Saturday, September 2 2006 11:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Paris: Europe's soccer giants kick off a new age on Saturday (2 September 2006) with the continent's old rulers determine not to relinquish their iron grip on power. Fifty teams are taking aim at the Euro 2008 finals, which are being hosted by Switzerland and Austria.

The seven qualifying group winners and runners-up will make it through along with the hosts, but there is little likelihood of small fry like Andorra, in the west, and Kazakhstan, in the east, gatecrashing the party.

England, with Steve McClaren having replaced the unlamented Sven-Goran Eriksson after another miserable World Cup campaign, starts their bid at home to little Andorra in Group E, a section that also includes Russia and Croatia.

World champions Italy, with Roberto Donadoni having taken over from Marcello Lippi, face Lithuania in Group B where France, the team they beat to lift the World Cup this summer, are also drawn.

Raymond Domenech's French, beginning a second life without Zinedine Zidane, travel to Georgia.

Germany, having bid a fond farewell to Jurgen Klinsmann, starts at home against the Republic of Ireland in Group D.

England, despite missing the suspended Wayne Rooney and the injured Michael Owen, are expected to run up a huge score at Old Trafford against Andorra, a team who lost all 28 matches in the qualifiers for Euro 2000, World Cup 2002 and Euro 2004.

They have won just one qualifying match, a 1-0 win over Macedonia in 2006 World Cup qualifying.

"We should beat Andorra quite comfortably," said England midfielder Steven Gerrard. "We've got to be ruthless. We must show people we mean business and finish them off."

Antonio Cassano is set to start for Italy against Lithuania in Naples before the Azzurri face a daunting trip to Paris to face France next Wednesday (6 Sep, 2006).

Cassano is overlooked by Lippi for the World Cup due to the 24-year-old forward's expanding wasteline and failure to hold down a regular place with Real Madrid.

"Cassano does these simple, little things that can turn matches," says the Italy coach.

"He has his chance and I expect him to take it. He knows he has made mistakes in his career."

France enters the post-Zidane era in Tbilisi clouded by controversy over Claude Makelele's call-up.

The Chelsea star announces his retirement after the World Cup final loss but Domenech named him in his squad regardless stating, "He is a footballer, he is available for selection and if he doesn't come we can take appropriate action."

Domenech's stance has infuriated Makelele's club manager Jose Mourinho who accuses the 57-year-old Frenchman him of treating the player like a 'slave'.

Domenech will revert to a twin attack with Thierry Henry set to be joined by Manchester United's Louis Saha who is prefers to David Trezeguet.

In Stuttgart, Joachim Low and Steve Staunton make their competitive managerial debuts as Germany host the Republic of Ireland.

Staunton, who wins a record 102 caps for his country, is appointed Ireland coach in January and has been gearing up his players for the start of this campaign.

"I never said it would be easy. I'm just at the start and know what we have to do to be successful," says Staunton.

Germany, with Low replacing Klinsmann, start as favourites but the new man has a defensive crisis with four centre-halves, Per Mertesacker, Robert Huth, Jens Nowotny and Christopher Metz elder, all injured leaving Manuel Friedrich and Arne Friedrich as the makeshift pairing.

Spain begins their Group F campaign at home to Liechtenstein hoping to bounce back from their 3-1 World Cup second round defeat to France.

They play out a sluggish 0-0 draw with Iceland in a friendly last month but coach Luis Aragones is backing his misfiring side.

"I had confidence in my players for that match and I still have confidence in them," says Aragones.

"In Germany, there were a lot of young players in the team and they have learnt the lessons."

Real Madrid veteran Raul is expected to start up front with Fernando Torres.

Fixtures

Group A

Poland v Finland, Serbia v Azerbaijan

Group B

Georgia v France, Italy v Lithuania, Scotland v Faroe Islands

Group C

Hungary v Norway, Malta v Bosnia-Herzegovina, Moldova v Greece

Group D

Czech Republic v Wales, Germany v Republic of Ireland, Slovakia v Cyprus

Group E

England v Andorra, Estonia v Israel

Group F

Latvia v Sweden, Northern Ireland v Iceland, Spain v Liechtenstein

Group G

Belarus v Albania, Luxembourg v Holland, Romania v Bulgaria