BERLIN - Titleholders Spain are not in action until next week, but all the other heavyweights are playing as European zone qualifying for the 2014 World Cup starts tomorrow.
Euro 2012 finalists and four-time world champions Italy kick off their campaign in Bulgaria, three-time World Cup winners Germany host the Faroe Islands, while former champions England and France are away to Moldova and Finland respectively.
The 53 teams from the Uefa zone have been drawn into nine groups from which the winners qualify directly for the 2014 finals in Brazil. The best eight second-place finishers will be drawn into four play-off ties from which the four winners also advance to complete the European quota of 13 for the 32-team World Cup.
European action starts with 24 games tomorrow and Saturday, followed by another 24 on Tuesday, when Spain get involved as well, in Georgia, after playing a friendly against Saudi Arabia tomorrow.
Spain crushed Italy 4-0 on July 1 to claim an unprecedented third big title in a row at Euro 2012 after earlier success at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, but the run to the final has given Italy plenty of confidence.
Azzurri coach Cesare Prandelli and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon have the clear aim to win group B, which apart from Bulgaria features Armenia, the Czech Republic, Denmark and Malta, but are taking nothing for granted.
"Theoretically we are the leaders in the group. Behind us, though, there are three or four teams that can have their say and therefore we respect them all. We know we must not underestimate any match," Buffon said.
Prandelli is taking no chances and though Mario Balotelli is sidelined with an eye problem, he left forward Antonio Cassano at home because he is not in top shape.
"At this moment we must play our games to win and qualify," Prandelli said.
Like Italy, Germany have the clear aim to win their Group C, which also features Ireland, Sweden and Kazakhstan.
In other selected action tomorrow, the Netherlands aim to rebound from their winless Euro campaign with a Group D victory over Turkey, Portugal are in Luxembourg, Russia host Northern Ireland in Group F and Croatia meet Macedonia.
Euro run lifts Italy
BERLIN - Titleholders Spain are not in action until next week, but all the other heavyweights are playing as European zone qualifying for the 2014 World Cup starts tomorrow.
Euro 2012 finalists and four-time world champions Italy kick off their campaign in Bulgaria, three-time World Cup winners Germany host the Faroe Islands, while former champions England and France are away to Moldova and Finland respectively.
The 53 teams from the Uefa zone have been drawn into nine groups from which the winners qualify directly for the 2014 finals in Brazil. The best eight second-place finishers will be drawn into four play-off ties from which the four winners also advance to complete the European quota of 13 for the 32-team World Cup.
European action starts with 24 games tomorrow and Saturday, followed by another 24 on Tuesday, when Spain get involved as well, in Georgia, after playing a friendly against Saudi Arabia tomorrow.
Spain crushed Italy 4-0 on July 1 to claim an unprecedented third big title in a row at Euro 2012 after earlier success at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, but the run to the final has given Italy plenty of confidence.
Azzurri coach Cesare Prandelli and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon have the clear aim to win group B, which apart from Bulgaria features Armenia, the Czech Republic, Denmark and Malta, but are taking nothing for granted.
"Theoretically we are the leaders in the group. Behind us, though, there are three or four teams that can have their say and therefore we respect them all. We know we must not underestimate any match," Buffon said.
Prandelli is taking no chances and though Mario Balotelli is sidelined with an eye problem, he left forward Antonio Cassano at home because he is not in top shape.
"At this moment we must play our games to win and qualify," Prandelli said.
Like Italy, Germany have the clear aim to win their Group C, which also features Ireland, Sweden and Kazakhstan.
In other selected action tomorrow, the Netherlands aim to rebound from their winless Euro campaign with a Group D victory over Turkey, Portugal are in Luxembourg, Russia host Northern Ireland in Group F and Croatia meet Macedonia.
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