ROAD TO THE US

WITH the next World Cup kicking off in just over nine months, European champions Spain and some of the continent’s other heavyweights finally begin their qualifying campaigns this week.

France, Germany and Portugal are also only just embarking on the journey which they expect will take them to the tournament in North America.

Europe has 16 qualifying berths, a third of the total for the first-ever 48-team World Cup. All 12 group winners will go through, with four more spots available in playoffs.

Spain, second only to Argentina in the world rankings, are coming off the back of losing June’s Uefa Nations League final on penalties to Portugal.

La Roja start their qualifying bid with a trip to Bulgaria at 8.45pm on Thursday before a tough fixture in Turkey.

A span led by Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, and with Manchester City’s Rodri back after a serious knee injury, is being touted as one of the favourites to win the World Cup.

Didier Deschamps was part of the France team that failed to qualify for the last World Cup in the USA, in 1994, but the current generation should have more than enough to top a group featuring Ukraine, Iceland and Azerbaijan.

Portugal should have been on a high after winning the Nations League, but a double-header away to Armenia on Saturday and Hungary next Tuesday will be their first games since the tragic death of Diogo Jota in July.

Germany begin away to Slovakia at 8.45pm on Thursday and at home to Northern Ireland on Sunday, with Luxembourg their other Group A rivals.

There is no margin for error as Gennaro Gattuso’s reign as Italy’s new coach begins against Estonia on Friday and Israel next Monday.

England have three wins from three in Group K, all with clean sheets, and host Andorra at Villa Park on Saturday and travel to Serbia next Tuesday for what should be their toughest fixture of the campaign.