Luka Modric has not been at his best since his move to Tottenham.
PARIS: Rejuvenated England, European kings Spain and Italy, the defending champions, hope their young guns can fire them closer to the 2010 World Cup finals today.
But former champions Germany and France, whose qualifying campaigns have yet to hit top gear, will be looking to the tried and trusted to spark them closer to South Africa.
England, under Fabio Capello, have enjoyed two wins from two games, the last of which was an impressive 4-1 win in Croatia which propelled the team to the top of Group Six and sent Arsenal teenager Theo Walcott’s reputation into orbit.
The 19-year-old, who was selected by Capello’s predecessor Sven-Goran Eriksson for the 2006 finals, never got off the bench in Germany.
But his hat-trick in Zagreb last month should make him a first choice in today’s clash with minnows Kazakhstan at Wembley and against Belarus in Minsk four days later.
Walcott is set to form a quicksilver partnership with Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, still only 22, and who grabbed the other goal in Croatia although England will be without skipper John Terry who has back injury.
Spain, whose enthralling dedication to attack carried them to the Euro 2008 title, will again be looking to the fleetfooted talents of 21-year-old Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, 24, for the goals against Group Five whipping boys Estonia.
Spain have a maximum six points and have yet to concede a goal while the Baltic side have shipped 10 in their first two outings.
But Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque has warned his team not to get too complacent.
“Even when it comes to a national team that are European champions, staying static is not a good thing,” said the former Real Madrid coach.
Defending world champions Italy’s preparations for their qualifiers against Bulgaria and Montenegro have been disrupted by injuries to key players, but coach Marcello Lippi remains confident that they can build on their opening wins.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been ruled out with a back problem, whilst his Juventus teammate, midfielder Mauro Camoranesi has a right thigh strain.
But Lippi has no fears over filling the gap left by Camoranesi, with either Udinese winger Simone Pepe or Villarreal’s ex-Manchester United forward Giuseppe Rossi likely to benefit.
Lippi said: “Rossi is ready to play. He is quick, clever and complete. He can play as the main and support striker, out wide, in the middle and has experience from his time at Manchester United.
“Pepe hugs the line, gives us space, covers, attacks, scores goals and is an alternative to Camoranesi.”
Italy also have a maximum six points from two games.
France, champions in 1998 and runners-up in 2006, travel to Romania lying in fourth place in Group Seven after losing to Austria in their opener before squeezing out a 2-1 win over Serbia.
Defeat today could cost coach Raymond Domenech his job with the faltering World Cup campaign coming in the wake of their humiliating Euro 2008.
He has been boosted by the return of captain Patrick Vieira, who was part of the squad but never played at Euro 2008 as he recovered from a left thigh injury, and Franck Ribery.
Both players missed the first two qualifiers.
Ribery is itching to rejoin the national cause, having watched the first couple of qualifiers as a frustrated armchair viewer after picking up an ankle problem against Italy at the European championships.
Germany top Group Four with four points from two games and face a tricky home clash against Russia, who defeated Wales in their only qualifier so far, in Dortmund.
In contrast, Russia coach Guus Hiddink has injury problems with striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, defender Denis Kolodin and midfielder Dmitry Torbinsky all ruled out.
Pavlyuchenko has been Russia’s key striker for the past 12 months, scoring both goals in a 2-1 win over England in a crucial Euro 2008 qualifier last October and netting three goals at Euro 2008 during Russia’s run to the semi-finals. — AFP
The New Straits Times
