We preview the Star Sixes tournament which begins at the O2 in London this week and features some of the greatest names in football.

The first ever competitive world football tournament for iconic former international players, sees 12 countries represented.

The tournament features a squad of ex-internationals with six in each starting line-up. The two top teams from each group plus the two best third place teams will make up the quarter-final places.

In Group A – England are lead by a host of star names with Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen and Rio Ferdinand, but Spain too have a host of talent with the likes of Carles Puyol, Fernando Morientes and Gaizka Mendieta. Former Bolton man Jared Borgetti leads the line for Mexico – whilst Scotland will be looking to cause some upsets with Don Hutchison and Barry Ferguson amongst their big names.

Group B has favourites Brazil as the headline act – with Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos, Julio Baptista and Juninho in their star-studded squad. Italy also have one of the most talented squads with Alessandro Del Piero, Paolo Di Canio and Fabrizio Ravanelli on call for the Azzurri.  Nigeria are fancied by many to make an impact with the likes of Jay-Jay Okocha and Daniel Amokachi in their ranks. China are the rank outsiders for the tournament.

Group C looks the toughest of the three. With Germany, France, Portugal and Denmark battling it out. Legendary midfielder Michael Ballack leads the Germans into action, whilst French squad has the likes of Robert Pires, Youri Djorkaeff and Marcel Desailly to call on. Portugal have a star studded squad with Deco, Nuno Gomes and Fernando Couto amongst their line-up. Denmark can call on Martin Jorgenson and Stig Tofting in their selection.

Ahead of the big event we caught up with Adrian Bevington of Star Sixes for an exclusive chat ahead of the big event.

“This will be a real high end football tournament that everyone watching at the O2 and on TV, it should leave everyone with a fantastic impression and I am certain that will be the case,” Bevington told TheGamblingTimes.com.

“We will have close to full for every session which is great for a starting event, you look at the quality of players that have been attracted and you start reeling off the names of those involved – Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos, Juninho, Gerrard, Owen, Ferdinand, Pires, DEsially. Deco, Puyol, Mendieta, Del Piero – it is just a who’s who of international football from the last 15 years.

“It is a new concept, football has never been done at the O2 and organisers have looked at the tennis, basketball which has been done there before – this is a show, but we also don’t want to lose the integrity of the football and every player I have spoken to is seriously up for this.

“We are looking to cater for everyone, we are not looking at a one-dimensional audience here – but this is s serious event, it is important to stress that we are trying to bring players in, who are in very good physical condition – there are guys like Gerrard, Pires, Mendieta who are really in tip-top condition, these guys are seriously fit.”

Bevington admits it will be tough to pick a winner.

“The betting will be fascinating – the Spanish, Italians and the Portuguese look very strong as well as the French and England and then Brazil are favourites and look at Nigeria, they have some brilliant players and could be the surprise package of the whole thing for me.”

You can buy tickets for the Star Sixes from their official website