Rejuvenated England, European kings Spain and Italy, the defending champion, hope their young guns can fire them closer to the 2010 World Cup finals on Saturday. But former champion Germany and France, whose qualifying campaigns have yet to hit top gear, will be looking to the tried and trusted to spark them closer to South Africa. England, under Fabio Capello, have enjoyed two wins from two games, the last of which was an impressive 4-1 win in Croatia which propelled them to the top of Group Six and sent Arsenal teenager Theo Walcott's reputation into orbit. The 19-year-old's hat trick in Zagreb should make him a first choice in Saturday's clash with minnows Kazakhstan at Wembley and against Belarus in Minsk four days later. Walcott is set to form a quicksilver partnership with Manchester United's Wayne Rooney although England will be without skipper John Terry who has a back injury. Fellow centerback Rio Ferdinand will stand in for Terry as captain. Spain, whose enthralling dedication to attack carried them to the Euro 2008 title, will again be looking to the fleetfooted talents of 21-year-old Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, 24, for the goals against Group Five whipping boys Estonia. Spain has a maximum six points and has yet to concede a goal while the Baltic side has shipped 10 in its first two outings. Defending world champion Italy's preparations for its qualifiers against Bulgaria and Montenegro have been disrupted by injuries to key players, but coach Marcello Lippi remains confident that they can build on their opening two wins. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been ruled out with a back problem, while Juventus teammate, midfielder Mauro Camoranesi has a right thigh strain. France, champion in 1998 and runners-up in 2006, travels to Romania lying in fourth place in Group Seven after losing to Austria in its opener before squeezing out a 2-1 win over Serbia. Defeat on Saturday could cost coach Raymond Domenech his job with the faltering World Cup campaign coming in the wake of its humiliating Euro 2008. Germany tops Group Four with four points from two games but faces a tricky home clash against Russia, who defeated Wales in its only qualifier so far, in Dortmund. There are 24 qualifiers in Europe on Saturday with other top clashes seeing Portugal travelling to Sweden in Group One while 2004 European champions Greece look for a third win in Group Two at home to Moldova. In Group Nine, leader Holland, who won its opener in Macedonia 2-1, welcomes Iceland while Scotland entertain Norway. Peace with Poland FIFA and UEFA officials met with Polish government representatives Friday and finalized details of an agreement to restore order to the sport in the Euro 2012 host country. The world and European football bodies had threatened to suspend Poland if the government prevented the Polish Football Federation from holding an independent election to choose a new leader. The agreement was finalized at FIFA headquarters on Friday to ensure that an election overseen by FIFA and UEFA will take place Oct. 30. The impasse was settled Monday when the government compromised on the brink of a deadline set by FIFA.
