Germany, Italy, Spain take to the road

PARIS - The road to the 2014 World Cup continues on Friday with a number of important European zone qualifiers that see former champions Germany, Italy and Spain all facing difficult assignments overseas.

Germany coach Joachim Loew takes his three-time champions to Dublin for their first meeting against Ireland since a 0-0 draw in 2007 during qualifying for Euro 2008.

Italy has four points from two matches as the squad travels to Armenia in Group B, before returning to Milan and an equally important match against a Denmark team that drew 0-0 against the Czech Republic in its only match so far.

Defending champion Spain faces another examination of its continuing reign at the top of the world ranking with a trip to Belarus. La Roja will host France next Tuesday and Les Bleus’ new coach Didier Deschamps has already masterminded victories over Finland and Belarus to take his side to the top of Group I.

AFP