SOCCER:Naturally enough the temptation yesterday was to look at the World Cup draw through the eyes of a potential suitor, whoever might be offered the job of succeeding Steve Staunton as Irish manager. On that basis I don't believe our qualifying group would put anyone off, in fact I think it might even encourage one or two to show more interest in the position.

No, need it be said, it's not easy. Indeed, you can probably forget about trying to finish above Italy and just set your sights on second place in the group and earning a spot in the play-offs. Negative thinking? No. Just realism. They might be a couple of years down the line, but they're still world champions.

Take Italy out of the mix and you're left with Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia and Montenegro.

Is that really so bad? No. It could have been a lot worse.

Bulgaria? We could have had Turkey or Russia, who will only get stronger under Guus Hiddink.

Cyprus? Well, they're hardly an unknown quantity for us, even if they are a wholly different opponent to what they were 10 years ago or more.

What they've achieved is to make Cyprus a difficult place to go - and I never thought I'd say that - but they're also picking points up away from home as well . . . need we be reminded.

They scored the same number of goals as us in our Euro 2008 qualifying group, but conceded 10 more, and if we get our act together that's the weakness we can - and must - exploit. They're better coached and better equipped than they used to be, they've got more knowledge of our players because they know the English Premier League inside out, but if we play anywhere near our potential we can deal with Cyprus. I'm certain of that.

Georgia? They finished second from bottom of their Euro 2008 qualifying group, behind Scotland, Lithuania and Georgia, and the top two, Italy and France. They lost eight of their 12 games. Only the Faroe Islands finished below them.

On the flip side, they had some respectable results in that group, not least beating Scotland 2-0 at home - a result that proved oh so costly for the Scots - and only losing 1-0 away to the French. So, no, of course they won't be a pushover either, but if we get our act together I don't see why we should fear them.

Montenegro? Okay, this is where we have been unlucky. When you consider the usual bottom seeds, eg the Faroe Islands, San Marino, Andorra and Liechtenstein, we could have done without getting the one Pot Six team everyone wanted to avoid.

As a new nation in the qualifiers it will be hard to know what to expect from them, particularly as most of Serbia and Montenegro's better players were Serbs, but there's no doubt, it wasn't the kindest of draws.

If we can take it that Italy will win the group and if we insist that we have qualifying ambitions then Bulgaria are the key team.

They had an impressive Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, finishing third behind Romania and Holland, but they remain an unpredictable team - in many ways their star man, Dimitar Berbatov, epitomises them, brilliant one day, picking their lips up off the floor the next. They're contrary, you're never quite sure what Bulgarian team will turn up. Hot and cold, they have the capacity to beat you 4-0, or lose 4-0 to you.

But we could have done worse with the second seeds in our group, so I'm not complaining.

Again, I'm basing any sense of hope I might feel on the assumption that, under a new manager, we'll get back to performing to our potential. If we perform like we did in the campaign just finished then, well, we can forget about it.

But I do think that will change under a new manager, I really believe there can be an upturn. It won't be, as we know, Paul Jewell. I spoke to him about the job when he was on Football Focus on Saturday. John Delaney asked him to meet in London but Paul told him there was no point. He was genuinely flattered by the interest but he just wants to manage in the Premier League, he said in all honesty that international football is too early for him.

So Terry Venables is the current favourite. He is a good guy. I know him, he's a real football man - he doesn't get too excited if you win, he doesn't get too excited if you lose, he's very experienced. I think he suits international management. Should he run your football club? No. But can he coach your team? Yes.

He's an easy man to like, he's good with players and he commands respect. You don't manage England and Barcelona unless you have something about you. More than anything, he's a very, very good coach.

Whatever about Italy, I don't think Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia and Montenegro would put him off the job.