World Cup winners Italy know they have to make up ground if they are to qualify for next year's European Championship.
Italy trail Ukraine, Scotland and France by two points in Group B, and tomorrow can claw back some points when they play at the Faroe Islands.
Twenty qualifiers are scheduled throughout Europe, at the midway point of qualifying for the finals in Austria and Switzerland from June 7 to June 29 next year.
PHOTO: AP
Only the top two countries in each of the seven groups progress.
Italy recalled Filippo Inzaghi for the first time since October after his two goals helped AC Milan win its sixth European Cup with a 2-1 win over Liverpool last week. But six potential starters are missing.
Playmaker Francesco Totti has been on a break from the national team since the World Cup, forwards Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino are recovering from surgery, defender Alessandro Nesta is getting married, midfielder Mauro Camoranesi has a right thigh injury and forward Vincenzo Iaquinta has a toe problem.
Also, defender Gianluca Zambrotta and midfielder Massimo Ambrosini sat out training on Wednesday with injuries.
Italy also play Lithuania next Wednesday -- they drew 1-1 in their first match.
France host Ukraine and also have injury concerns, with midfielder Patrick Vieira, striker Thierry Henry and defender Willy Sagnol all sidelined. Rookies Jimmy Briand and Bakary Sagna as well as Alou Diarra were called up as cover.
Ukraine are similarly weakened by the absence of Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko with a groin injury. Dynamo Kiev midfielder Serhiy Rebrov is also out with a hip injury and another top forward, Artem Milevsky, has a foot complaint.
Also in Group B tomorrow, Lithuania host Georgia.
Spain are in a lot more trouble -- third in Group F behind surprising leader Northern Ireland and Sweden. They have nine points -- compared with Northern Ireland's 13 and Sweden's 12.
Spain should get six points from their next two matches -- against Latvia tomorrow and Liechtenstein the following Wednesday as they seek an eighth finals appearance.
Espanyol striker Luis Garcia made his first Spain squad after Fernando Torres hurt his left ankle in training.
Also in Group F tomorrow, Denmark host Sweden. The Swedes could be without striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has been sidelined since he had groin surgery in April.
Midfielders Christian Wilhelmsson and Anders Svensson are also in doubt through injury.
Denmark defender Daniel Agger, who plays with Liverpool, should overcome an ankle injury, and defender Lars Jacobsen is on track to recover from a sore foot.
Iceland host Liechtenstein in the group's other match.
Germany welcome San Marino tomorrow missing nine World Cup players because of injuries. But even without captain Michael Ballack, midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and striker Lukas Podolski among others, Germany should easily account for San Marino.
Germany lead Group D, but the Czech Republic and Ireland also have 13 points.
Wales host the Czechs tomorrow in the farewell match for retiring captain Ryan Giggs. The Czechs have included Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky and Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech in their squad.
In Group A, leaders Poland are at Azerbaijan tomorrow seeking to extend their lead to 19 points. Following Poland, and all with 11 points, are Portugal, Serbia and Finland. Portugal, without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, are at Belgium and Serbia travel to Finland.
Croatia lead Group E and travel to Estonia tomorrow. Croatia have 13 points, followed by Israel, Russia and England on 11. Russia will host Andorra. Israel are at Macedonia.
Group G leader the Netherlands are idle, allowing Romania to go level on points if they beat Slovenia.
In Group C, Turkey are at Bosnia-Herzegovina, Greece meet Hungary and Norway play Malta.
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