Following the World Cup qualifiers over the past week, the European groups are beginning to take shape with a feel for who is now likely to make it to Brazil in 2014 emerging. Here, we assess how the home nations’ chances look after the early games.

England

Wednesday’s delayed draw with Poland exposed England’s frailties and dampened the optimism generated by big wins over Moldova and San Marino earlier in the group.

Roy Hodgson’s side remain well placed to qualify for Brazil and their favourites tag in Group H proves they will have no problem getting positive results against the aforementioned two minnows.

However, it is against the better sides that they struggle – as the draws against Ukraine and the Poles have proved – and the Three Lions certainly need to improve overall if they are to seal a spot in the top two.

Montenegro’s unexpected rise to the top of Group H early on has moved them into contention in the betting market and shaken things up somewhat and Hodgson and his players know how important a run of victories now is for his side to ensure their place in Brazil.

Scotland

The pressure has intensified on Scotland boss Craig Levein following their meek surrender in Belgium that leaves the Tartan Army on just two points from four games and now long odds to qualify with totesport.

Draws against Serbia and Macedonia, whose odds have now shortened to qualify, followed up by that dramatic defeat in Wales, means their chances of making a major tournament for the first time since 1998 are hanging by a thread.

Only a remarkable comeback from this position in the group and a series of unlikely wins over seemingly better-equipped opposition will save Scotland now – and that, sadly, looks about as likely as Levein still being in the job come the start of November.

Wales

Wales are only marginally better off than their Celtic cousins after the 2-0 defeat in Croatia on Tuesday left Chris Coleman’s side on three points in Group A. They, too, simply do not look good enough to find big wins over Serbia, Macedonia and Croatia in the return game and the feeling is the wait for an appearance at a World Cup Finals will go well beyond 2014, as their qualifying odds now reflect.

Limited resources and only a handful of top drawer players, like Gareth Bale and Joe Allen, suggest the best they might be able to hope for come next autumn will be the satisfaction of finishing above local rivals Scotland in the final standings.

Northern Ireland

Michael O’Neill’s side produced the result of the past week as far as the home nations are concerned when they came away from Portugal with a point after a 1-1 draw in Porto.

Niall McGinn’s goal was giving the international minnows, who have not made it to the World Cup since 1986, a superb 1-0 away win until Portugal eventually equalised in the second half but the result gives Northern Ireland hope of better to come after years in the doldrums.

True, tough tests lie ahead in upcoming clashes against Russia and Israel, and they have only two points from three games but if they can build on the Porto point with fellow minnows Luxembourg and Azerbaijan also in the group, the qualification dream, despite their generous odds, could well be alive.

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