Italy has key game in Moscow

 (AP) -- A World Cup without Italy?
 It's possible.
 Italy starts its home-and-home playoff with Russia on Wednesday night, needing to win the total-goals series to gain a spot in the 32-nation field for next summer's tournament in France.
 Italy, a three-time champion and 1994 final-game loser to Brazil, likely would be happy with a tie at Moscow, hoping for a victory in the second leg at Naples on Nov. 15.
 Russia coach Boris Ignatiev has to replace injured defender Yuri Nikiforov and is unlikely to go on all-out attack against the Italians in a game likely to have few goals.
 "I would accept a 1-0 victory," Ignatiev said. "The most important thing is not to let them score a goal."
 In other games Wednesday night, Belgium is at Ireland, Ukraine at Croatia and Yugoslavia at Hungary.
 Croatia is heavily favored over Ukraine. Croatia will be missing forward Alen Boksi, who is injured, and Zvonimir Soldo, serving a one-game suspension. Ukraine has two top players suspended: forward Andrij Shevchenko and midfielder Yuri Kalitvintsev.
 Yugoslavia, kicked out of qualifying for the 1994 tournament because of UN sanctions caused by the Balkan war, has possibly the weakest opponent in the playoffs.
 "If we can't beat Hungary in the two matches, we don't deserve to be in France," forward Predrag Mijatovic said.
 The Hungarians didn't sound very confident.
 "My forwards are in middling form, none have shown any outstanding performance," coach Janos Csank said. "The goalkeepers and defense are in great shape, luckily."
 The Irish, who had never qualified before the 1990 tournament, are seeking their third straight appearance. But they will be missing midfielder Roy Keane, sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
 The rest of the team is a curious mixture of aging stars and newcomers. Coach Mick McCarthy has inherited veterans such as Andy Townsend (34), Ray Houghton (35) and Tony Cascarino (35) from Jack Charlton's reign.
 But he also has newcomers Ian Harte (20), David Connolly (20) and Mark Kennedy (21), plus a standout 21-year-old goalkeeper, Shay Given.
 Belgium, chasing its fifth consecutive World Cup appearance, has four key players missing. Forward Luis Oliveira is suspended, while playmaker Enzo Scifo and defender Lorenzo Staelens have injuries.
 "Sure, we're missing quality players," coach Georges Leekens said. "But we have experience in every sector. It's not going to be a beauty contest and stamina will make the difference."