Fresh air as Europe begins World Cup qualifying

PARIS — Exactly eight weeks after Eder blasted in the winner for Portugal in the Euro 2016 final against France, European nations start out on the road to the Russia 2018 World Cup Sunday. Of the 24 teams that took part in the Euros, 10 have since changed coach, including Russia. As host, it will not be involved in qualifying, but the rest of Europe will vie for nine group winner direct qualification spots, while the eight best runners-up go into play-offs in November 2017 to contest the remaining four berths. Former international goalkeeper Julen Lopetegui succeeds Vicente del Bosque at 2010 World Cup winner Spain. He begins with a gentle opening Group G fixture at home to Liechtenstein before a trip to Italy in October. The Azzurri eliminated Spain in the last 16 at the Euros before losing on penalties to Germany in the quarterfinals. Since then, the 68-year-old Giampiero Ventura has come in from Torino to succeed the Chelsea-bound Antonio Conte and his first competitive match will be in Israel Monday. England has a new man at the helm too with Sam Allardyce charged with turning around their fortunes after its humiliating Euro 2016 exit to Iceland. “We are going to get into the qualifiers, try to qualify for the World Cup and when we go next time we’re better prepared, I think mentally, to succeed,” Allardyce said. Allardyce’s side is in Group F, where it can look forward to a first competitive meeting with Scotland since 1999. But it begins with what could be its toughest fixture, a trip to face Slovakia. Scotland starts in Malta, while Slovenia and Lithuania complete the group. Star-studded Belgium’s quarterfinal exit at Euro 2016 led to coach Marc Wilmots departing and Spanish former Everton manager Roberto Martinez taking his place with French legend Thierry Henry as one of his assistants. The Red Devils are in Group H and start in Cyprus. In Kiev, erstwhile striking great Andrei Shevchenko leads Ukraine against Iceland in a Group I also containing the likes of Croatia and Turkey. Joachim Loew remains in charge of reigning world champion Germany, but it will have a new captain for it opening game against Norway in Oslo in Group C with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer succeeding retired midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger. As for Portugal, Fernando Santos is still at the helm as the new continental champion prepares to go to Switzerland in Group B. Portugal travels without Cristiano Ronaldo as he continues to recover from the knee injury that forced him off in the Euro final, but its coach says they’re under no pressure. “Portugal are European champions until 2020. Until then we will always be champions, and only then, at the next Euro, will we have that responsibility of having to defend the title,” said Santos. “For now there is no pressure. We will look to top our group and qualify as quickly as possible for the World Cup.” Euro semifinalists Wales starts at home to Moldova in a Group D also featuring Austria, Serbia and the Republic of Ireland. Meanwhile, France begins in Belarus in a Group A that promises genuine intrigue, with the Netherlands eager to get over their failure to reach Euro 2016 and Sweden beginning a new era without the retired Zlatan Ibrahimovic. At the other end of the spectrum, two nations are involved for the first time. After a Euro 2016 campaign that saw it lose all 10 qualifiers and concede 56 goals, Gibraltar find itself in Group H and entertains Greece in Faro, Portugal Tuesday. A day earlier, history will be made in Turku as Kosovo play its first ever World Cup qualifier against Finland in Group I. Kosovo, like Gibraltar, is admitted to FIFA in May, and its squad includes striker Albert Bunjaku, who appeared for Switzerland at the 2010 World Cup but has been cleared by FIFA to represent the land of his birth.