Road to Russia: and they’re off!
QUALIFIERS: COUNTDOWN TO 2018 WORLD CUP BEGINS
Gibraltar and Kosovo to join the free-f0r-all.
Exactly eight weeks after Eder blasted in the winner for Portugal in the Euro 2016 final against France, European nations start out on the road to the Russia 2018 World Cup.
Of the 24 teams that took part in the Euros, 10 have since changed coach, including Russia.
As hosts, they will not be involved in qualifying, but the rest of Europe will vie for nine group winner direct qualification spots, while the eight best runners-up go into play-offs in November 2017 to contest the remaining four berths.
Former international goalkeeper Julen Lopetegui succeeds Vicente del Bosque at 2010 World Cup winners Spain.
He begins with a gentle opening Group G fixture at home to Liechtenstein before a trip to Italy in October.
The Azzurri eliminated Spain in the last-16 at the Euros before losing on penalties to Germany in the quarterfinals.
Since then, the 68-year-old Giampiero Ventura has come in from Torino to succeed the Chelsea-bound Antonio Conte and his first competitive match will be in Israel on Monday.
England have a new man at the helm too with Sam Allardyce charged with turning around their fortunes after their humiliating Euro 2016 exit to Iceland.
Allardyce’s side are in Group F, where they can look forward to a first competitive meeting with the auld enemy Scotland since 1999. But they begin with a tough trip to face Slovakia.
Scotland start in Malta, while Slovenia and Lithuania complete the group.
Star-studded Belgium’s quarterfinal exit at Euro 2016 led to coach Marc Wilmots departing and former Everton boss Roberto Martinez taking his place.
The Red Devils are in Group H and start in Cyprus.
Germany’s Joachim Loew will have a new captain for their opening game against Norway in Oslo in Group C with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer succeeding the retired Bastian Schweinsteiger.
As for Portugal, the new continental champions prepare to go to Switzerland in Group B.
Portugal travel without Cristiano Ronaldo as he continues to recover from the knee injury that forced him off in the Euro final.
Euro semifinalists Wales start at home to Moldova in a Group D also featuring Austria, Serbia and the Republic of Ireland.
Meanwhile, France begin in Belarus in a Group A that promises genuine intrigue, with the Netherlands eager to get over their failure to reach Euro 2016 and Sweden beginning a new era without the retired Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Little Gibraltar find themselves in Group H and entertain Greece in Faro, Portugal on Tuesday.
A day earlier, history will be made in Turku as Kosovo take part in their first-ever World Cup qualifier against Finland in Group I. –
Monday
Group D: Georgia v Austria, Serbia v Republic of Ireland, Wales v Moldova
Group G: Spain v Liechtenstein, Albania v Macedonia, Israel v Italy
Group I: Croatia v Turkey, Ukraine v Iceland, Finland v Kosovo Tuesday
Group A: Sweden v Netherlands, Bulgaria v Luxembourg, Belarus v France
Group B: Switzerland v Portugal, Faroe Islands v Hungary, Andorra v Latvia
Group H: Cyprus v Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina v Estonia, Gibraltar v Greece