How the might have fallen? People may be talking about the ‘return’ of English-based teams to sporting prominence in the Champions League after a dip of two years (if a representative in last year’s final can be construed as decline). But what shocks me is that while Spain and England monopolise the 10/1 or better odds of winning the European Cup, august other contenders are left gasping with the dust in their face, if the bookmakers are to be believed. Of course, the minnows from such corners of Europe as Cyprus and Belarus will be group stage fodder for the larger teams but the comparative ignominy reserved for previous winners is startling. Triumphant as recently as 2010, Internazionale are no more than 25/1 on to repeat the trick, the same as their city rivals AC Milan. Bayern Munich, defeated by Inter in that final are little better off at 20/1 to revive memories of 2001. Porto are struggling at 33/1, Benfica at 100/1, Marseille (but does that qualify) at 150/1 and poor old Ajax, four-times winners, most recently with a great side in 1994, are languishing at 200/1. That last stat regarding Dutch football is the most startling of all.