Italy will kick off its 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign at Bulgaria on Sept. 7, 2012, and Denmark will host the Czech Republic a day later in Group B. Malta will face Armenia at home in the group opener on Sept 7. Representatives of the six Group B teams agreed on the qualifying schedule at their meeting in Prague. Of the nine European groups, the winners directly qualify for the World Cup in Brazil. The best eight runner-ups will advance to the playoffs. Italy, seeking its fifth world title, will travel to the Czech Republic on June 8, 2013, while it will host the Czechs on Sept. 10 that year and will also play Denmark at home and away Oct. 16, 2012, and Oct. 11, 2013, in the toughest qualifying games of the group. Bulgaria does not seem to stand any chances of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. The Balkan team is in deep crisis, as it recently slumped to the historically low 85th place in the FIFA/Coca Cola World Ranking. The Balkan squad finished last in its Euro 2012 qualifying group with just 5 points.
