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Wall closes in on Paris trip

Anthony Wall's sixth place finish in the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Germany could have earned him a debut for Britain and Ireland against Continental Europe in the Vivendi Trophy in Paris next week.

Paul McGinley's side is expected to suffer a number of withdrawals from its top players.

Padraig Harrington and Luke Donald are the only two who have qualified for the Tour Championship in Atlanta, but Paul Casey is still recovering from injury and Lee Westwood has confirmed he wants the week off. Ian Poulter and Justin Rose may follow suit.

Five players qualify off today's (Monday's) world rankings and five off the European money list and Wall moved above Graeme Storm and Peter Lawrie with his performance in Cologne.

Continental Europe, captained by Thomas Bjorn, do not have Martin Kaymer because of his go-karting injury and Sergio Garcia is expected to be unavailable, but Robert Karlsson is hoping to prove his fitness for what would be his first event since May.

Last year's European number one has been suffering from a blister behind a retina, thought to be stress-related.

Teams (to be confirmed):

Britain and Ireland - Rory McIlroy, Ross Fisher, Oliver Wilson, Graeme McDowell, Chris Wood, Simon Dyson, Robert Rock, Nick Dougherty, Steve Webster, Anthony Wall.

Continental Europe - Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Soren Kjeldsen, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Soren Hansen, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Alvaro Quiros, Peter Hanson, Anders Hansen, Francesco Molinari.