Starting tomorrow, Europe will first kicked in the long route of the qualifying round, which shall endorse the ticket to 13 countries next World Cup in South Africa of 2010. A total of 53 countries are divided into nine groups. The top ticket will win the World Cup, while the top eight places second fight quotas by four more in Repechage to visit each other.
From the outset, the teams that are emerging as favourites in each block are Portugal in group 1, 2 in Greece, Czech Republic at 3 and 4 in Germany.
The European champion Spain is projected as a candidate for passage in Group 5, while in England on 6, 7 in France, Italy and Holland at 8 in 9.
Already there was a first match in the European programme, which was played on August 20 with La Gola of Kazakhstan 3-0 to the weak Andorra.
The day Saturday beginners will have two benches in the powers of the Old Continent: Spain and Italy.
The flamboyant monarchs of Europe have to Vicente del Bosque instead of the successful Luis Aragones, while the Azzurri return to the past to trust the man who brought the world champions for the fourth time in 2006: Marcello Lippi, who replaces Roberto Donadoni .
Spain will debut this Saturday in front of Bosnia, while Italy will do with Cyprus tomorrow.
England also unveils a new coach. The Italian Fabio Capello seeks to restore the glory to a country still shocked at not being able to play the Euro. Recently responsible for the debacle were Croats, who will receive on Wednesday at his victim in Zagreb. The debut will be tomorrow to face Andorra.
Holland is another combined cycle premieres: Bert van Marwijk, rather than renounced Marco van Basten. Premieres tomorrow in a friendly against Australia, in Eindhoven, and in Premundial on Wednesday versus Macedonia.
In Portugal, Carlos Queiroz returns to his country to replace the Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari, now at Chelsea English. In Group 1 play tomorrow against Malta and Denmark on Wednesday to face.
