcomed back to America as a hero, he was wrong.

Adu had been given the chance to start a fresh at Philadelphia. He single handedly disposed of all the expectation placed on him at a very young age. His hunger for the game returned and he was gradually recapturing some of the magic that graced him as a teenager.

In fairness he somewhat steadied the ship at Philly. He still struggled to find the back of the net, although goalscoring was not so much of a requirement. Just like many other seasoned journeymen, Adu moved further back the field, now being deployed as a midfielder. The funny thing is, he is still only 23.

But just as things began to look up, Freddy was once again brought back down to earth. This time it was new Philly coach John Hackworth that decided to publicly criticise Adu. Standing his ground, Adu spoke back and paid the price.

He is now struggling to hold down a starting place once again and is apparently not in Jurgen Klinsmann's plans for the national side. It seems like we have gone full circle, with Freddy reportedly looking for another move away from America.

He may want to try his hand at Europe once again, or maybe pastures new in Asia. He may be suited to the Asian market, as they will no doubt buy in to his boyhood stories there. His style of play may also suit the far east.

But lets face it, Freddy Adu may well be the biggest anti-climax to come out of the USA ever.

He certainly has the likable factor and maintains a positive attitude. But a failed stint in Europe, the absence of a World Cup appearance and two torrid spells in his homeland, does not look good on a CV. It seems like the next Pele, would have ultimately failed to lace the great mans boots.

However, I think the people that directed, or rather misdirected, Freddy Adu at a young age must take a long hard look at themselves. What 13 year old would turn down a $1 million contract with the biggest manufacturing company in the world? What 14 year old would turn down the chance to play professional football? Maybe one who was not used as a promotional tool for American soccer and ultimately the USA itself.

Belgium: Reassuringly Brilliant

I ran a search on google this week, with the key word 'Belgium'. A link caught my eye, that outlined what Belgium is most commonly known for. Several key personnel made the list, such as, tennis stars Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters; five time Tour De France winner Eddy Merckx; and actor Jean-Claude Van Damme. Beer, chocolate, French fries and Brussel sprouts were included in the list, as were famous cartoons Tintin and the Smurfs.

I noted that the composer of the census felt the need to include Belgium's football team, not for their quality side of the 80's or for apparently inventing the offside trap, but for being 'very boring'. Which led me to the conclusion that the author was obviously born post 1990. Having been born in the 90's myself, I am only aware of the side Belgium possessed during the 80's through what I have read and been told. Us 90's kids will be likely to see Belgium as 'boring', 'dull', 'mediocre', or whatever other negative connotations spring to mind. However, those days may just be about to change.

Since Belgium played their first match in 1904, they were always regarded as a mediocre team, a bit like the nineties and early naughties really. They were never capable of challenging the big guns, but were never the whipping boys. They only really began to make their mark on the international stage when domestic club Anderlecht started to make a name for themselves. Anderlecht's status as one of Europe's top clubs was achieved in the late 70's and 80's, when they lifted the Cup Winners Cup twice, in 76 and 78, and when they won the Uefa Cup in 83. The success of Anderlecht then began to rub off on the national side.

Guy Thys

The man to thank for bringing Belgium to the top of the international game, was Guy Thys. He took over in 1976 and by 1982 his Belgian side had qualified for the World Cup. He created a team that was physical, well organised and hard to beat - basically an old fashioned Stoke City. However, it was not all brute force. Thys had some talented players to call upon as well.

Jean-Marie Pfaff

Goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff was first choice goalkeeper at Bayern Munich, where he won three Bundesliga titles. He represented Belgium 64 times, spanning two World Cups and two European Championships. Pele named Pfaff in his top 125 players of all time, and he was ever reliable in Thys side.

Eric Gerets

The star player in Thys sturdy Belgian defence was Eric Gerets. He also played his club football outwith his homeland, for AC Milan and PSV no less. It was at PSV where he enjoyed most of his success, including winning the 1988 European Cup. He is now a successful manager, currently in charge of the Moroccan national side.

Jan Ceulemans

The two danger men in midfield were Jan Ceulemans and Enzo Scifo. The former, Ceulemans, was Thys captain and was considered one of the best players in the world during his prime. He played his club football in Belgium for Club Brugge and is Belgium's most capped player with 96 appearances. He to was named in Pele's list of the 125 greatest footballers and appeared in three World Cups for Belgium, bettered only by three players, one of which was Scifo. He was one of the younger players in Guy Thys squad, but he was very highly rated. His club career saw him travel Europe, from Milan to Monaco. Enzo Scifo was voted young player of the tournament in his first World Cup in 1986 and went on to win 84 caps.

Enzo Scifo

The team would not be complete without a goal scorer upfront, and that man was Luc Nilis. He was also one of the kids in Thys team, but he showed from a very young age that he not only had an eye for goal, but also had the ability to set up goal scoring opportunities. Ruud Van Nistelrooy said during his time at PSV with Nilis, that the Belgian was the best strike partner he had ever played with. Nilis partnered Edwin Vanderburgh upfront for his country, forming an effective partnership.

Luc Nilis

It was these players that helped raise the profile of Belgian football, transforming the national side into one of the best in the world. They showcased their talents to Europe by reaching the final of the 1980 European Championship, where they lost to a last minute goal against West Germany. However, the highlight for the side was without doubt reaching the semi final of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. They knocked out Soviet Union and Spain on route to facing eventual winners Argentina, losing to two goals from Diego Maradona.

Belgium went on to qualify for the next four World Cups, although by the time Thys left in 1991, they were a dying nation. The likes of Ceulemans, Gerets and Pfaff had called time on representing their country and disappointingly no one really stepped up to replace them. Belgium's golden era had come to an end.

Belgium battered through the 90's, feeding off the reputation Thys men had installed. They continued to qualify for World Cups, although failed to set the tournaments alight. They had and still do have, a rotten record in qualifying for the Euros. They have only played in one European Championship since 1988, and even then that was through the virtue of being one of the host nations. Players such as Wesley Sonck, Emile Mpenza, Marc Wilmots and Bart Goor were the only shining lights, on a nation heading straight for the trap door of international football. However, as qualification for the 2014 World Cup beckons, it seems Belgium may have just found a cure for their 80's hangover.

Marc Wilmots

They have been drawn in group A as third seeds with Croatia, Serbia, Scotland, Macedonia and Wales. It may not contain one of the power houses, but it is deceivingly difficult. But with a new manager, Marc Wilmots, and a breathtaking crop of young players at the ready, Belgium will feel they have a realistic chance of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 2002.

So who are the players that have Belgian football fans saving their hard earned cash once again, for another Word Cup adventure?

Lets begin at the back. Attending the goalposts is most likely to be Atletico Madrid youngster Thibaut Courtois. The 20 year old on loan from Chelsea is one of Europe's best young goalkeepers, being tipped by Petr Cech to be the next Petr Cech.

Just as Thys 80's side, the current outfit have a very comprehensive defence. Manager Marc Wilmots will be spoilt for choice with the likes of Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen, Munich's Daniel Van Buyten, Ajax's Toby Alderweireld, Zenit's Nicolas Lombaerts and Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen to choose from. Take your pick of three of them to accompany, one of the worlds best defenders, Vincent Kompany, at the back. No team will enjoy facing such a solid defensive outfit.

If you thought Marc Wilmots was spoilt for choice in defence, than take a look at the midfielders he has to select from. The combined total for Belgium's midfielders in their current squad for the forth coming qualifiers is just short of £120 million. Porto midfielder Steven Defour has been linked with Manchester United, amongst others, and cost Porto £9 million. New Zenit St. Petersburg recruit Axel Witsel cost £32 million, making him the joint most expensive Belgian player, along side Eden Hazard. The Chelsea new boy has hit the ground running since his move in the summer, with many labelling him the next Lionel Messi. His Chelsea team mate, although currently on loan at Werder Breman, is Kevin De Bruyne. He cost Chelsea £7 million and is very highly rated by the London club. Fellow Londoners Tottenham, splashed out £15 million for Moussa Dembele to replace Luka Modric. After scoring on his Spurs debut, he is already proving that he can fill the void left by the Croatian. Lesser known to English fans, may be Dries Mertens of PSV, who cost £7 million. Since joining the Dutch club he has an impressive record of 36 games played and 22 goals scored. That just leaves Everton afroman Marouane Fellaini, who cost the Toffees £15 million and is ever present in David Moyes side.

Upfront, Wilmots has even more quality players to choose from.  The most surprising selection was Benjamin De Ceulaer of Racing Genk. He scored 12 goals for mid table Lokeren last season, and after scoring another three for them at the start of this campaign, he signed for Genk, going on to score on his debut. A more likely selection was Borussia Monchengladbach striker Igor De Camagro, who helped his club finish fourth in the Bundesliga last season with 12 goals. Premiership fans will be aware of trio Kevin Mirallas, Romelu Lukaku and Christian Benteke. Mirallas was the Greek league top scorer last season with 20 goals, which prompted Moyes to make him the second Belgian at Goodison Park. Lukaku is regarded as the next Didier Drogba, and has made an impact since joining West Brom on loan from Chelsea in order to gain Premiership experience. De Ceulaer was signed by Genk to replace Aston Villa new boy Benteke, who scored 19 goals last year for Genk.

Convinced? To add extra icing on the cake, Belgium have quality players, such as Van Den Borre, Blondel, Chadli, Martens, Mudingayi, Van Damme, Vossen and Ogunijmi; who amass 108 caps and 10 goals between them; to call upon if the current batch of players needs replenishing. Not to mention they have a rather talented under 21 project as well.

If you were not aware before, be very aware now - Belgium will be a force to be reckoned with on the international stage, once again. Many are even arguing that this generation may eclipse the previous golden generation of the 80's.

It is quite amazing the talent they have to offer. Many will be asking how this Belgian revolution came about?

Well, I guess every now and again a nation will throw up a few decent players, maybe even a few world class ones. Maybe this is Belgium's time. Another reason may be the lack of money in the Belgian league. A lack of finances has forced teams in Belgium to nurture youngsters from their youth academies, rather than import overseas players. This ultimately leads to an influx of players with potential breaking through. A final reason, may be immigration. Belgium's colonial past has resulted in large amounts of Africans moving to pastures new in the North of Europe. Players such as Witsel (Martinique), Fellanini (Morocco), De Camargo (Brazil), Lukaku and Benteke (both Congo) all have parents from outside of Belgium. France has produced countless players this way, with a majority of their 1998 World Cup winning side having an African background. The current German side have Podolski, Ozil and Khedira, who originate from Poland, Turkey and Tunisia respectively.

Although Belgium won the opening game against the much favoured Argentina in the 1982 World Cup, it is the above image, from the same game, that has lowered the credibility of Belgian football for years gone by. But as we enter a new era the photo has become almost unrecognisable amongst the younger generation, possibly (finally) lifting the shackles of humiliation. The 80's Belgium will be remembered as their golden years, the 90's will be remembered for Jean Marc Bosman, the Belgian footballer who sparked the 'Bosman Ruling', and the 00's will be remembered as an all time low, when Belgium sank to 71st in the world rankings. Lets hope that the 10's will be remembered as the era when Belgium once again became a force to be reckoned with, as many a teams have achieved glory with much weaker players to choose from.

Road To Rio

This week sees the road to Rio begin for UEFA's 53 member nations. From Spain to Slovenia, Italy to Iceland and France to Finland, all of Europe's national teams will compete for the 13 places available at Rio as UEFA's representatives.

Each group has thrown up some interesting head-to-heads, including the Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine and Poland, as well as two previous World Cup winners in the shape of Spain and France.

Group A:

The top seeds in group A are Croatia. Igor Stimac helped them achieve third place in the 1998 World Cup, and now he has been named successor to Slaven Bilic as manager of the once Yugoslavian state. The former Derby County and West Ham defender has very little managerial experience, having never managed a club outwith Croatia. However, Stimac strongly believes his side has what it takes to meet expectations and qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. And with star players such as Luka Modric of Real Madrid, Mario Mandzukic of Bayern Munich and Dario Srna of Shaktar Donetsk, qualification should be no problem for the nation ranked ninth in the world.

Croatia's biggest challenge to top spot in the group will be expected to come from Serbia. Like Croatia, they also have a new man in charge. Sinisa Mihajlovic, is regarded as one of his nations greatest ever players, and the 43 year old will be hoping that his experience gained in a career based mainly in Italy, will be enough to guide Serbia to Brazil in two years time. His first squad selection raised a few eyebrows, with the absence of some notable players, although it seems that he is ready to put faith in youth, rather than experience. He has an enviable defence consisting of Ivanovic (Chelsea), Subotic (Dortmund), Kolarov (Man City) and Lukovic (Zenit), but the Serbs do lack in midfield and upfront. Their gradual demise down the FIFA rankings proves they are a dying threat.

A more likely challenge to the top spot in group A is likely to come from Belgium. The Belgium's are ranked 53rd in the world, but are a nation on the rise. I will temporarily limit my views on Belgium for the time being, as the next blog post will be dedicated to Marc Wilmots side. However, I will say that I truly believe that they will top group A, as their squad, captained by Vincent Kompany, is peaking just at the right time.

Fourth seeds in the group are Scotland. The Scots have always possessed the fighting spirit that puts fear into opposing sides, however since their hay days of the 70s and 80s, Scotland have never had a squad capable of realistically challenging on the international stage. They will believe they can beat anyone in Scotland, but they must pick up points on the road. Their squad, however, is gradually improving with more and more becoming first team regulars in the English Premiership. Keep a particular eye out for Norwich City man Robert Snodgrass who could prove to be Scotland's key man. The lack of a true minnow in the group could possibly be a positive for Scotland, as a lapse in concentration against the likes of Liechtenstein, Faroe Islands and San Marino often costs the Scots.

The bottom seeded side in group A is Wales. They, too, have a new manager at the helm. But, many are asking if Chris Coleman is the right man for the job. There is no doubt Wales have a talented squad with the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, justified by their leap up the FIFA rankings from 112th to 37th in just two years, however their recent form does not match the same signs of progress. They should have enough to beat fourth seeds Macedonia, in the group, but can forget about qualifying from what is a rather misleadingly hard group. However, it must also be said that Macedonia themself have some decent players, such as Goran Pandev, Goran Popov and Darko Tasevski, and may make life difficult for the group leaders who travel to Skopje.

Group qualifiers: Croatia and Belgium

Group B:

European Championship runners up, Italy, are the number one seed in group B. The Azzurri will be expected to top the group, but may face some stiff opposition. They begin their journey on Friday in Bulgaria, before facing Malta. Nothing other than six points will be a disappointment, which may lead to a troublesome campaign. However, I believe they will begin with a 100% start, and real trouble will come when they face Denmark and Czech Republic.

Denmark looked impressive at the European Championships and have the squad capable of challenging for top spot in the group. They stunned number one seeds Portugal in their Euro qualifying group, by winning it, and will be hoping to do the same again. They sit 10th in the FIFA world rankings thanks to players such as Daniel Agger, Michael Krohn-Dehli and Christian Eriksen, and should qualify for their fifth World Cup.

Third seeds Czech Republic have only qualified for one world cup since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, quite surprising considering the quality of players they have had at their disposal. They somewhat overachieved at the Euros, which they qualified for by the skin of their teeth. They will be looking to challenge the top two, although I expect them to fall short.

Bulgaria find themselves on the same course as Czech Republic, as a once great footballing nation falling down the ranks into mediocrity. The days of Hristo Stoichkov and World Cup semi-finals are well behind them. Now their squad, minus Stillyan Petrov who everyone wishes a speedy recovery to full health, is almost unrecognisable. They face a long qualifying campaign, that should be used to nurture young talent.

Armenia are very much an unknown quantity on the international stage. However, in the last few years they have shot up the FIFA rankings, with a current ranking of 56th. They rely firmly on Shaktar Donetsk midfielder Henrikh Mykhitaryan, who runs the show in midfield. Their last World Cup qualifying campaign saw them bottom the group, however they went on to impress in the Euro qualifiers, finishing third in the group as the groups top scorers. This group could allow them to further enhance their FIFA ranking, which will stand them in good stead for future qualification campaigns.

The group minnows are Malta. They have very little pedigree at this level, although they have won their last three friendlies, albeit against Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and San Marino. Those who closely follow the English Championship may recognise star player Michael Mifsud upfront who formerly played for Coventry, amongst others.

Group qualifiers: Italy and Denmark

Group C:

Joachim Low's Germany are top dogs in group C. The German conveyor belt of football players just keeps churning out superstars and they are unlikely to be challenged. Incredibly, the last time Germany lost a qualifier for any tournament, was in October 2007, where an inform Czech side beat them 3-0 in Munich. Don't bet against them extending the run, especially with players like Ozil, Schweinsteiger and Podolski in the squad.

The Germans main challengers are likely to be Sweden and Republic of Ireland. Both come off the back of a disappointing European Championship and will be looking to rectify proceedings. Ireland manager Giovani Trapattoni has a difficult task on his hands with many senior players choosing to retire. He will be hoping young prospects James McLean and James McCarthy will step up to the plate, or else he will be saying 'Ciao' to Ireland's chances of qualification. Sweden, on the other hand, will be very happy with the draw, as they have a very realistic chance of making second spot theirs. People may see Ibrahimovic as having his best days behind him, as he moves into what has to be said a rather weak league, with PSG. However, many would be a fool to think this, as the Bosnian born Swede still has plenty experience and goals to offer.

Fourth seeds in the group are Austria. On paper, the Austrians have a decent looking side. Nine squad members play in the German Bundesliga, including the crudely named Andres Ivanschitz and Christian Fuchs, and it is hoped that they will provide useful insight on their German opponents when they meet. Hot head Marko Arnautovic has always offered potential upfront, although his arrogance has sometimes got the better of him. If they can get off to a good start, they might turn a few heads as the group progresses.

Group C is unique, in that in possess two of Europe's recognised cannon fodder. An unexpected surge up the rankings from Faroe Islands saw them creep up into pot five in the draw. When the draw was made, the Faroes were ranked 112th, with 8 European countries below them. They now sit at a more commonly associated 153rd, as Europe's third lowest ranked team. In fact, they are now ranked below the group's sixth seed team Kazakhstan. Neither team will be expected to mix it with the big boys.

Group qualifiers: Germany and Sweden
Group D:

Group D is likely to be dominated by the Netherlands. They have turned to Louis Van Gaal to manage the team for a second time, after he stepped down in 2002 due to an ill fated qualifying campaign, which saw the Dutch fail to qualify for the 2002 World Cup. He has big boots to fill, as no one can deny that Bert Van Marwijk succeeded expectations as Oranje manager. Van Gaal is one of another long list of managers to put faith in youngsters. Although it has to be said, that the youngsters he has chosen are of a very high standard.

If the race for 1st in the group was a foregone conclusion, with it being hard to see past Holland; the race for second will be an intriguing one. The front runners are expected to be Turkey, who have a very strong looking midfield and strike force, but lack in the defensive department. The Turks are always good for a bit of drama and never do things the easy way.

They will be run close for second place by Hungary and Romania. Hungary were once a dominant force in world football, finishing as runners up in 1938 and 1954. A long time ago I hear you cry, and you would be right. They have never matched the same dizzying heights of the Magical Magyars which included the legendary Ferenc Puskas, having qualified for only three World Cups since 1970. However, the future looks to be good with their Under 20 side finishing third at the 2009 U-20 World Cup. The players that made up that squad are beginning to make their mark on the first team, such as Balazs Dzsudzsak, Vladimir Koman and Adam Szalai.

Romania's glory days are a not so distant memory. You only need to rewind back less than twenty years to see the likes of Gheorghe Hagi, Florin Raducioiu and Illie Dumitrescu take Romania to the quarter final of the World Cup and then the same position at the 2000 European Championship. They are on a decent run, having lost just two of their last eleven matches.

The team to avoid in pot five was definitely Estonia. Although they lack any star names, they managed to finish second in their Euro 2012 qualifying group, before losing a playoff against Ireland. However, they probably excelled in the last qualifying campaign and may fail to meet the same high standards. They will look forward to meeting group minnows Andorra, as they are somewhat of a bogey team for the Catalans. The two nations have met nine times, with Estonia winning every time. In fact Andorra have only ever won one World Cup qualifying match since they first auditioned in 1998, and scored just 11 goals.

Group qualifiers: Netherlands and Turkey

Group E:

You may be forgiven for thinking group E does not have a pot one team. In fact, Norway, were ranked 12th when the draw was made, only to drop 13 places since, and were therefore a pot one team. The Scandinavians have only played in 3 out of a 19 possible World Cups. They did, however, look impressive in the Euro 2012 qualification, finishing joint second with Portugal.

Pot two's representatives in the group are Slovenia. They start with two crucial matches against Switzerland and Norway, two must wins if they want to top the group. If they can win their first two matches they will put themselves in pole position to qualify for their third World Cup. Look out for PSV striker Tim Matavz, who is a born goal scorer.

The highest ranked team in the group are Switzerland, yet they are in pot three. They will, however, feel they have a good chance in this group. In 2006 they broke records for all the wrong reasons at the World Cup. They were the first team to be eliminated without loosing a game, going out to Ukraine on penalties. Incidentally, they missed every penalty in the shootout, again the first team to do so at a World Cup. However, on the plus side they did set the record in the 2010 World Cup for the most consecutive minutes without conceding a goal, stringing back to the unfortunate 2006 campaign. They will be expecting to qualify from what is an unchallenging group.

The bottom seeds in the group, may have their best ever chance of qualifying for a major tournament. Although Iceland are without golden boy, Eidur Gudjohnsen, they have a very handy squad. Aficionado's of Icelandic football will be well aware of the quality their squad has, however implementing it onto the pitch may be a problem. The likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson (Tottenham), Johan Berg Gudmundsson (AZ Alkmaar) and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (Ajax) are all under the age of 23 but are highly rated across Europe. Maybe it is one campaign to early for Iceland's young guns.

The two remaining teams in group E are Albania and Cyprus. No one is expecting them to gatecrash the top two qualifying spots and their finishing places in the group is a toss up really. Albania may have a slight edge with experienced players such as ex Sunderland and current Lazio man Lorik Cana, as well as Erjon Bogdani. Albania's biggest ever win came three years ago against Cyprus, and judging by the Cypriot squad that has plummeted 43 ranking places in the last two years, a similar score may well occur.

Group qualifiers: Slovenia and Switzerland

Group F:

If ever there was a two horse race, group F is it. Portugal are the front runners in the group, having impressed at Euro 2012. With Cristiano Ronaldo captaining the side, it is hard to see past them not qualifying for a fourth straight World Cup finals.

Their only rivals in the group will be Russia. After match day one of Euro 2012, some people were tipping them to go all the way. Although the longer the tournament went on, cracks and weaknesses became apparent. The 2018 hosts will want to enter their World Cup with confidence and quality, and that project starts now with Fabio Capello at the helm. Alan Dzagoev is certainly one for the future, in a Russian side that should aim for no worse than second place in the group.

Europe's second worst team of the last two years has officially been Israel. They have plunged into international wilderness with a lowly FIFA ranking of 82nd. It is in fact their lowest ever ranking, giving the side little belief that they can qualify for Israel's second World Cup. English Premiership fans will be well aware of the quality that Israel captain Yossi Benayoun possess, however he is about the only quality player in the squad.

Northern Ireland are another team that has suffered in the last two years, ranked 62nd in 2010, but now sit 101st. They are without influential trio Paddy McCourt, Martin Paterson and Shane Ferguson for their opening qualifiers. They will be hoping to rekindle some of the magic that occurred in their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, which saw them beat Spain, Sweden and Denmark, only to finish third. Had it not been for two uncharacteristic losses to Iceland, they would have qualified.

The bottom two sides in the group are Azerbaijan and Luxembourg. Under the guidance of Berti Vogts, Azerbaijan have seen a gradual improvement. Despite having no big name players to choose from, or indeed hardly any from outwith Azerbaijan, Vogts has achieved the most qualification points compared to any of his predecessors. However, they have never beaten any of the sides in their group, apart from Luxembourg. Luxembourg's squad for the first two games have only sixteen international goals combined. Portugal and Russia scored 17 and 19 respectively in their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaigns. Draw from that your own conclusions.

Group qualifiers: Portugal and Russia

Group G:

Since Greece stunned Europe in 2004 by winning the European Championships, they have surprised many by managing to maintain a competitive side. Most people saw it as a freak incident, that would do nothing but put pressure on future Greek sides to match the incredible feet. However, they have qualified for every major tournament since and shocked a few people with their swashbuckling displays in this years Euros. They have been handed a rather fortuitous draw, that they will surely take advantage of.

Barring a Greek demise that coincides with their recent economy, the chase for second place will be contested by Slovakia and Bosnia. Although Slovakia are some way off their highest ranking of 15th, they still have enough quality players to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup. Captain Marek Hamsik is supported in midfield by tricky wingers Vladimir Weiss and Miroslav Stoch. Their problem may be in the goalscoring department, especially since strikers Filip Holosko, Stanislav Sestak and Erin Jendrisek all failed to make the squad for the first two qualifiers. They may be wishing they had one of Bosnia's key frontmen, consisting of Man City's Edin Dzeko and Stuttgart's Vedad Ibisevic. Both will pose a threat to any national side and they are backed up well by a solid midfield. After narrowly missing out on Euro 2012 qualification, this may be the year for Bosnia.

Baltic rivals Lithuania and Latvia fill the fourth and fifth seed places in group G. In the recent Baltic Cup, Latvia hammered Lithuania 5-0, if that is anything to go by. Latvia, actually far from embarrassed themselves in the last World Cup qualification process. They finished third in their group just four points behind group winners Switzerland. Reading centre half Kaspars Gorkss captains the side, who will turn to veteran striker Maris Verpakovskis for goals, in what may be his last campaign for the national side. Their neighbours Lithuania are regular mid-group finishers and are draw specialists. However, I expect a more troublesome campaign ahead.

Liechtenstein will hope that this qualifying campaign goes something like their 2006 qualifying campaign. Their first ever qualifying wins came against Luxembourg, although arguably more notably, they drew with Portugal and Slovakia. Their Euro 2012 qualifiers involved a win and a draw against Lithuania. So they may look to pick up a few points with Slovakia and Lithuania in their group again.

Group qualifiers: Greece and Bosnia

Group H:

The out right favourites for group H is England. As they enter a new era led by Roy Hodgson, they will be hoping that group H will be as straight forward as it seems. That said, lets move on to their opponents.

Montenegro only played their first match as an independent nation in 2007, but have made quite an impression. Their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign saw them draw twice with current group opponents England, which saw them earn a play-off against Czech Republic. They went their first four games without conceding a goal and only lost twice. However, they disappointed against Czech Republic losing 3-0 on aggregate. Since then they have slowly dropped down the rankings and may struggle to qualify.

European Championship co-hosts Poland and Ukraine were ironically drawn together in group H, and are more likely to challenge for second spot. Both teams failed to qualify from their groups at the Euros, however they did not go out without a fight. Poland have Dortmund trio Lukasz Piszczek, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowski as their main men, and will rely on them being fit and on form if they are to qualify. Ukraine are planning for life without hero Andriy Shevchenko, which may be difficult. Shevchenko defined Ukrainian football and progress without him may be slow and gradual. Therefore Poland may pip them to second spot.

Group H is completed by lacklustre duo Moldova and San Marino. Moldova will enjoy being drawn with San Marino again, as they beat them twice in Euro 2012 qualifying. However, they are officially Europe's worst side of the last two years, dropping 52 places in the FIFA rankings. San Marino are equally as bad and have the undesirable tag as the worlds lowest ranked team. They have only ever won one match and I would not be surprised if England put double digits past them.

Group qualifiers: England and Poland

Group I:

The phrase 'last but certainly not least' would be appropriate for group I. World and European champions Spain fill the top spot and are likely to do so come the end of the campaign. Their side of superstars will be to much for their opponents, with only France capable of taking points off them.

France may feel slightly hard done by in being drawn with Spain. However, they went through a playoff to qualify for the 2010 World Cup and may have to plan for a similar outcome. Their squad is not as strong as previous years, but they should still have enough to finish second. Their clashes with Spain are likely to be the highlights of all UEFA qualification fixtures.

Belarus were the only team to beat France in the Euro 2012 qualifiers and they will be hoping they can do the same again this time. If they do, they will give them self a realistic chance of qualifying. They have a good young team, that did well at the Olympics and the 2011 Under 21 European Championships. If they can refrain from leaking goals, which has proved a habit in past campaigns, they may have a slim chance of causing an upset in the group.

The final two teams in the group are Georgia and Finland. The closest Georgia came to qualification was in 1998, when they finished fourth in their group. They assembled a competitive squad that reached 42 in the FIFA rankings. However, despite turning to experienced Argentinian manager Hector Cupar, they could not progress, and have since seen a dramatic demise. They have now turned to one of their ex-stars in the shape of Temuri Ketsbaia to lead the team to greater things. But it must be said, that the former Newcastle man has a real challenge on his hands.

Like Georgia, Finland also have a former player in charge. Mixu Paatelainen also has a tough job ahead and will do well to pick up a few wins in the group. They have, however, began the year well, winning four of their six games and losing just one. He will put a lot of faith in brothers Roman and Alexei Eremenko, along with Ajax man Niklas Moisander. However, playing in the five team group always makes things harder for lesser teams, as they do not have the possibility of a confidence boosting mauling of Europe's whipping boys.

Group qualifiers: Spain and France