Rudonja - looking for World Cup boost (Allsport).

By Paul Walker, PA Sport, Gwangiu

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Mladen Rudonja is determined to put his nightmare experience in England behind him by leading minnows Slovenia into the second round of the World Cup.

The 31-year-old, who spurned a chance to play in Spain with Rayo Vallecano in 2000 after receiving more money at English first division side Portsmouth, never made an impression at Pompey.

He was bought by then Portsmouth boss Tony Pulis for £200,000 from Belgian side St Truiden, but two seasons at the club produced 14 games and no goals.

Pulis's successors Graham Rix and Steve Claridge virtually ignored him.

"I made a mistake," he said, "mainly because of money.

"I had an offer from Rayo Vallecano in Spain but Portsmouth offered me more money, even the Nationwide League pays well.

"What makes me angry is that they never gave me a chance. All I wanted was three games in a row."

Rudonja is best known for famously refusing to go out for the second half of a reserve match last term at Luton, claiming he was being kicked.

For the man who scored the goal in the play-off against Romania in Bucharest that put Slovenia into their first-ever world finals, it was the lowest point.

For a man capped 29 times for the former Yugoslavia and in all 27 of Slovenia's - they've only lost four and reached two major finals - maybe there is something more to offer from Rudonja.

Slovenia open their World Cup campaign against Spain in Gwangiu on June 2.