Richard Duffy started for Wales in their home game against Slovakia and no doubt will want to forget the match as his side got thrashed 5-1. The 20 year-old Welshman struggled to cope with Dusan Svento who gave him a torrid time on the left by beating him to the ball to slot in the opener and outpacing him to assist the fifth goal. Duffy may have also been responsible for allowing Marek Mintal to unleash a shot for Slovakia's third goal but he won't have been helped by ex-Scummer Paul Jones who had a nightmare making his 50th appearance in the Wales goal.
Duffy was not the only Pompey defender to have an awful day though as Andy O'Brien had a mere as his side went down 5-2 to the mighty Cyprus. O'Brien began his evening by gifting a goal to Cyprus after a dreadful pass-back to Paddy Kenny in the Irish goal. The Pompey defender then gave away a penalty for a stupid challenge in the box and the rout continued as a truly dismal defensive display was brought to an abrupt end as he was substituted.
One Pompey player who will be smiling after tonight however is Croatian new-boy Niko Kranjcar. Krunchie took full part in an 8-0 rout of Andorra but unfortunately didn't find the net. Kranjcar's next game is against England this Wednesday night after a disappointing 0-0 draw with Macedonia.
Moving away from Europe and to Africa where Benjani, Lomana LuaLua and Kanu were all expected to play some part in their countries' qualification campaigns for the African Cup Of Nations 2008.
Benjani won't be pleased though as Zimbabwe fell to an embarassing 1-0 defeat to Malawi. There's currently no news on DR Congo's game against Libya (that's if LuaLua would even take part) or Nigeria's match against Lesotho.
So on the whole, not a great day for Pompey players!