TIDYING UP THE FIRST ROUNDS

Holland and the Ukraine played each other on June 13th in Amsterdam with the Dutch winning 3-2. Holland are ranked 16th and might be likened to Liverpool in the luminous 70s and 80s, classy and clever. The Ukraine ranked 24th might be more Fulham, well coached and unable to score goals! 

There are 22 million people in The Netherlands and 17 million people. It is a flat country, as long as you don't head too far south.

The Ukraine (badge below), some entymologists suggest the name means "borderland", ogthers "homeland". It boasts the World's deepest underground station, curiously named Arsenalna in Kiev, transporting trains 105.5 metres below ground. I don't think our Arsenal Tube Station is that far down under ground. They will give Estonia 12 pts in Eurovision and Ireland NUL. Not surprised by the Estonian vote, bit surprised by Ireland's! Must have been beaten by the Irish in Eurovision contest some time.

Here it is.....After World War 2, the western part of Ukraine merged into the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and the whole country became a part of the Soviet Union. Ukraine gained its independence in 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.