We run the rule over England and Scotland's World Cup qualifying opponents.
We run the rule over England and Scotland's World Cup qualifying opponents
Managerless England have been drawn in Group Six of the World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign while Scotland line up against the likes of Holland in Group 9. Here, we look at the merits of their respective opponents.
ENGLAND
Croatia
Slaven Bilic's side ended England's hopes of qualifying for the Euro 2008 finals last week with a masterful display at Wembley and will have their sights set firmly on thwarting their World Cup dreams as well.
Bilic's side combine organisation and flair in equal measure and will prove a real test for whoever ends up taking over the reigns with the national side.
Ukraine
Ukraine were ranked 29th in the latest FIFA world rankings and Oleg Blokhin's side will pose a considerable threat to England.
Despite his failure to adapt to life in the Premier League with Chelsea, Andriy Shevchenko is still his nation's talisman and would love to show the English fans what he his capable of on the international stage.
England have twice played Ukraine in friendlies, beating them 3-0 at St James' Park in 2004 and 2-0 at the old Wembley in 2000.
Belarus
Ranked 60th in the world, Belarus should not pose to many problems for England, but despite their disastrous Euro 2008 qualifying campaign nothing can be taken for granted.
Arsenal star Alexander Hleb is a crucial figure for Belarus and he will relish welcoming England to the imposing Dinamo Stadium for the first time in their history.
Kazakhstan
This threatens to be another trip into the unknown for England as the they face the ninth biggest country in the world. Along with Belarus, Kazakhstan are another side England have never faced and Dutch boss Arno Pijpers will have a task on his hands as he plots to overcome England.
Andorra
Andorra were also in England's Euro 2008 qualifying group, but they can hardly claim to have had a similar impact as Croatia.
Steven Gerrard inspired a 5-0 thumping at Old Trafford in September last year and England overcame the tiny Principality 3-0 in Barcelona in March.
SCOTLAND
Holland
The Dutch appeared at the 1934 and 1938 finals but were then not back until 1974. Reached the final that year but lost to hosts West Germany. They again reached the final in 1978, but once more the hosts - this time Argentina - defeated them. Did not qualify in 1982, 1986 or 2002, but reached the semi-finals in 1998 and are always among the fancied teams when they reach the finals.
Norway
Norway have featured three times, in the 1938, 1994 and 1998 tournaments. They lost their first-round match in extra-time to eventual winners Italy on their debut, and in 1994 they were unlucky to go out in the group stages when each team finished on four points after a win, draw and defeat apiece. Mexico and the Republic of Ireland went through by right, together with Italy who were among the best third-placed finishers, and Norway went home. Norway and Brazil advanced from Scotland's group at the 1998 finals - Norway and Scotland drew 1-1. Italy knocked the Norwegians out, winning 1-0 in the last 16.
Macedonia
The Macedonians joined FIFA in 1994 as a new nation, after the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. They finished fourth in their qualifying campaigns for the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, and fifth in qualifying for 2006. The most notable result in those campaigns was the 11-1 victory they recorded against Liechtenstein in November 1996. Drew twice with Holland in the qualifiers for the 2006 finals.
Iceland
Iceland have never qualified for the World Cup finals. They finished with just four points in their 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign, with their only points coming from matches against Malta.
