Ireland's World Cup qualifying group kicks off tonight with the first game happening in Estonia, where the hosts take on minnows Andorra.

Irish boss Mick McCarthy will take a great interest in this game as Ireland prepare to enter the fray in early September.

Estonia and Andorra have had checkered international records. Andorra are usually the whipping boys of whatever group they take part in and it should be no different in World Cup qualifying Group 2.

They lost all ten of their Euro 2000 qualifiers, conceding 28 goals and only scoring three. While they didn't win a game, they were not really expected to as they were in a group along with Russia, Ukraine and the eventual European Champions, France.

They did earn two creditable results at home - which proves they are learning more-and-more about the game with every campaign. They lost 1-0 against France in Barcelona, Frank Lebeouf saving the French blushes with an 85th minute strike. They followed that up with a 2-1 home loss against Russia.

The Estonians, on the other hand, can blow hot and cold. They can be a very hard nut to crack and then in their next game they roll over and submit. Let's hope Ireland get them when they are in submissive form.

In their Euro 2000 qualification they finished in joint third place behind the Czech Republic and Scotland. The gave the Scots a fright at Hampden, leading 2-1 with 15 minutes left on the clock - but an own goal four minutes later ultimately led to a 3-2 defeat. They held the Scots to a 0-0 draw at home which was a very good result.