PARIS. Oct 9: World champions France. England and Spain will all be seeking re- demption in the eyes of their fans when they play their second European Championship Qualifying matches after making false starts in the competition, reports AFP.

England take on Bulgaria at Wembley on Saturday in a match which they must win after an opening 2-1 defeat in Sweden has already compromised hopes of top sport in Group Five.

Spain, the laughing stock of the opening round of games a montn ago when they contrived to lose in Cyprus, have a weekend off before facing Israel on Wednesday.

And France, decidedly unimpressive when they stumbled to a doleful 1 -1 draw in Iceland. travel to Russia.

With only the group winners guaranteed a place in the 2000 finals the trio must ensure they get things right second time round.

will start favourites against a Bulgarian side which floundered to a 3-0 home defeat against Poland four weeks ago.

And the loss of veteran striker Luboslav Penev. who announced his retirement from international football on Monday. has only served to deepen Bulgarian gloom.

But England coach Glenn Hoddle. who has stalled on signing a new contract and who has made it clear that he will not make a final decision on his future until his side has reached the European finals, still has to raise morale after the Sweden reverse.

■ He also has a clutch of injury worries.

Inspirational defender Tony Adams is one of six England players rated doubtful for Saturday's game.

The Arsenal veteran missed Wednesday's training session along with forwards Teddy Sheringham. Ian Wright and Darren Anderton, defender Martin Keown and midfielder Ray Parlour.

And Hoddle. who is already without suspended midfielders Paul Ince and David Beckham, admitted: "As things stand at this moment in time I wouldn’t put my hat on any of them being fit for Saturday."

Poland will almost certainly leap to the top of the group if they take the points at home to minnows Luxembourg while the Swedes have the weekend off.

France-Russia France coach Roger Lemerre will be looking for his first win since taking over from Aime Jacquet, the Mastermind of July's World Cup triumph.

An away trip to Russia will not be the easiest place to get that in and preparations have gone awry with Lemerre becoming embroiled in a selection row and the fall out of the doping crisis in Italy, where many of the French stars are based.

The selection row erupted after Glasgow Rangers goalkeeper Lionel Charbonnier quit the squad on Tuesday, telling Lemerre that ’The way you have handled the squad Is all wrong" after Paris Saint Germain's out-of-form keeper Bernard Lama was drafted in to replace first choice Fabien Barthez of Monaco.

Lama had not been in the squad originally and his deputy will be Lionel Letizi of Metz.

Arsenal's exciting striker Nicolas Anelka should win his second camp.

French stars meanwhile Sueued up to plead not guilty on le doping front with Zinedine Zidane saying he was "deeply shocked" at the rumors flying around, including one which suggested some Jpventus play

ers took cocaine.

Marseille striker Christophe Dugarry. formerly of AC Milan, said: "Anyone who taking drugs must be crazy, would f really want to wreck my life by the age of 35? "I’ve got a child. I d never do that, and if you have square feet taking epo won’t do much for you."

Ukraine-Andorra: French rivals Ukraine, who have a win over Russia under their belts, travel to tiny Andorra where they should check up another

Italy-Switzerland: Italy, despite the doom and gloom emanating from the doping scandal blacking the name of the Serie A. are already well-placed in Group One even before a home clash with Switzerland. They beat Wales 2-0 at Anfield in their opening match. The Swiss have yet to play.

Azzurri coach Dino Zoff is counting on Alessandro Del Piero to end a recent bout of poor form against the Swiss.

Del Piero enjoyed a purple Batch last season in the league ut flopped in the European Cup final and the World Cup finals.

Zoff, however, has said he will keep faith with him for Saturday's clash at Udine.

Denmark-Wales: Wales face an awkward trip to Denmark who will be without Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schme-ichel who has a stomach muscle injury.

The Danes will be motivated after their goalless draw in Belarus first time out — especially since the Welsh are experiencing a bleak run.

The visitors will also be without Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs who badly bruised his foot and ankle against Liverpool last week.

His place will be taken by Norwich's Craig Bellamy who Is promoted from the under-21 squad. Giggs however, hopes to be back for the match against Belarus the following Wednesday in Cardiff.

West Ham striker John Hartson is also out with ankle problems which could give veteran Mark Hughes a chance up front alongside either Dean Saunders or Nathan Blake.

Germany-Turkey: Defending European champions Germany open their Group Three programme with a trip to Turkey in a tough baptism for new coach Erich Ribbeck, who replaced Berti Vogts after a poor World Cup campaign.

The Germans were facing a mounting injury crisis on Thursday as news filtered through that skipper Oliver Bierhoff and fellow strikers Ulf Kirsten and Carsten Jancker are all doubtful with injury.

Bierhoff,, 30. has made an .

explosive start to his AC Milan career but left training Wednesday complaining of groin pains and was only able to take part in a light Jogging session Thursday.

Veteran libero Lotthar. Matthaeus. Mario Basler. Olaf Marschall and Thomas Strunz have already dropped out.

Matthaeus should be replaced in defence by Bayer Leverkusen s Jens Nowotny.

Ribbeck has described the Turks as dangerous opponents as Northern Ireland will testify after a 3-0 hiding last month.

Northern Ireland-Finland: Lawrie McMenemy's men must pick themselves off the floor in Belfast and beat Finland 3-2 winners over Moldova.

Spain-Israel: Since the Cyprus debacle. Spain have appointed Jose Antonio Camach in place of Javier Clements, and Camacho is setting great store by new talents such as Bittor Alkiza of Athletic Bilbao, who scored the only goal against the Russians, and Espanyol goalkeeper Toni.

But he will have to do without Real Madrid's Fernando Hi-eroo and Vicente Engonga of Mallorca. Both are injured.

The important thing Is for the players to forget the Cyprus defeat and start again." said Camacho.

Scotland-Estonia: Scotland look for former skipper Gary McAllister to bolster their hopes in Group Nine against first Estonia and then the Faroe Islands.

McAllister has not played a first-team club match for seven months but has returned to reserve action following knee surgery in March.

Scotland boss Craig Brown has turned to the 33-year-old after losing John Collins of Everton because of injury. Collins is not the only casualty. Barry Ferguson. David Hopking and Paul Lambert are also unfit and the suspended Craig Murley has to sit things out.

Czech Rcpublic-Bosnia: Group favourites Czech Republic travel to Sarajevo to play Bosnia where the visitors will hope to turn in a better showing than a month ago. when they sneaked past the Faroes 1-0 thanks to a Vladimir Smicer goal.

Norway-Slovenia: Group Two appears wide open as Norway bid to repair the damage done by their shock 3-1 home defeat by Latvia when they travel to Slovenia who manager a 2-2 draw in Greece.

Latvia-Georgia: Buoyed by their good start, the Latvians will be in a commanding position if they can win at home to Georgia, who scraped past an Albania 1-0 in their opening match. . , ■ : • „