Europe's fight for 13 places hots up

PARIS: Europe's fight for 13 World Cup places hots up on Wednesday with seven months to go before the end of qualifying for South Africa 2010.

Nine group winners and four runners up from a two-leg play-off slot into place at the momentous, 32-nation football jamboree from June 11 to July 11 next year, the first finals to be held in Africa.

Reigning world champions Italy have a top-of-the-table clash with Republic of Ireland in Bari, 1998 winners France complete a double-header at home to Lithuania and European champions Spain meet Turkey in Istanbul.