Football: European teams look to secure WCup qualification
Italy, Germany and Netherlands can seal their places at the 2014 World Cup.
MANCHESTER (AP) - Italy, Germany and the Netherlands can seal their places at the 2014 World Cup in the latest round of European qualifiers on Tuesday, while England will boost its hopes of joining them by avoiding defeat in Ukraine.
The continent s heavyweight teams have risen to the top of their groups and will be looking to spare themselves a nervy finish to qualifying by wrapping up their passage to Brazil with matches to spare.
Italy will secure first place in Group B with a home win over the Czech Republic but the Germans and the Dutch need victories against the Faoroe Islands and Andorra, respectively, as well as results elsewhere to go their way to qualify automatically.
The playoffs will be looming for the English if they fail to return from Kiev with at least a point in Tuesday s standout qualifier.
