Not Long to Go

By Jamie McLoughlin on May 23, 08 03:51 PM

As these words are being writ, bloggers from across Europe are placed in strategic points about the Beogradska Arena reporting on the chances of the final 25 as they undertake their first dress rehearsal as a complete 'Contest'.

Unlike the Olympic 100m, World Cup, Crufts, Miss World and Britain's Got Talent, this is one event where even the hardiest experts struggle to predict the winner year on year.

In fact, Eurovision fans get so immersed in listening to the entries over and over in the months leading up to the big show, they're really quite rubbish at picking what the vast majority of viewers - listening to the songs once and once only - will plump for.

However, if you want some top tips for the trophy (and from this year, Eurovision gets its own version of the Jules Rimet - a microphone-shaped slab of crystal which will now be passed down through the coming generations of winners) we'll give it a go here.

Firstly, let's talk about Andy Abraham. A good little tune and he gives by far one of the best performances in Belgrade. The bloggers say the draw has doomed him and place him no higher than 20th, but our man certainly doesn't deserve to be last. If he finishes 15th or higher, tomorrow will be a good night for the UK.

Realistically, the winners are coming from Ukraine, Russia and (although we're not too chuffed about this) Sweden. Ani Lorak has the advantage of singing a few slots later than Charlotte and her punchy performance should pour Epsom salt in the engine of Sweden's campaign trailer.

Russia is all to do with visuals and neighbourly voting, not the song.

As for the Boom Bang a Blog favourites in the final, we would - obviously - love to see Andy Abraham take the trophy over anyone else. Just in case that doesn't happen (ahem), we have a real affection for the entires from Norway, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Denmark.

As Norway and Denmark have both won the Contest in the past 15 years, we'd like nothing more than the travelling show to pitch its tent somewhere in Sarajevo in 2009.

Come on, Laka.

And Andy.