DORTMUND: One of the features of this World Cup, and we are not even at the halfway stage, is the semi-collapse of the Eastern European teams.

Poland, who qualified alongside England, were the first team knocked out, Ukraine began with a wretched performance in losing 4-0 to Spain, the Czech Republic looked out of sorts when they lost 2-0 to Ghana . . . and we have not even mentioned Serbia & Montenegro yet.

The poor old Serbs. They found themselves in the so-called group of death, began with a 1-0 defeat to Holland, lost 6-0 to Argentina in a memorable match and ended their campaign by losing 3-2 to the Ivory Coast.

They were never likely to progress into the second phase but the least we expected was a couple of decent performances; an all-round good effort.

Alas, not so. They were as bad as Poland against Ecuador, as bad as Ukraine against Spain, and as bad as the Czechs against Ghana.

Perhaps their attitude was best summed up by Savo Milosevic, their former Aston Villa striker, who has represented his country 101 times without ever looking true international class. "We were just unlucky," he said, in perfect English.

"But the main thing for us was quite simply being here and taking part in this tournament."

Unfortunately, Savo, that is the kind of attitude that African national teams had in the Seventies. It did not serve them well then and it does not serve Serbia & Montenegro now. Even Saudi Arabia, perhaps the worst team at these finals, gave the impression that they are here for more than just a ride. Gone are the days when the World Cup was just about being here.

Poland never really recovered from their 2-0 defeat to Ecuador on the opening day. They probably deserved a draw but, really, any decent team would expect to defeat Ecuador.

After losing that match, Poland were always struggling. They improved against Germany but lost to a last-minute goal in Dortmund. It was a brilliant match and a brilliant atmosphere - and it was the backdrop to the first crowd trouble here, when German and Polish fans clashed.

Ukraine are probably the most fortunate of the Eastern European teams, for they find themselves in the weakest group. When they lost 4-0 to Spain, they knew that they only had to defeat Saudi Arabia and Tunisia to qualify for the second phase. They defeated the Saudis 4-0 and should ease past Tunisia in Berlin today.

In some ways, the World Cup is going back to the future; to a time when the most fashionable nations dominated the tournament. The 2002 World Cup, when Korea reached the semi-finals, the USA reached the quarter-finals and Japan reached the second round, seems a long time ago.

Now the nations expected to make up the quarter-finals are Brazil, Argentina, England, Germany, Spain, Holland, Italy, and - if they can get their act together - France. There is not a weak team there. And not an African team. Nor an Eastern European team.

Football's old world order is taking over again, just like it did in World Cup tournaments of old.

The African nations were always going to find it hard here in Germany, simply because they are all so inexperienced. Cameroon, the veterans of five World Cup tournaments, did not make it this time and nor did Nigeria.

The nations that did qualify have fine players but not necessarily fine teams. The Ivory Coast are a case in point. Angola go home with heads held high after defending brilliantly, but they only scored one goal.

Togo did their prospects no favours by allowing a dispute with their football authorities over bonus payments to over-shadow their hopes.

It seems that reputations, all of a sudden, are starting to mean a lot in a way that they did not in 2002. Australia played well against Brazil in Munich, but still lost. The USA surpassed themselves against a poor Italy team, but only drew. Trinidad & Tobago defended brilliantly against England, but lost 2-0.

The World Cup has always been made more colourful by those teams that surprise us. The Koreans in 2002, Croatia in 1998, Bulgaria in 1994, Cameroon in 1990, Morocco in 1986, Northern Ireland in 1982, Tunisia in 1978, Poland in 1974, Peru in 1970, North Korea in 1966 . . . every World Cup seems to throw up a team that enriches the competition.

Significantly, however, the World Cup has always been a playground for the rich and powerful. Only seven nations have won the tournament and six of them - Uruguay being the odd team out - are here. Of those, only Italy and France could be said to be in decline.

Not since 1990 has the semi-finals consisted solely of former winners but everything at WM2006 points to a repeat. And that gives us a sense of comfort. We love it when teams create shocks, but when there are too many outrageous results, as in 2002, the tournament can suffer.

All Europeans dream of an England-Germany final; All South Americans dream of a Brazil-Argentina final. But the Eastern Europeans, Central Americans, and Africans are welcome at the party.

They make the World Cup better and richer. And they will all go home in time to let the established nations decide whose turn it is to win the World Cup when the final is staged in Berlin on Sunday July 9.