PARIS - After assembling handsome victories in Friday's matches, Europe's leading nations are likely to have their work cut out when the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign continues today .

The Group I clash between Spain and France in Madrid is the headline clash, while the matches between Italy and Denmark, Germany and Sweden, and England and Poland could all have surprises in store.

The meeting in the Spanish capital is a repeat of the Euro 2012 quarterfinal in Ukraine, which saw Spain progress 2-0 en route to victory in the final over Italy. The two sides go into the match level on six points but their preparations have been contrasting; while Spain were ambling to a 4-0 victory in Belarus on Friday, France were losing 1-0 to Japan in a friendly match at Stade de France.

Les Bleus largely bossed proceedings against the Japanese before falling to a late goal, and Didier Deschamps has called for more composure in front of goal against the reigning world and European champions. Spain, for whom Pedro Rodriguez scored a hat-trick in Belarus, have won their last 24 matches in qualifying for the World Cup and European Championship, but they have not faced an adversary as dangerous as France in that period.

England crushed San Marino 5-0 on Friday and will look to tighten their stranglehold on Group H by defeating Poland in Warsaw.

The one-sided win at Wembley took England three points clear of Montenegro and Poland.