LONDON (AP) – The first team to qualify for last year's World Cup is struggling to reach next year's European Championship.

Ukraine, which surprisingly reached the quarterfinals in Germany, will play World Cup champion Italy tomorrow in a Euro 2008 qualifier that both teams need to win to stay near the top of Group B.

"Winning is the only thing that can save us," Ukraine captain Andriy Shevchenko said. "We have got to play this game at 200 percent. We are battlers and this is our quality. To beat them, we are going to have to fight."

The match is one of 22 scheduled for tomorrow across Europe, with qualifying for the tournament in Austria and Switzerland continuing through November.

Italy and Ukraine have played each three times in the last 18 months, including Italy's 3-0 win in the World Cup quarterfinals.

The Italians, who won their fourth World Cup final by beating France on penalties in Berlin, were held to a 0-0 draw by the visiting French team on Saturday. Now, Italy is in danger of missing out on the European Championship as World Cup champion for the second time in 25 years.

Ukraine, which started competing in 1994 after breaking away from the Soviet Union, was held to a 1-1 draw by Georgia on Saturday and is in fourth place in Group B with 13 points. France leads with 19 points, followed by Scotland with 18 and Italy with 17. France hosts Scotland tomorrow.

Shevchenko will lead Ukraine's attack despite failing to play for Chelsea this season, while Italy will be without injured players Luca Toni and Gennaro Gattuso.

France, which lost at Scotland 1-0 in October, will be without striker Thierry Henry for the match at Parc des Princes.

"It is still up to us to try to eclipse either of the big two in the group, while Ukraine still pose everyone a danger," Scotland coach Alex McLeish said.

Spain, which escaped with a 1-1 draw in Iceland while playing with ten men, is third in Group F with 16 points, the same as Northern Ireland and three behind Sweden. "Spain has enough quality to win its remaining games," Spain defender Carlos Marchena said. "Our objective is to get to the Euros next year and not miss out. We have all that we need to get there."

Xabi Alonso is suspended after his red card against Iceland, while striker Fernando Torres is doubtful because of injury.

In Group E, Croatia leads with 20 points, followed by Russia with 18 and England with 17. Croatia is at Andorra tomorrow, while England hosts Russia.

"We are hoping that Russia and England draw, but really we only need to look at our games," Croatia coach Slaven Bilic said. "We are 90 percent secure."

The Netherlands, which next visits Albania, believes its qualification is on track after a 2-0 win over Bulgaria.

Midfielder Wesley Sneijder is in doubt with an ankle injury, but Rafael van der Vaart could return after missing the Bulgaria match with a calf problem.

Romania leads Group G with 20 points, followed by the Dutch with 17 and Bulgaria with 15.

Defending European champion Greece is also in a good position at the top of Group C ahead of a visit to Norway. The Greeks have 18 points, two more than Norway, with Turkey in third with 14 points. Turkey, a 2002 World Cup semifinalist, was held to a 2-2 draw by Malta on Saturday and needs to beat Hungary tomorrow.

"We were shocked," Turkey coach Fatih Terim said. "If you don't put your heart the game like your opponents, your game plan will collapse."

Ireland is still hopeful of qualifying from Group D despite a 2-2 draw with Slovakia. It travels to the Czech Republic tomorrow.

"We know we have to go and beat the Czechs," Ireland coach Steve Staunton said. "I know from the disappointment in the dressing room (after Slovakia) there is a real determination to put things right."

The Czechs will be without suspended striker Jan Koller, and coach Karel Bruckner has called up rookie forward Libor Dosek as cover.

Germany, which is idle tomorrow, leads Group D with 22 points, followed by the Czechs with 17 and Ireland with 14. In Group A, Poland plays at Finland. The Poles have 20 points, two more than the Finns and four more than Portugal, which hosts Serbia.