Europe's fight for 13 World Cup places hots up

Europe's fight for 13 World Cup places hots up on Wednesday with seven months to go before the end of qualifying for South Africa 2010.

Nine group winners and four runners up from a two-leg play-off slot into place at the momentous, 32-nation football jamboree from June 11 to July 11 next year, the first finals to be held in Africa.

Reigning world champions Italy have a top-of-the-table clash with Republic of Ireland in Bari, 1998 winners France complete a double-header at home to Lithuania and European champions Spain meet Turkey in Istanbul.

England, fresh from their 4-0 friendly thrashing of Slovakia at the weekend, return to World Cup action with another Wembley date against Ukraine. Holland, who impressed on Saturday with a 3-0 win over Scotland in Amsterdam, host Macedonia.

Italian coaching legends Marcello Lippi and Giovanni Trappatoni will be on opposite benches as Italy host Ireland.

Italy lead group eight by two points from Ireland following Saturday's matches in which the world champions won 2-0 in Montenegro and a late own goal from Kevin Kilbane cost the Irish a home win against Bulgaria.

Lippi led the country to the 2006 World Cup title in Germany though Trappatoni has won everything there is to win in club football during a glorious 35-year coaching career in which he has sat on the bench at giants such as AC Milan, Inter MIlan, Juventus, Benfica and Bayern Munich.

He won titles in four different countries, including seven in Italy, and all three European competitions, including the now-defunct Cup Winners' Cup.

France can take a significant step towards reaching next year's World Cup with success against Lithuania for the second time inside a week.

Franck Ribery's stylish contribution on a bumpy pitch in Kaunas on Saturday has helped smooth France's path to South Africa 2010.

If they do the double on this 'return' leg against Lithuania coach Raymond Domnenech's side can leapfrog the over-achieving 52nd ranked team in the world and move into second in Group Seven.

A win would set them up nicely for their September encounter with group leaders Serbia, who are on 12 points compared to France's seven with the 1998 winners and 2006 finalists enjoying a game in hand.

Striker Fernando Torres on Monday warned European champions Spain to beware of a Turkish backlash in the return fixture.

Spain squeaked past the Turks 1-0 last Saturday with a goal from defender Gerard Pique but the Turks gave their hosts a tough time of it before succumbing.

With Bosnia-Herzegovina managing a surprise win in Belgium to go provisionally second in the group, Turkey, a point further back in third, now have to make up lost ground.

Spain lead with a perfect 15 points - but Torres says this is no time for complacency.

"We must be humble in taking on any rival and all the more so with Turkey as they have a great team," said the Liverpool striker.

"They made things tough for us last Saturday and they will do all the more so on Wednesday," he predicted.

Frank Lampard believes Fabio Capello's refusal to pander to the egos of England's pampered superstars has played a key role in putting the team on course for the World Cup finals.

It hasn't taken long for Capello's regime to play off. Four successive wins have fired England to the top of Group Six and another victory over Ukraine would give them one foot in the finals already.

Chelsea midfielder Lampard admits it was about time England's underachievers were given a reality check.

"We needed a very strong leader who had his own mind," he said.

"With Capello you can see that. The best managers I've worked with have a fear element, but it's not a fear where you can't speak to them. It's about the decisions he makes for the good of the team."

Sapa-AFP Worldcupweb.com