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ZURICH -- Europe finally kicks off its 2018 World Cup qualifying program on Sunday, as the last of FIFAs six continents to join the road to Russia.Defending champion Germany and European champion Portugal head 54 teams -- including new FIFA members Kosovo and Gibraltar -- in European action from Sunday through Tuesday.They are competing for 13 qualifying places in world sports biggest event. Each will play 10 matches in one of the nine six-team groups over the next 14 months.Among intriguing home-and-away games ahead: Italy-Spain; France-Netherlands; and, the oldest international rivalry, England-Scotland.Who will join the 32-team lineup in Russia? Group winners and the winners of four playoffs in November 2017 involving the eight best runners-up.There are no second chances for third-place teams, unlike in the European Championship qualifying groups and final tournament groups.Here are some things to know about World Cup qualifiers in Europe:--HISTORY REPEATINGHistory is against a repeat Germany title: No European team has won back-to-back World Cups since Italy in 1934 and 1938.Still, history also says that the Germans have never failed to qualify for a major tournament.Coach Joachim Loews begins its defense against Norway in Oslo on Sunday, and without two veterans. Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and forward Lukas Podolski are retiring from the national team.The group includes two other Euro 2016 teams, Northern Ireland and the Czech Republic.---NO RONALDONewly crowned European champion Portugal is without star forward Cristiano Ronaldo.Ronaldo was left out of the squad to play Switzerland in Basel as he seeks full fitness after injuring his left knee in the Euro 2016 final.Portugal landed in one of the tougher groups with three Euro 2016 teams, including Hungary. The Hungarians led Portugal three times, and Ronaldo equalized twice, in a thrilling 3-3 draw when they met in Lyon in June during the European Championship.Portugal is top-seeded but has no cause to panic if it finishes second. It advanced to the past two World Cups via playoffs.---EURO REUNIONSOf several quick rematches after Euro 2016, Italy vs. Spain on Oct. 6 in Turin is the most attractive. Italy picked apart the two-time defending European champion to win 2-0 at Stade de France in the round of 16.Slovakia vs. England, however, is a tough sell on Sunday in Trnava. It has to be better than a drab 0-0 draw in Saint-Etienne in June when Slovakia knew a point was enough to advance from the group in third place. New England coach Sam Allardyce has promised his players will have more fun on his watch.Croatia vs. Turkey on the opening weekend of Euro 2016 was lit up by Luka Modrics volleyed shot to settle the match. They meet again on Monday, with Modric now captain after Darijo Srnas retirement, though in an empty Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb.FIFA ordered Croatia to play two home qualifiers in empty stadiums as punishment for persistent incidents of racism and offensive behavior by fans.---ICELAND, HUH?Iceland fans memorable Viking clap salute wont be seen in its first two away qualifiers.The surprise Euro 2016 quarterfinalists visit Ukraine on Monday, and Kievs Olympic Stadium will be empty because of a FIFA punishment for racist fans.Iceland goes to Zagreb on Nov. 12 to face Croatia -- which will be serving its second match of a similar FIFA sanction for racism.The World Cup homecoming for Iceland -- at the 10,000-capacity Laugardalsvollur stadium in Reykjavik -- is against Finland on Oct. 6.Iceland has a tough task to become the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup.It is in Group I which seems the deepest pool of talent with four Euro 2016 teams plus Kosovo, which is likely the best of the minnows pot of No. 6 seeds.---DEBUTANTSLike all new FIFA members, Kosovo and Gibraltar -- both accepted in May and fast-tracked into 2018 qualifying -- start their international careers at the bottom of the seeding.Kosovo makes a World Cup debut at Finland on Monday, and hosts Croatia on Oct. 6. Three days later, Kosovo will play at Ukraine which does not recognize it as an independent state.Gibraltar is in perhaps the weakest group of the nine, with only top-seeded Belgium having played at Euro 2016.Gibraltar kicks off with a home game -- in Faro, Portugal, while its own stadium is being built -- against Greece on Tuesday.----Group A: Netherlands, France, Sweden, Bulgaria, Belarus, LuxembourgGroup B: Portugal, Switzerland, Hungary, Faeroe Islands, Latvia, AndorraGroup C: Germany, Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, Norway, Azerbaijan, San MarinoGroup D: Wales, Austria, Serbia, Ireland, Moldova, GeorgiaGroup E: Romania, Denmark, Poland, Montenegro, Armenia, KazakhstanGroup F: England, Slovakia, Scotland, Slovenia, Lithuania, MaltaGroup G: Spain, Italy, Albania, Israel, Macedonia, LiechtensteinGroup H: Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Estonia, Cyprus, GibraltarGroup I: Croatia, Iceland, Ukraine, Turkey, Finland, Kosovo. Gussie Busch . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Nelson Briles . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/custom-tony-cingrani-jersey-large-1531q.html . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. Enos Slaughter . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Roger Maris . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night.Jason McAteer, Perry Fenwick, Jay Hutton and Professor Green join Fenners and Helen on the sofa on Saturday. Former Liverpool midfielder McAteer, who earned 52 caps for the Republic of Ireland, will be discussing Jurgen Klopps influence at Anfield, and Irelands chances of making the World Cup in Russia in 2018.EastEnders star Fenwick, a West Ham fan, is also on board, alongside Jay Hutton from Channel 4s Tattoo Fixers and songwriter Professor Green, who will also be performing live. Elsewhere, Dele Alli takes parrt in Team-mates 2.dddddddddddd0, while Jimmy Bullard goes to Bristol City for You Know The Drill, where he is taught by manager Lee Johnson and goes up against in-form striker Lee Tomlin.Gillingham and Northampton make up the fans of the week in the studio.Catch Soccer AM on Sky Sports 1 and Sky 1 on Saturday from 10am. Also See: Soccer AM Sunday Supplement Goals on Sunday The FantasyFC ' ' '