Journey to Brazil 2014 continues across Europe

TodayIsrael vs Portugal 14:40 SS3Kazakhstan vS Germany 19:55 SS3San Marino vs England 21:55 SS3France vs Georgia 21:55 SS4Holland vs Estonia 21:40 SS5Uruguay vs Paraguay 23:55 SS3Bulgaria vs Malta 19:00Croatia vs SerbiaSlovenia vs Iceland 20:00Norway vs Albania 20:15Andorra vs Turkey 20:30Czech Rep vs Denmark 21:00Hungary vs RomaniaBosnia vs Greece 19:45Macedonia vs BelgiumN Ireland vs RussiaPoland vs UkraineSpain vs FinlandSweden vs Rep IrelandScotland vs WalesMADRID – With just over a year to go until the World Cup, some of Europe’s leading nations are hoping to take a major step towards sealing their places in the finals in Brazil in a busy week of qualifying.The outstanding game of this month is the clash between France and reigning European and world champions Spain in Paris next Tuesday, with both sides tied on seven points at the top of Group I.But both countries must first see off unfancied opposition on Friday evening, as Spain entertain Finland in the northern city of Gijon while France host Georgia.Vicente del Bosque’s Spain side must do without captain Iker Casillas and Barcelona skipper Carles Puyol as both recover from injury, and Xavi Hernandez is also struggling for fitness.Nevertheless, they should still see off the challenge of a Finnish side that currently props up Group I.“We are all aware that both matches against Finland and France will be finals for us,” said Chelsea and Spain winger Juan Mata.His thoughts echoed those of France coach Didier Deschamps, whose side play their first competitive match since a creditable 1-1 draw in Madrid in October.“In our qualifying campaign, for the match against Spain to mean anything, we need first of all to win against Georgia,” he said last week, trying to focus his team’s attention on the task in hand.Elsewhere, Germany will be hoping to maintain their formidable record in qualifying when they make the long trip to Kazakhstan in Group C.Joachim Loew’s side play the former Soviet republic twice in the next week, with the match in Astana being followed by another meeting in Nuremberg on Tuesday.Roy Hodgson’s England have little to win, and everything to lose, when they take on whipping boys San Marino on Friday before a much trickier assignment in Montenegro next midweek.

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Journey to Brazil 2014 continues across Europe