David Beckham (right) and goalkeeper David James arrive for an England training session in London this week. England play Andorra tomorrow and Croatia on September 10 in 2010 World Cup Group Six qualifying matches. - AP
LONDON (AP):
THE NEW coaches of Italy, Spain and England have relatively easy starts to their World Cup qualifying campaigns tomorrow.
After Italy struggled to reach the quarter-finals at the European Championship, Marcello Lippi was persuaded to return to try and repeat the team's 2006 World Cup victory.
"Lippi has the same charisma and the same determination as two years ago," Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro said, "We know that we have to qualify for the next tournament as defending world champions and we will have more responsibility."
Cannavaro is fit for tomorrow's trip to Cyprus after an ankle injury that ruled him out of Euro 2008.
"I am fine," the 34-year-old Real Madrid defender said, "I don't want to think that my injury affected the team at the Euros. It's not one person that changes the team."
Italy, who host Georgia on Wednesday, salvaged a 2-2 draw in last month's friendly against Austria, but should have Luca Toni back up front.
Georgia have been forced to play their first match in Group 8 against Ireland in Germany in the wake of last month's war with Russia, but captain Kakha Kaladze has taken issue with the decision.
Puzzling decision
"I and many of my teammates continue to ask ourselves why this decision was taken," the AC Milan defender said in an interview with the Gazzetta dello Sport. "There is no civil war in Georgia. We are not dangerous. What would happen if we played in the Tbilisi stadium? Nothing. It would only be a festival for thousands of people that are suffering."
Spain will have to cope without forward Fernando Torres for the home matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina tomorrow and Armenia four days later.
Torres, who scored the lone goal in the Euro 2008 final win over Germany, tore a hamstring on Sunday, while playing for Liverpool.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque, also without midfielder David Silva, is looking to avoid a repeat of Luis Aragones' poor start to Euro 2008 qualifying.
Winning streak
After beating Liechtenstein 4-0 in 2006, the eventual European champions lost at Northern Ireland and Sweden to put the coach's future in doubt. But Aragones then embarked on a winning streak that his successor extended to 23 matches when he began his tenure with a 3-0 victory over Denmark last month.
"We want to give our best and change our mindset because while the European Championship was very nice, it is already gone and we need to concentrate on the present," Spain midfielder Marcos Senna said.
Thaw in relations
The meeting in Spain's group between Armenia and Turkey will have greater off-field significance, with Turkish president Abdullah Gul planning to attend the match, signalling a thaw in relations between the two historic foes.
Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic relations and their joint border has been closed for years.
After finishing third at the 2006 World Cup and second at Euro 2008, Germany are looking to go one better in South Africa at the next World Cup.
Germany coach Joachim Loew will be relying on some back-up players against Liechtenstein and Finland with both captain Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings out.
France desperately need a confident start against Austria after a miserable Euro 2008 campaign ended without a win.
Raymond Domenech is still without the injured Patrick Vieira in midfield, meaning striker Thierry Henry will continue as captain. Now that Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele have gone, Philippe Mexes is in the centre of defence alongside William Gallas, and Lassana Diarra will play the holding role with Jeremy Toulalan.
Striker Karim Benzema, who has scored four goals in Lyon's first four league games, is expected to partner with Henry in attack, with Nicolas Anelka on the bench.
"There is an element of revenge after the disillusion of the Euros. We have to give much more than we did in the past," France winger Samir Nasri said. "Every success is based on defensive solidity, but you should not forget the attacking strengths of this team."
After failing to qualify for Euro 2008, England turned to Italian coach Fabio Capello to prevent another humiliating performance.
Capello has much to prove to the notoriously prickly England fans and media, having encountered a chorus of disapproval after being outclassed by the Czech Republic in last month's 2-2 friendly draw.
He has gambled ahead of away matches against Andorra and Croatia, omitting striker Michael Owen from the squad but including 29-year-old midfielder Jimmy Bullard in his first England squad.
Jermain Defoe will hope to establish himself as Owen's successor to cement a regular starting spot.
"I accept there is more pressure on me to deliver," the 25-year-old Defoe said. "But that is part and parcel of being a footballer."
Croatia, who beat England twice in Euro 2008 qualifying, host Kazakhstan in another of tomorrow's 28 European World Cup qualifiers. There are another 26 matches on Wednesday.
