NFL Week 6 October 13, 2013

Week 6 of the NFL season features a number of fascinating contests that should provide a clear indication as to which teams are contenders and which are pretenders.

It's always a daunting proposition to make predictions in what's an increasingly unpredictable sport, but I'm giving it my best shot.

One prediction that won't be featured is my take on the Jacksonville Jaguars/Denver Broncos matchup, but I'll give you my take on this "David vs. Goliath" matchup right here.

No, I'm not going to predict Jacksonville pulling off the biggest upset since Under the Dome was renewed for a second season; in fact, I'm predicting that Denver will cover the 28-point spread.

With that out of the way, here are my last-minute predictions for NFL Week 6.

The Denver Broncos (5-0) will host the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-5) this weekend. Courtesy of 506Sports.com, we have a handy-dandy broadcast map to let you know if the game will be televised on your local CBS stations.

If you are in the GREEN, you will get this weekend's game. If you are not in the green, you can always go with DirecTV or a sports bar.

Coming into the game, the Broncos have been (depending on who you ask) 27- and 28-point favorites over the Jaguars, both of those spreads (again, depending on who you ask) represent all-time highs for NFL spreads. The last time Vegas oddmakers had such a large spread was in 1976, when the Pittsburgh Steelers were 27-point favorites over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Steelers won that game 42-0 and many are projecting Denver to also blanket Jacksonville this weekend.

Qatar vs Yemen October 13, 2013

L’Batak is a high-tech football themed Fan Zone aimed at encouraging youth to get healthy and active. L’Batak offers a unique, flexible version of a modern-day fitness centre featuring a wide range of activities, recreating cardio-based physical movements that would occur in a traditional gym environment, such as running, lunges, and squats, within a football themed space.

The Fan Zone activities include freestyle kicks, goal scoring and football related computer games, amongst others. An automated counter is used to calculate scores and display the total number of calories burnt for each participant.

L’Batak is part of the broader KOORA TIME initiative targeting youth aged 13 – 17 across Qatar and promoting greater physical activity amongst youth. L’Batak was launched during the His Highness the Emir’s Cup last season, of which Qatar Shell has been the Lead Partner for eight consecutive years.

“We are delighted to entertain our fans on this important day for our National Team and call on the public to attend the fun-packed day and enjoy the match and the variety of activities. This activity is another example that showcases QFA’s commitment to improve the fan experience at National Team games while also encouraging fans to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle through football” said Khalid al-Kuwari, Marketing Director, Qatar Football Association

Asian Cup Qualification

Date:13 October 2013

Game: week 3

Kick-off 19:30

Venue:Thani Bin Jassim Stadium (Al-Gharafah Stadium) (ad-Dōha (Doha))

Tunisia vs Cameroon October 13, 2013

The winner of the two-legged playoffs earn a spot in next year’s World Cup in Brazil. Cameroon entered the match with a great deal of questions, but one was recently answered by striker Samuel Eto’o. The Chelsea striker was uncertain about his future with the national side but has pledged to help Cameroon make the World Cup.

Cameroon talisman Samuel Eto'o is available for their World Cup qualifying play-off with Tunisia after rescinding his international retirement.

The four-time African Player of the Year hinted last month that he would no longer be available for the national team after the qualification group stages.

However, Chelsea striker Eto'o has now had a change of heart and is set to lead the Cameroon line in the first leg of the crucial tie in Rades on Sunday.

Cameroon have the better head-to-head record between the countries with six wins in the nine previous meetings, and Tunisia's only win came a decade ago in an international friendly in Tunis.

They have not met since January 2010, when they battled out a 2-2 draw during the group stages of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Tunisia were given a reprieve in qualifying after Cape Verde were docked three points for fielding an ineligible player during their clash.

Tunisia vs Cameroon October 13, 2013

Stay tuned for updates. Match starts at 17:00 GMT.

Venue:

Stade Olympique de Rades, Rades (Tunisia)

Ethiopia 1-2 Nigeria October 13, 2013

Africa Cup of Nations champions Nigeria travel to Ethiopia in confident mood ahead of their World Cup qualifying play-off first leg.

Ethiopia 1-2 Nigeria October 13, 2013

Final Time

Emenike 90′

68′ GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL 1-1 Nigeria back in the game.

56′ GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Ethiopia 1-0 up!!!!

45+2 HALF TIME : Ethiopia 0-0 Nigeria

Stephen Keshi's side went unbeaten in the group stage of qualifying, topping Group F by five points after winning three and drawing three of their six games, conceding just three goals in the process.

Qualification would mean a fifth tournament appearance for Nigeria, while for Ethiopia the finals in Brazil would represent a journey into unchartered territory.

Coach Sewnet Bishaw will be without forward Getaneh Kebede, missing with an ankle injury, but he is confident the rest of his squad will be able to cope with his absence.

"We have lost a good player but as a team we have to move on," he said. "I got the information he could not make it as the nagging injury failed to heal in time.

"We wish him a quick recovery and I will look for an alternative as we have plenty in the squad who are capable."

Bishaw is likely to look to Saladin Said Ahmed to spearhead the attack in Kebede's absence after Ahmed, like Kebede, scored four of Ethiopia's eight goals in qualifying from Group A.

They won four of their six matches, surviving a late scare in the final game, coming from behind to beat Central African Republic 2-1 when defeat would have seen them overtaken at the top of the group by South Africa.

Chicago Marathon 2013 October 13, 2013

Final preparations for the 2013 Bank of Chicago Marathon began Saturday as runners began their final moments of training along Lake Michigan and others took to the city’s streets.

With less than 24 hours to go, Chicago is set for the Chicago Marathon, drawing competitors and spectators from all over the world.
“I'm from Toronto,” said runner Audrey Pattacks. “I'm really nervous it's my first time.”

“I'm from Brazil it will be my first marathon,” said fellow first-timer Rafael Vendremine. “I'm a little afraid but very excited.”

It's a diversity of cultures and causes as the marathon raises funds for charities, raking in more than $15 million last year.

Moses Mosop came to the Bank of America Chicago Marathon two years ago in uncertain shape. An Achilles tendon injury had limited his training and Mosop figured his fitness level that race day was about 85 percent.

Then he won the race in a course record time of 2 hours, 5 minutes, 37 seconds on a warm day, saying afterward, "When I was 100 percent, maybe I would run 2:02."

The 28-year-old Kenyan hasn't been 100 percent since.

Mosop, also trying to become the sixth man to run four marathons below 2:06, is part of a Sunday field with plenty of candidates to play beat the clock once the pacesetters are finished. There are four other men — three Kenyans, one Ethiopian — with personal bests below 2:06.

Last year's winner, Tsegaye Kebede, has chosen to run New York because it gives him three extra weeks to recover after finishing fourth in the World Championships Aug. 17 in Moscow. Kebede lowered Mosop's course record to 2:04:38 while becoming the first Ethiopian men's champion in Chicago, breaking a nine-year Kenyan winning streak.

The women's race features a rematch of the stirring 2012 battle that saw Ethiopia's Atsede Baysa beat Kenya's Rita Jeptoo by one second. The two traded the lead twice in the final quarter-mile before Baysa prevailed in a sprint finish.

Three-time Chicago winner Liliya Shobukhova of Russia, fourth last year, has taken this year off for the birth of her second child.

Jeptoo, mother of a 3-year-old, appears to be hitting full stride at age 32. Her time at Chicago last year (2:22:04) is a personal best, she blistered a fast desert course in February for the fifth-fastest half marathon in history (66:27) and she won a second Boston title in April — seven years after her first.

South Korea vs Brazil October 12, 2013

Brazil continue their preparations for the 2014 World Cup with a trip to the Seoul World Cup Stadium where they will face South Korea on Saturday.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's team are steadily building toward their role as host nation next year with a run of impressive results in their past two outings against Australia and Portugal.

Brazil have only faced South Korea four times before, winning three of those matches. But the hosts will be looking for a repeat of their 1-0 win over the South Americans in March 1999.

South Korean football fans will be desperately hoping Barcelona playmaker Neymar can overcome a hip injury to take his place in the Brazilian team.

But Brazil will never be short of major stars to keep supporters entertained, and the likes of Dante, David Luiz, Bernard, Paulinho, Dani Alves and Oscar will be looking to enhance their hopes of playing in the finals next year.

razil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari returns to the place that he enjoyed perhaps the best moments of his career when he led his country to World Cup victory in 2002.

The Selecao are scheduled to play South Korea in a friendly international in Seoul, and Scolari said he has fond memories of the country, where Brazil played all three of their group games in 2002, before winning the ultimate prize in football.

"Those memories are still very vivid," he said. "I feel good here. I also had wins here when I was in charge of Juventude.

"I have only experienced victory here. Now I want to create another good memory with another victory."

Korea, who have already qualified for the World Cup, will look at this friendly as a perfect opportunity to assess one of the favourites for the 2014 World Cup.

South Korea might already have qualified for the World Cup, but their run of one win from six matches since reaching the finals in June will need to improve if they are to make an impact on the tournament.

New coach and former international captain Hong Myung-bo is now in charge of the team after succeeding Choi Kang-Hee, who had guided the team into the finals before stepping down.

Hong will be looking to claim the notable scalp of Brazil to ensure the momentum of support turns in his team's favour as it did when South Korea defeated the South Americans 14 years ago.

South Korea will also be looking to avenge the 3-0 defeat by Brazil in the London 2012 Olympic football semi-finals.

Charlotte Bobcats vs Miami Heat October 11, 2013

The Charlotte Bobcats will go up on Friday night against the Miami Heat in their second preseason game. Because it is just the preseason, NBA fans seem to think it is not important. However, the preseason is actually rather important to many, if not all teams because they still need to figure out things like, “who will come off the bench first?” “How many minutes will the starters get per game?” “Who will be cut from the roster before opening night?”

The Bobcats enter this game as an example of a team that will be playing very hard before it is time for opening night. The Cats still will have to make cuts, manage minutes and figure out their depth chart before the season begins in late October.
Some may think even proposing a Bobcats victory is silly, but lets not forget this is just a preseason game and I am guessing that LeBron James will be seldom used. Dwyane Wade did not even play the last game. Fans will definitely see some of Chris Bosh as he surprisingly played a good amount of minutes against the Atlanta Hawks.

Let’s not forget that a Bobcats win is never impossible over the Heat. If we all can recall the Bobcats’ 7-59 season (worst record in NBA history) for just a few seconds. Can you guess who one of the seven wins that season was against? That’s right — the Miami Heat.

We all know just how bad the Cats were on the rebounding end last year, finishing 27th in the league in total rebounding. But, tonight signals a new beginning for the Bobcats’ rebounding corps.
With Cody Zeller and Al Jefferson now Bobcats, look for them to record high rebounding totals tonight. Both are talented rebounders who will help bolster the Cats on the rebounding end. Jefferson will need to contain Chris Bosh if he wants to be able to help Charlotte on the rebounding end.

Come out early and don’t fade away
It seems the Bobcats have many games where they start of well and play some pretty solid basketball in the first quarter, and then start to slowly fade away throughout the rest of the game. So how can the Bobcats accomplish this key? By staying consistent throughout the entire game.

Mexico vs Panama October 11, 2013

While many Mexicans are wearing the green and white colors of "El Tri" in preparation for tonight's game against Panama – which Mexico must win to keep its hopes of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup alive – Mr. Ladrón de Guevara says he sees benefits to losing.

He loves the World Cup and wants to watch his country compete. But Mexico is struggling against Central American minnows to qualify and the country has a history of bowing out of international tournaments in the early elimination rounds. Those are symptoms, he says, of political and managerial problems in the Mexican Football Federation (FMF), and for that reason, Ladrón de Guevara wouldn’t mind seeing his squad sit out the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

Mexico was seemingly a lock to reach Brazil when the final round of qualifying began in CONCACAF. Instead of living up to those expectations, Mexico heads into the final set of qualifiers, beginning against Panama, with its World Cup fate still hanging in the balance.

As it stands now, El Tri are on the outside looking in. They are tied in points with Panama, but sit in fifth place due to the tiebreaker. It illustrates exactly how important the clash between the two sides is in terms of at least earning a playoff berth.

In the past, a trip to Estadio Azteca would have been a daunting task for the Canaleros. That shouldn't be the case this time around, though. Mexico has been far less dominant at home during the Hex, including a loss to Honduras last month.

El Tri must return to form in order to avoid the unthinkable result of missing the World Cup altogether. Let's take a glance at all the key viewing information for the crucial clash, followed by the top storyline and a match prediction.

Where: Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico

When: Friday, Oct. 11 at 9:30 p.m. ET (2:30 a.m. BST)

Argentina vs Peru October 11, 2013

In a way Argentina are lucky that their final two CONMEBOL qualifiers for next summer's World Cup don't matter. With all the injuries to key players, things would be considerably more stressful for La Albiceleste if they needed results against Peru and Uruguay.

Instead, they've already claimed a spot for next summer in Brazil and can focus instead of fine tuning ahead of South America's first World Cup since 1978. None the less, head coach Alejandro Sabella has said in press conferences that his team wants to win the group and with only three points between them and second place Colombia, they'll likely need results to do that.

Missing from the Argentina lineup will be striker Lionel Messi who continues to recover from a thigh problem. He's joined on the injured list by Gonzalo Higuain, Fernando Gago and Javier Mascherano.

Peru are mathematically eliminated and will be left to play for pride.

Match Date/Time: 8:00 p.m. local, 7:00 p.m. ET

Venue: Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Argentina will face off against Peru in the World Cup qualifiers on Friday.
Argentina has already clinched a spot in the World Cup next summer with 29 points in 14 games. The team has the top offense in the CONMEBOL with 30 goals scored and also boasts a solid defense with only 11 conceded; only Colombia has had a sturdier defense in qualifying. The team has eight wins, five draws and only one loss; the defeat came against Venezuela on Oct. 11, 2011. Argentina also boasts two of the top three goal scorers in the entire CONMEBOL. Four-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi has 10 goals in the competition; Uruguay's Luis Suarez has the same amount. The third highest scorer in the tournament is Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain with nine goals.

USA vs Jamaica October 11, 2013

Two teams at the opposite end of the standings – and in diametrically opposite states of mind – will do battle in Kansas City in both sides' penultimate CONCACAF Hexagonal World Cup qualifier of the 2014 cycle on Friday night.

The US national team's participation in Brazil 2014 is already assured, though coach Jurgen Klinsmann has repeatedly urged his squad to wrap up the Hex with the same consistency and focus they've shown for most of the year.

Meanwhile, winless Jamaica are hoping that fortune smiles in their direction as they seek an unlikely leap past Panama and Mexico into the fourth-place playoff slot.

HISTORY

The US have rarely been troubled by their Caribbean counterparts over the years, as proven by their 12-1-8 all-time record against the Reggae Boyz. But their three meetings during the current qualifying cycle have been intriguingly taut and relatively well-balanced.

Jamaica stunned the Yanks in a 2-1 comeback win in their first semifinal round meeting at the Jamaica National Stadium on Sept. 7, 2012, a gut-check moment for Klinsmann and his men.

The USMNT took revenge with a 1-0 win in the return match at Columbus Crew Stadium four days later (pictured at right), then dealt the Jamaicans' Hex hopes a devastating blow in Kingston with some comeback magic of their own on June 7, where Brad Evans netted an injury-time winner in a 2-1 victory.

USA vs. Jamaica
Friday, Oct. 11, 2013; 6:30 pm ET
Sporting Park, Kansas City, Kan.

Honduras vs Costa Rica October 11, 2013

Four years ago, Honduras could only watch and pray. They had won their final match of World Cup qualifying, but if the United States couldn't mount a late comeback to draw Costa Rica, they would be doomed to a play-off against Uruguay for a spot in South Africa.

If the United States couldn't mount a late comeback to draw Costa Rica, their World Cup dreams were about dead.

Fortunately for them, Jonathan Bornstein (four years later, it still doesn't seem real) came to their rescue with a stoppage time equalizer. The U.S. had done it. They had drawn the Ticos and nobody was happier than the Catrachos.

People poured into the streets all around the country to celebrate. For the first time time in 28 years, Honduras was heading to the World Cup.
Their next World Cup may not requires as long of a wait. It could come just four years later with a trip to Brazil, and this time it should not be as stressful. It should not require help. Honduras should be able to book their ticket themselves. That is the perk of being three points clear of Panama and Mexico for the third and final automatic qualifying spot in CONCACAF.

This time they don't need Bornstein. They don't need luck. They don't need to wish and pray. They need four points from their final two matches, or even just three three points against the Ticos in front of a home crowd that will be dying to celebrate a spot in Brazil if Mexico and Panama draw on Friday. Making matters better is that Costa Rica have already qualified for the World Cup, leaving them with little to play for.

Honduras has already bested Costa Rica before, taking three points from the Ticos away in June and now they get them on their turf with a full strength side. Costa Rica has also called in many of their best, but with nothing on the line and a hostile crowd backing the Catrachos, they don't figure to put up much of a fight.

Costa Rica pretty much has a World Cup berth locked up, and Honduras currently sits in one of the coveted top three spots. Both teams will be looking for points out of this match to make sure their ticket to Brazil is secured.

Honduras is coming off an emotional win over Mexico at the Azteca. Fortunately for Honduras, there isn’t too much pressure to win this game against a tough opponent. Their final world cup qualifying game is against Jamaica, who currently sits at the bottom of the CONCACAF qualifying table.

Costa Rica’s second game of the weekend international break is against Mexico. Not necessarily a lesser opponent, but they’re in the bottom half of the qualifying table. Mexico will be particularly motivated to win and try to move up in the table so that will be a tough game.

Date: October 11
Start Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
Location: San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Colombia vs Chile October 11, 2013

Colombia and Chile will face off in a key match in the World Cup 2014 qualifiers.
Los Cafeteros are just one point shy of booking their first qualification for the tournament since 1998. The country had a chance to clinch the spot in Uruguay last month but wound up losing 2-0 in the waning minutes of the meeting.

Colombia currently sits second in the CONMEBOL standings with 26 points. Colombia does not even need to win this match as a loss to one of the teams in the match between Ecuador and Uruguay would clinch a top-four spot for Colombia. In order for Colombia to wind up in the playoff spot, it would need to lose its final two games against Chile and Peru.

Uruguay and Ecuador would also need to draw in their game and both clubs would need to win their final games as well; Uruguay hosts first-place Argentina while Chile will host Ecuador.

Chile is also in a prime position to qualify as a win in Colombia would help it book passage for the tournament next summer. With 24 points, Chile could also wind up in the playoff spot if the cards fall the wrong way for the team. If Chile loses to Colombia, and Uruguay or Ecuador win, the team would be in fourth place with a match against Ecuador pending next Tuesday. If Uruguay and Colombia win, then the final contest for Chile would determine whether it remains in the top four or must head to Jordan for a two-legged playoff.

Prediction: Colombia manages a 1-1 draw and qualifies.

Start Time: 5 p.m. EST

Ecuador vs Uruguay October 11, 2013

Neither Ecuador or Uruguay can afford a loss on Friday, while a draw would simply extend the drama in CONMEBOL qualifying until the final matchday. The teams both sit on 22 points, in fourth and fifth place, with Ecuador leading on goal differential.

Ecuador looked like they were well on their way to securing their ticket to Brazil heading into the summer, but they've failed to win in their last four qualifiers. They've gone through a tough run of games, with their draws at home against Argentina and away to Bolivia, as well as their loss away to Colombia being perfectly understandable results. However, their loss at home to Peru in June was a massive setback. They've tinkered with their lineup over the last couple of games and don't seem to know what their best XI is.

Ecuador and Uruguay will face off in a crucial World Cup qualifying match.
Both sides are tied for fourth place with 22 points and neither has officially clinched a top spot. Venezuela currently has 19 points with only one game remaining; if Venezuela manages to win its final game and either Ecuador and Uruguay lose its final two games, then Venezuela could clinch the playoff spot and send one side home. This scenario, while unlikely, is possible. Ecuador faces Chile in its final game, while Uruguay has to host Argentina.

Uruguay have gone in a different direction in recent matches. They looked like they'd be scrapping for a playoff spot after their loss to Chile back in March, but they've won their last three in a row to get themselves into a position where they control their own World Cup destiny. However, their next two matches -- this one away to Ecuador and Tuesday's game at home against Argentina -- are two of the most difficult on their schedule. In another situation, one or two points from those matches would be acceptable, but their early campaign failings have put them in a tough spot.

Both teams can finish in the top four if either Colombia or Chile loses their game. Ecuador would then need to defeat Chile, and Colombia would need to lose to Peru; Uruguay would also have to defeat Argentina to pull off the feat. A draw would be mortal to either club as they would only garner a maximum of 26 points; Colombia already has that same amount of points thus far. A draw in the Colombia and Chile game would still make ensure a top-four finish for either side.
Prediction: Uruguay and Ecuador draw 1-1.
Start Time: 5 p.m. EST

Venezuela vs Paraguay October 11, 2013

Venezuela need a ton of help if they're going to be involved with next summer's World Cup. Not only do the two teams ahead of them still have two games left, they have a fairly massive goal differential advantage as well. La Vinotinto need to blow out Peru with an epic scoreline and hope for the best, which doesn't seem particularly likely.

For Venezuela to pull it off, they need to defeat Peru by at least six goals and have Uruguay lose both of their final two matches. That's what Cesar Farias and his team are up against.

This is the final game of the qualifiers for Venezuela and will determine whether it has any hopes of joining Brazil's big tournament next summer. With 19 points, Venezuela is three out of a playoff spot and no longer controls its own destiny. A win would put the team into a tie with Ecuador and Uruguay for the final playoff spot, but the current -6 goal differential would leave Venezuela out of the running. Venezuela needs a number of scenarios to work out in order to qualify.

Cesar Farias' side sits in sixth place in the CONMEBOL table, three points adrift of Uruguay and Ecuador, who both have a game in hand. It means Venezuela's only chance of reaching Brazil in 2014 is to thrash Paraguay on its home ground in San Cristobal and hope either Uruguay or Ecuador loses both of its games.

It must destroy Paraguay by as many goals as possible to diminish the goal differential. It must hope that either Uruguay or Ecuador loses by a huge amount. If Ecuador loses, then Venezuela needs Chile to destroy Ecuador to keep it at 22 points and give Venezuela a chance. If Uruguay loses, then Venezuela needs to pray for an Argentine victory in the final game with Uruguay.
A draw between Ecuador and Uruguay would not only eliminate Venezuela and would clinch a top-five finish for the remaining CONMEBOL clubs. Venezuela is coming off a huge 3-2 win against Peru but had gone three games without a win; the team's last victory had been a 1-0 win over Colombia in March.

As for Paraguay they are simply playing for a chance to avoid finishing last place in the qualifying table. More important for Victor Genes at this point is probably finding some level of consistency from his team. They looked impressive in a 4-0 win over Bolivia in September but followed that up with a 5-2 thumping from Argentina.
Match Date/Time: 5:00 p.m. local, 5:00 p.m. ET

Venue: Estadio Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo, San Cristóbal, Venezuela

Slovenia vs Norway October 11, 2013

Slovenia and Norway will face off in a crucial World Cup qualifying battle on Friday.
Slovenia is still in the running for the top spot in the Group but will need a tremendous amount of luck and victory over Norway. The team can clinch a top spot if Switzerland loses against Albania and Slovenia defeats the Swiss on Tuesday. However, Slovenia would also need Iceland to lose against Cyprus and Norway on Tuesday.

Of course that scenario is highly improbable and the focus for Slovenia is likely on finishing in second place. That goal is far more realistic as the team only trails second place Iceland by one point. Losses to Iceland would be necessary to get a chance at the spot, but the team must still win its final two matches.

Norway can no longer clinch the top spot but is only two points out off second place. After the game against Slovenia, Norway would face off against Iceland with a chance to win and overtake the team for second place. Even if Iceland wins against Cyprus (a likely scenario), a Norwegian win on Friday would keep the team two points behind Iceland. A win would enable the team to leap past the Icelandic and into the coveted second place in the group.

Slovenia vs Norway October 11, 2013

Prediction: This will be one of the most exciting matches of the day and should feature terrific action. Expect the home team to pull off a 1-0 win.
Start Time: The match gets underway at 2:30 p.m. EST.

Iceland vs Cyprus October 11, 2013

Iceland will look to clinch second place in Group E of the World Cup Qualifiers when it faces Cyprus on Friday.
Iceland currently sits in second place in the qualifiers with 13 points thus far; the top eight second place sides move on to the second round playoff with another group runner-up. The winner of that two leg matchup moves on to the World Cup Finals next summer.

Iceland has pulled off four wins, one draw, and three losses; one of them came against Cyprus on the road.
However, clinching the second spot will depend on a number of other factors going Iceland's way. Switzerland must draw or defeat Albania; the latter scenario is preferable because it would impede Switzerland from claiming the top spot and give Iceland a chance to overtake them on Tuesday.

If Switzerland wins, then the Swiss will automatically qualify for the tournament. Slovenia and Norway must also draw in order for Iceland to clinch the second place berth; Norway previously defeated Slovenia 2-1 in their first group meeting.

This is a UEFA Group E World Cup qualifying match between Iceland and Cyprus. Iceland is currently sitting in second, that would earn them a chance to compete in a playoff for a World Cup berth. It doesn’t look like they’ll catch first place Switzerland, who have a 5 point lead.

Iceland does need to be weary of other teams catching them. Three teams are within three points of their spot. If they falter and lose to Cyrpus, who sit in last place, they could lose their World Cup berth.

Prediction: Iceland will be home and has the decided advantage in this matchup. Expect the team to take advantage and win 2-0.
Start Time: Kick-off starts at 2:30 p.m. EST.

Luxembourg vs Russia October 11, 2013

This is a UEFA Group F World Cup qualifying match between Luxembourg and Russia. There isn’t much on the line for Luxembourg in this game. They’re trying to avoid dropping to the bottom of the table perhaps. For Russia, they need the three points to stay ahead of Portugal and earn an automatic trip to the World Cup in Brazil.

Which ever team winds up in second will have to play in a playoff to earn a trip to the World Cup.

Russia's precarious one point lead over Portugal in Group F means that both sides will be under heavy pressure in their final two World Cup qualifiers.

For Fabio Capello's Russia side the job is made a bit simpler by just needing to keep winning. In fact, a win over Luxembourg on Friday combined with a Portugal loss against Israel would send the Russians on to Brazil. The Russians really can't worry about what the Portuguese are up to though and would be better served to just win their two remaining games, which would also guarantee qualification no matter what Portugal does.

Russia easily defeated Luxembourg 4-1 in their first meeting back in September.

Match Date/Time: 8:30 p.m. local, 2:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

Ukraine vs Poland October 11, 2013

A crucial game between two neighbours and a victory for either side could see the winner in pole position to grad one of the coveted top two qualifying spots in Group H.

Ukraine and Poland will face off in a crucial World Cup Qualifier on Friday.
Both teams are still in the race for first place in Group H, but must win in order to stay alive. The Ukrainians sit in second place with 15 points, just one point behind first-place England. England and Ukraine recently faced off in Kiev and drew 0-0. Poland sits in fourth place with 13 and could pull within one of England if the Three Lions draw with Montenegro in their upcoming game.

However, Poland have been dealt a huge blow as Borussia Dortmund defender Lukasz Piszczek misses out unavailable through injury, and as a result Ukraine-based Mariusz Lewandowski sees his himself restored to the squad for the first time in four years.

Poland will be hoping to bounce back from the inexplicable goalless draw against lowly Moldova in their previous game with a positive performance against Ukraine.

As for a Poland a win is imperative. A draw in the other match is also of vital importance as it would keep Poland just one point behind England for the top spot in the group. However, the Poles take on the British on Tuesday and could lock up first place with a win in that game.
Prediction: Ukraine defeated Poland 3-1 in Warsaw and has a decided advantage here. Expect a 3-0 Ukrainian win.

Ukraine are somewhat lucky to have a healthy squad, the only exception is Denys Garmash, but there was no danger of him making a return from long-term injury for this game.

Where: NSK Olympsijs, Ukraine

When: Friday October 11th, 2013 19:00

Albania vs Switzerland October 11, 2013

Albania will host Switzerland on Friday in Tirana in a pivotal 2014 World Cup qualifying match.

The Swiss currently lead UEFA qualification's Group E by five points.

They are the favorites to win the group and earn a World Cup berth this fall. Albania are eight points back, in fifth place, ahead of only Cyprus with two matches left to play.

A draw for Ottmar Hitzfeld's squad would all but ensure they advance, as it would give them 19 points and a massive goal differential to fall back on.

Albania's only chance is to string together back-to-back positive results over the next few days and hope that Iceland, Slovenia and Norway falter. It's still possible for Gianni De Biasi's men to snag the No. 2 spot in the group, which could potentially earn them a play-off match in November for the right to go to Brazil.

With the stage set, let's get you ready with everything you need to know for Friday's matchup in the Albanian capital.

Albania vs Switzerland October 11, 2013

Time: 2:30 p.m. EDT, 7:30 p.m. BST

Where: Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania

Germany vs Republic of Ireland October 11, 2013

Republic of Ireland face a daunting trip to the Rhein Energie Stadion in their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Germany.

The struggling nation relieved Giovanni Trapattoni of his managerial duties after September’s losses to Sweden and Austria. Despite outlining a number of candidates for the vacant spot, Ireland Under 21 boss Noel King takes up the reins for the clash with DFB.

Ireland currently sit fourth in Group C and can only make next summer’s World Cup via a mathematical miracle. A win for Germany guarantees Joachim Loew’s unbeaten side a place in Brazil, ensuring the home team are unlikely to take their foot off the gas just yet.

Germany's task against the Republic of Ireland is fairly simple. Win or draw and you can start making travel plans for Brazil next summer. Unless the Germans slip-up massively, it's next to impossible for Sweden to catch them from their second place position, so at least we can avoid too much fancy math.

Germany vs Ireland October 11, 2013

Ireland are not yet eliminated from contention but it's going to take a wins in their final two matches and a whole lot of luck as well for them to avoid missing the World Cup. Interim manager Noel King will be missing Jonathan Walters and goalkeeper Kieren Westwood, but striker Robbie Keane is expected to play despite taking on knock on his ankle in training.

Germany will be without several players including Mario Gomez, Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski and Marco Reus, but there's still plenty of talent available including Mario Gotze and Mesut Özil.

Match Date/Time: 8:45 p.m. local, 2:45 p.m. ET

Moldova vs San Marino October 11, 2013

Neither side has any chance of qualifying for the big tournament next summer. San Marino sits in last place with eight losses, one goal scored, and 43 conceded.

The team opened its campaign with a 6-0 loss against Montenegro. In its second game, San Marino was torched 5-0 by England; Wayne Rooney scored twice in that match for the Three Lions. The team managed respectability by losing 2-0 against Moldova in October 2012 but was then defeated 3-0 in Montenegro the following month. An 8-0 loss against England in March 2013 essentially eliminated them from contention and brought them to their lowest point of the tournament. A 5-0 loss in Poland followed before San Marino endured an embarrassing 9-0 loss in the Ukraine; that game featured goals from eight different players.

This is a UEFA Group H World Cup qualifying match between Moldova and San Marino. These two teams are at the bottom of the table and aren’t playing for World Cup berths or dreams anymore.

This is basically a friendly and the only thing on the line is personal pride. For San Marino they’re looking for any kind of points to avoid finishing World Cup qualification without getting a point. They have a goal differential of -42. They’re allowing a little over 5 goals allowed per game.

Moldova vs San Marino October 11, 2013

Moldova has fared better but only has five points in eight games. The team lost 5-0 against England in its opener before enduring a 2-0 defeat against Poland. The third game was a surprising 0-0 draw with Ukraine at home and the team then defeated San Marino 2-0. However, the luck would be short-lived as Moldova lost 1-0 against Montenegro in its ensuing qualifier. Another loss to the Ukraine was followed by a draw with Poland; unfortunately the team lost 4-0 against England in its latest qualifier.

Predictions: Moldova destroys San Marino 4-0.
Start Time: 12 p.m. EST

Azerbaijan vs Northern Ireland October 11, 2013

There will be nothing but pride to compete for in Baku on Friday night when Azerbaijan play host to Northern Ireland.

The home side go into the World Cup qualifier bottom of Group F and without a win from their first eight matches, while the Greens are two places and one point better off than their hosts.

Manager Michael O'Neill, who has won just one of his 12 games at the helm, has a handful of injuries to contend with for this encounter, with Aaron Hughes and Aberdeen striker Josh Magennis already ruled out.

Meanwhile, Palermo forward Kyle Lafferty will be absent because of suspension, but he could return for the final qualifier against Israel on Tuesday.

Azerbaijan coach Berti Vogts has named a largely youthful squad, with only one player - defender and captain Rashad Sadygov - over the age of 30.

These two sides have met on three previous occasions. Northern Ireland have won one of those, while the other two clashes have ended in draws.

Northern Ireland are only one point above Azerbaijan but they have at least managed a win when they upset Russia at Windsor Park. Although they lost their last away match to fellow strugglers Luxembourg, Martin O’Neill’s side will hope to draw on recent good performances against Portugal and Russia and cement their place in fourth position in the group.

KICK-OFF: Friday, 5.00pm

Azerbaijan: Agayev; Sadıqov, Allahverdiyev, Abısov, Sukurov; Ramaldanov, Amirquliyev, Abdullayev, Aliyev, Ozkara; Dadaşov

N Ireland: Carroll; McAuley, J Evans, Cathcart, Bruce; Brunt, Davis, C Evans, Norwood, Ferguson; Paterson

Andorra vs Romania October 11, 2013

Romania will look to salvage its World Cup hopes when it takes on Romania on Friday.
With 13 points in eight games thus far, the Romanians are just one point out of second place and have a huge opportunity to finish the day in the runner-up position.

The top eight second-place teams wind up moving on to the second round of UEFA Qualifiers where they will take on another team in a two-legged playoff. The winner of that match moves on to the World Cup Finals next summer.

Current second-place holder Hungary faces the first-place Netherlands on Friday and has a likely chance of losing against one of the top teams in the world. If this scenario plays out and Romania beats Andorra then the team would momentarily take over second place; of course the match between Turkey and Estonia must be taken into account as a win for the Turks could push them into second place as well.

Andorra currently sits in last place in the group with eight losses in eight games; the team has not even scored a goal throughout the campaign and has conceded 24 times. Andorra's worst performances were 5-0 losses against Hungary and Turkey. Romania took down the team 4-0 in Bucharest on Sept. 11, 2012.

Andorra vs Romania October 11, 2013

Start Time: Kick-off starts at 2:30 p.m. EST.

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Liechtenstein October 11, 2013

Bosnia and Herzegovina will look to move one step closer to booking its first World Cup berth when it takes on Liechtenstein on Friday.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has never appeared in the World Cup Finals and has complete control over its destiny in this cycle. With 19 points in eight group matches, the team has 19 points and is tied for first place with Greece. However, its +20 goal differential (25 scored, five conceded) gives the team a distinct advantage in its final two matches; Greece has a +5 goal differential and would need to score a ton of goals and see Bosnia and Herzegovina concede a lot to win this tie breaker.

Bosnia won its head to head play with Greece by taking four of six points and essentially has that tiebreaker locked up as well. However, the team must focus on pulling off wins in its final two games with the pressure ramped up to its highest.
The team suffered a shocking 1-0 loss at home against Slovakia with a huge chance to take over the group; fortunately Bosnia and Herzegovina responded with a 2-1 win on the road to keep level with Greece.

Group G action comes from Greece v Slovakia, Bosnia-Herzegovina v Liechtenstein as Bet365 release the latest betting odds and live streaming on the games.

The battle for top spot in Group G is likely to go down to wire with Bosnia-Herzegovnia and Greece both in contention with two games remaining.

The duo currently sit on 19 points with almost identical records having won 6 and drawn one of their 8 games so far.

As a result, concentration will be essential in its final two games against Liechtenstein and Lithuania. The first encounter should not be difficult; Bosnia and Herzegovina destroyed Liechtenstein 8-1 in the two teams' previous encounter. Bosnia and Herzegovina also took down Lithuania 3-0 at home.
Prediction: Bosnia and Herzegovina wins 5-0.

Portugal vs Israel October 11, 2013

Portugal faces Israel in the penultimate World Cup qualifying game knowing defeat would almost certainly end its hopes of winning Group F.

Paulo Bento's side is one point behind Russia, but the pool leaders will be expected to take maximum points from their final two matches, against Luxembourg and Azerbaijan.

Victory over Israel in Lisbon on Friday would at least ensure Portugal finishes no lower than second, so it could still progress through to the playoffs. Captain Cristiano Ronaldo has called on his side to focus on its own job by defeating Israel before collecting a further three points when it faces Luxembourg.

"I am confident in the victory," Ronaldo said. "They are two games we have to win, we are the favorites, and we will get on the field and give the best to ensure the six points. We just have to win both games and see what Russia does."

Currently sitting a point behind Russia in Group F, Portugal will be hoping to keep the pressure on with a victory against Israel on Friday. Indeed Portugal will be able to leapfrog Russia with a win, should Fabio Capello's team somehow fail to win in Luxembourg. Israel are currently right behind Portugal in third place, and their dreams of World Cup qualification will end unless they can pull off a massive upset and secure a victory.

However, they'll take heart from the scare they gave Portugal at home back in March, when two last-gasp goals from Hélder Postiga and Fabio Coentrão saw the visitors come back from 3-1 down to rescue a point in the dying seconds of the game. Unfortunately, it's unlikely that Paulo Bento's team will find themselves in such a vulnerable position at home.

Then again, they do have a string of injury problems which will see the coach forced into fielding a completely unfamiliar back line, with with full-backs Fabio Coentrão, João Pereira and Miguel Lopes, and centre-back Bruno Alves all unavailable. What's more, experienced striker Hélder Postiga is out suspended and winger Vieirinha injured, leaving Bento with selection dilemmas in attack as well as defence.

Israel have had their fitness and injury concerns too, though it'll be interesting to see whether they can take advantage of Portugal's problems in Lisbon.

Portugal: Rui Patrício; Vitorino Antunes, Pepe, Luis Neto, Cédric Soares; Raul Meireles, Miguel Veloso, João Moutinho; Cristiano Ronaldo, Hugo Almeida, Nani

Israel: Dudu Aouate; Ofir Davidzada, Dekel Keinan, Tal Ben Haim, Sheran Yeini; Gal Alberman, Bibras Natkho; Lior Refaelov, Elyaniv Barda, Maor Melikson; Eran Zahavi

Match Date/Time: Friday, 8:45 p.m. local, 3:45 p.m. ET

Venue: Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal

France vs Australia October 11, 2013

Australia's head coach Holger Osieck may be sacked if his side fail to produce a decent performance against France in Paris on Friday.

Coming into the friendly on the back of a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Brazil in September, the German is under intense pressure despite having helped Socceroos qualify for next year's World Cup.

It's been over a decade since France and Australia met on the pitch, but on Friday night in Paris, the two countries will renew their football rivalry in an international friendly.

Australia has already secured their place in the 2014 World Cup field, but friendlies with France and Canada will close out the year for manager Holger Osieck's squad. Socceroos have won two of their last three, but are fresh off a 6-0 thrashing handed out by Brazil on Sept. 7.

France has two draws and a win over Belarus in their last three matches, but also lost to Brazil earlier this summer and likely face the reality of a playoff lottery to determine their World Cup fate. Les Bleus are currently second in Group I of their European qualifying table with 14 points.

We'll prepare you for this impending international friendly below.

France vs Australia October 11, 2013

That huge defeat, combined with Australia's failure at the East Asian Cup and an inability to regenerate an ageing squad, have put Osieck in the firing line, with reports suggesting that the Football Federation Australia (FFA) have already begun sounding out potential replacements.

Another heavy defeat could therefore signal the end for Osieck. Indeed, while the Socceroos may be coming up against one of the world's best teams for the second outing in a row, they must avoid embarrassment this time around.

In terms of team news, Brett Holman (quadriceps) and Tom Rogic (groin) have been withdrawn from the squad due to injury.

Osieck may decide to give opportunities to fresher faces against France, or leave the experimentation until Tuesday's clash with Canada in London.

Veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has been left out of the squad and that opens up a position for either Mat Ryan (Club Brugge) or Mitch Langerak (Borussia Dortmund).

Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough), Jason Davidson (Heracles) should get game time, as should Dario Vidosic (Sion) and possibly the likes of Oliver Bozanic (Luzern), Jackson Irvine (Kilmarnock) and Mathew Leckie (Frankfurt).

When: Friday, Oct. 11, at 3 p.m. ET (8 p.m. BST)

Where: Parc des Princes, Paris, France

Croatia vs Belgium October 11, 2013

Belgium have one of the most exciting lineups in world football at the moment. And a draw against Croatia in Zagreb on Friday night, will give all those gifted footballers to showcase their ability in the greatest possible platform - the FIFA World Cup.

Group A is under Belgium's control, with Croatia's shock 1-0 defeat to Scotland in June denting their hopes of finishing first in the group. Croatia will finish at least second in Group A, nevertheless, and currently lie five points behind leaders Belgium.

A win for the hosts on Friday will make the group interesting again, with the Belgians then needing to win their final game to ensure they do not have to book their tickets to Brazil via the playoffs.

However, getting all three points against Belgium is easier said than done, with Marc Wilmots' men so far enjoying a near-perfect qualifying campaign with seven wins and a draw in eight matches.

Croatia vs Belgium October 11, 2013

Christian Benteke and Vincent Kompany miss out through injury, while Arsenal skipper Thomas Vermaelen is a slight doubt for Belgium. Moussa Dembele could also be ruled out after suffering an injury in training, while Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini is set to feature in spite of a wrist injury.

Croatia will be without defender Josip Simunic who is suspended.

Croatia: Pletikosa; Srna, Lovren, Corluka, Strinic; Rakitic, Modric, Kovacic; Eduardo, Mandzukic, Olic.

Belgium: Courtois; Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen, Lombaerts; Witsel, Fellaini, Defour; De Bruyne, Lukaku, Hazard.

Prediction: 2-1 to Belgium

Wales vs Macedonia October 11, 2013

Wales will hope to give Craig Bellamy a winning home send-off as they host Macedonia in Cardiff in World Cup qualifying.

However, a major injury crisis means it is likely to prove immensely difficult for Chris Coleman's side on Friday night.

Bellamy will make his final appearance on home soil in a national-term shirt, having confirmed earlier this week that he will retire from international football after this double-header.

Aaron Ramsey has been passed fit for Friday's World Cup qualifier with Macedonia in Cardiff and will captain Wales in Ashley Williams' absence.
Williams will also miss next Tuesday's game with Belgium and is likely to miss several Swansea games after that.
Sam Vokes is also ruled out against Macedonia but Wales are hopeful the striker will be fit for Brussels.

His chances of finishing the group on a positive note and improving a record of just three wins in 13 games look slim, but he will hope in-form Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey - skippering the side again - can inspire the Dragons to a victory which could have an effect on February's Euro 2016 qualifying draw.

Since beating Wales and then losing at home to Scotland last month, Macedonia have seen coach Chedomir Janevski quit the post. Zoran Stratev has been placed in temporary charge and will be looking to boost his chances of landing the role full-time by claiming all three points.

Wales vs Macedonia October 11, 2013

Wales go into Friday's clash against Macedonia at Cardiff City Stadium bottom of Group A and travel to leaders Belgium on Tuesday, 15 October.
Coleman's side have six points from eight games, leading to speculation over his future as Wales boss.
He is still in negotiations to extend his deal beyond the qualifying campaign.

When: Friday, Oct. 11, at 2:45 p.m. ET; 7:45 p.m. BST

Where: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales

England vs Montenegro October 11, 2013

Roy Hodgson goes into the games against Montenegro and Poland knowing the outcome may define his career as England manager.

England currently lead Group H by a point ahead of their final two fixtures on Friday and Tuesday with their World Cup destiny firmly in their own hands.

Victories in the Wembley double-header will guarantee their place in Brazil next summer, but the danger of dropping points in either match will throw automatic qualification into serious doubt.

Roy Hodgson is confident in a England win for their vital World Cup qualifier against Montenegro.
Ukraine and Montenegro are just a point adrift, with Poland two further back, meaning Hodgson's men cannot relax as Ukraine play Poland at home on Friday before travelling to San Marino for their final qualifier, on the same night Montenegro face Moldova at home.

Four of the six nations in Group H can still qualify automatically for next year's World Cup in Brazil.

Two of them, England and Montenegro, will meet at Wembley on Friday night. The home side currently top the group with 16 points and if they emerge victorious, then it will end Montenegro's chances of finishing at the summit.

However, should Branko Brnovic's team win, then they would leapfrog the Three Lions and could even replace them at the top of the standings, depending on the Ukraine against Poland result.

Finishing second would likely pitch England into a two-legged play-off for the right to reach the World Cup, while the unthinkable prospect of third would mark the first time the 1966 winners have failed to qualify for the global showpiece since 1994.

England vs Montenegro October 11, 2013

England can point to their unbeaten record through qualification so far, but one concern is that their four victories have come against group minnows Moldova and San Marino, with their meetings against Ukraine (twice), Poland and Montenegro all ending in deadlock.

Hodgson predictably refused to reveal his team selection in his final pre-match press conference on Thursday, but one man who is certain to start is goalkeeper Joe Hart, who has the backing of the international manager despite his patchy club form for Manchester City

England: Hart; Walker, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines; Lampard, Gerrard, Milner, Wilshere; Rooney, Sturridge

Montenegro: Bozovic; Basa, Džudovic, Bozovic, Savic; Zverotic; Boskovic, Drincic, Krkotic; Jovetic; Vucinic

Spain vs Belarus October 11, 2013

Spain welcome Belarus in their 2014 World Cup qualifier on Friday knowing that three points would move them one step closer to securing their spot in Brazil next summer.

Reigning World Cup champion Spain will host Belarus on Friday in a World Cup 2014 qualifying match in Palma de Mallorca.

La Roja dismantled Belarus in Minsk last October, winning 4-0 on the road behind a hat-trick from Pedro. And with Belarus having won just one of seven UEFA group matches thus far, many are expecting another Spanish clinic on Friday.

The Spanish have had two draws over the past year against Finland and France, but have yet to lose a single match in Group I action, picking up 14 points through six matches. With just two matches left to play against Belarus and Georgia, Spain are heavy favorites to win the group and earn a trip to Brazil next summer.

Meanwhile, Belarus have already been eliminated from World Cup contention, having lost five of seven group matches to this point.

Here, we'll get you set with everything you need to know for Friday's qualifying tilt.

Spain vs Belarus October 11, 2013

Time: 4 p.m. EDT, 9 p.m. BST

Where: Iberostar Stadium, Palma, Spain

The European and world champions currently sit top of Group I having won four and drawn two of their six matches thus far, but they are level with France on 14 points.

France, however, have played one game more than La Roja and, therefore, three points against Belarus would leave Vicente del Bosque's side needing just one point from their final clash with Georgia to secure automatic qualification.

Belarus, meanwhile, currently sit bottom of the group having taken just four points from their seven matches, but they could move above Georgia with all three points in Spain. The corresponding match in Belarus took place in October 2012, when Spain picked up all three points with a 4-0 win.

Denmark vs Italy October 11, 2013

The home side currently sit third in Group B on 12 points, one point behind second-placed Bulgaria with two matches remaining. They have won three, drawn three and lost two of their eight matches thus far, but they head into the fixtures on the back of successive wins over Malta and Armenia.

The Azzurri stamped their pass for Brazil last month, having wrapped up Group B with two games to spare. However, the playoff spot is still very much up for grabs.

Bulgaria (13) are one point better off than the Danes, who in turn, are three points ahead of the Czech Republic and Armenia. That picture will become a lot clearer after this current round of games, with Denmark needing at least a point to stay in realistic contention. Eight of the nine second-placed sides will compete in the playoffs. The team that finishes second with the lowest number of points scored will miss out completely.

After a stuttering start to their campaign, Denmark come into this game on the back of consecutive victories over Malta and Armenia. However, none of their three qualifying victories in this campaign have come at home. A shock 4-0 loss to Armenia back in June highlights the unpredictability of the Danes on Scandinavian soil.

Italy, meanwhile, have already secured their spot in Brazil having won six of their eight Group B matches, remaining unbeaten in the process and amassing 20 points.

The Azzurri also enter the contest on the back of two successive wins over Czech Republic and Bulgaria and will take confidence from the last time they faced Denmark – a 3-1 win in the corresponding match in October 2012.

Denmark will once again be led by Liverpool defender Daniel Agger, while Tottenham Hotspur's Christian Eriksen and Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner are also familiar names in their squad.

Highly-rated Ajax attacker Viktor Fischer is also expected to start against the Italians, while 22-year-old Thomas Delaney could win his first cap for his country.

Denmark vs Italy October 11, 2013

Match date/time: Friday, 8:15 p.m. local, 2:15 p.m. ET

Venue: Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark

Netherlands vs Hungary October 11, 2013

The Netherlands' victory over Andorra last month ensured their place at next year's World Cup in Brazil, meaning you might expect this match at home to Hungary to be a dead rubber; one for Louis van Gaal to experiment with. Unfortunately for the Oranje, that isn't the case -- they've still got important FIFA ranking points to fight for, trying to squeeze into a seeded spot for the group stage draw.

Hungary and the Netherlands will face off in the World Cup Qualifiers on Friday.
Hungary desperately needs to win this game if it has any hopes of winning a spot in the second-place playoff. The club has 14 points in eight games but only leads Turkey and Romania by one point in the race for second. While those teams face lesser opponents like Estonia and Andorra, Hungary has the most difficult draw and must make the most out of it.

Making things even worse is that the Dutch are facing a Hungary team currently locked in an intense battle with Turkey for Group D's second-place playoff spot, currently only a point ahead. That means the visitors won't be short on motivation, and will be as determined as ever to add three points to their Group D tally.

For the hosts, Robin van Persie is a notable early doubt with a toe problem, while Gregory van der Wiel, Jonathan de Guzman and Stijn Schaars pulled out of van Gaal's initial squad with injuries.

Netherlands vs Hungary October 11, 2013

Netherlands: Michel Vorm; Daley Blind, Bruno Martins Indi, Stefan de Vrij, Daryl Janmaat; Rafael Van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder, Kevin Strootman; Jeremain Lens, Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben

Hungary: Ádám Bogdán; Vilmos Vanczák, Zsolt Korcsmár, Tamás Kádár, Richárd Guzmics; Tamás Hajnal, Ákos Elek; Balázs Dzsudzsák, Dániel Böde, Vladimir Koman; Krisztián Németh

Match Date/Time: Friday, 8:30 p.m. local, 2:30 p.m. ET

Lithuania vs Latvia October 11, 2013

Latvia has opened its tournament with a 2-1 loss against Greece and a 4-1 against Bosnia - Herzegovina. In their third game , the team lost 2-1 to Slovakia. The team then defeated and tied with Liechtenstein in consecutive games , but was annihilated 5-0 Bosnia - Herzegovina. A victory finally came to Lithuania in September, but that result was followed by a 1-0 defeat against Greece.

Neither team has much to play for as they have already been eliminated from the World Cup Qualifiers.
Latvia is fifth in the group with seven points thanks to two wins, one draw, and five losses. The squad has scored eight goals but has conceded 16 times.

Aleksandrs Cauna leads the team in scoring with two goals in the country , six players have scored for Latvia

Lithuania vs Latvia October 11, 2013

Start Time: The match gets underway at 2:30 p.m. EST.

Lithuania is one point ahead of Latvia , thanks to a record of two wins , two draws and four defeats . Their offense produced seven goals, while their defense has been the victim of 10 times. Slovakia 's team in its opening before losing 2-0 to Greece in monitoring . A 2-0 victory over Liechtenstein followed, but a 3-0 against Bosnia - Herzegovina has reminded fans that the team was far from being a competitor. The remaining games , including a draw with Slovakia , a loss to Greece, a loss to a win over Latvia and Lithuania.

Serbia vs Japan October 11, 2013

Japan and Serbia are ranked 42 and 43 respectively on the FIFA/ Coca-Cola World Rankings.
Japan has improved in recent months after a poor showing at the FIFA Confederations Cup in June.

In August, the team at 4-2, Uruguay was destroyed, but rebounded in September, a friendly against Guatemala with a 3-0 victory. His most recent game was a 3-1 victory against Ghana in Yokohama.

With a 3-0 away win against Wales in a World Cup qualifier in September attachment Europe, hosts trust their shape longer when they are in a friendly against Japan. First victory over Wales, Serbia were held 1-1 by Croatia in a World Cup Qualification match.

Serbia vs Japan October 11, 2013

Start Time: The match gets underway at 11:30 a.m. EST.

Today is a day to play matches Friday on the day of encounter groups encounter played in Japan with Serbia. 2013sportsblog information about the match, of course!

After disappointing performance in FIFA Confederations cup back in June, Japan has improved a lot in recent months. Japan won two friendly fixtures in a row in September, 3-0 over Guatemala and 3-1 over Ghana, both at home.

Serbia has in the last five games, starting with marta.Natsiya defeated Scotland 2-0 in the World Cup qualifiers before losing 2-1 against Belgium in Brussels on June qualifications. The game was followed by a 1-1 draw against Croatia in Belgrade, which damages the chances of winning the Croats in the first group of participants. In his last match Serbia Wales in Cardiff has destroyed 3-0.

This is the second game between the two off storonami.Komandy 7 April 2010 faced finished with a score of 3-0 in a friendly European side on the top.

Armenia vs Bulgaria October 11, 2013

There are nine World Cup groups but only the top eight second place teams get a chance to play in the second round playoffs. Since one of the groups only has five teams and the others have six, the second-place teams in six-team groups lose any points that they have acquired against the last-place team in the group. Bulgaria has 13 points but has earned six of them from last place Malta. As a result, the Bulgarians are currently out of the running for the second round; the team is four points out of the eighth spot at the moment.

Played for the biggest fight of Armenia and Bulgaria started countdowns. 2014 World Cup team for the struggle of the match stats you are sharing information with you at all 2013sportsblog!

Armenia vs Bulgaria October 11, 2013

Start Time: Kick-off starts at 11 a.m. EST.

Bulgaria to the table runner can be considered, taking second place in Group B Denmark trails by just one point and win Armenia and Denmark are at close range with nine. A victory connected to Denmark by a loss in his first game with Italy could keep second place to Bulgaria.

Armenia must win this game if you have any hope for the second place. With nine games in eight games, the team can still finish with 15 points, only three of them would be against Malta.

Tottenham vs West Ham October 6, 2013

Tottenham Hotspur have had an impressive start to the Premier League season, currently up in third place and only a couple of points off the top spot. They host West Ham at White Hart Lane on Sunday, and will be hopeful of picking up three points against a team yet to hit their stride.

More from our team blogs: Tottenham Hotspur blog Cartilage Free Captain
Despite Hammers boss Sam Allardyce's reputation for building robust Premier League sides, his team have struggled so far this campaign. They've scored only four goals in their opening six games, and haven't won since their opening match of the season. Having fallen to within a point of the relegation zone, they're looking for a quick turnaround.

For this match they will have long-term injured Alou Diarra and Andy Carroll still unavailable, though there's hope Joe Cole will return from a hamstring injury. For Spurs, Étienne Capoue, Younes Kaboul, Aaron Lennon and Emmanuel Adebayor are all sidelined.

Tottenham Hotspur injuries and suspensions

Out: Étienne Capoue (ankle), Younes Kaboul (knee), Aaron Lennon (foot), Emmanuel Adebayor (match fitness). In doubt: None.

West Ham United injuries and suspensions

Out: Alou Diarra (knee), Andy Carroll (foot). In doubt: Joe Cole (hamstring).

Projected lineups

Tottenham Hotspur: Hugo Lloris; Danny Rose, Jan Vertonghen, Michael Dawson, Kyle Walker; Paulinho, Mousa Dembélé; Gylfi Sigurðsson, Christian Eriksen, Andros Townsend; Roberto Soldado

West Ham United: Jussi Jääskeläinen; Joey O'Brien, Winston Reid, James Collins, Guy Demel; Mohamed Diamé, Mark Noble; Matt Jarvis, Kevin Nolan, Stewart Downing; Modibo Maïga

Match Date/Time: Sunday, 4 p.m. local, 11 a.m. ET

West Brom vs Arsenal October 6, 2013

Arsenal return to The Hawthorns less than a fortnight after their last visit in the Capital One Cup, with manager Arsene Wenger stressing the need to focus, keep things in perspective and build on the excellent start to the season.
The recent cup visit resulted in a 4-3 win on penalties for the Gunners (the match finished 1-1 after extra time), but it'll be a different line-up this time as Wenger's side go for an 11th straight win in all competitions.

Good afternoon and welcome to our live blog of the second set of Premier League games of the day.

Our main match sees two sides high on confidence go head-to-head. West Brom were winners at Old Trafford last time out and will be keen to claim another scalp against Arsenal today.

The Gunners, though, are in fine fettle themselves, having registered a series of great results since opening-day defeat to Aston Villa. Something's got to give.

It doubled Albion's win tally for the season, and coming on the back of a 3-0 home win over Sunderland was further evidence they are perhaps settling down after a rocky start that had seen just two points accrued from the opening four games.
Arsenal travel to the West Midlands having won their last eight away matches in the league, and their recent record at The Hawthorns is good, too, winning on three of their last four visits.
Albion have lost two out of three at home so far, but face this test in much better shape than they would have been just a couple of weeks ago.

West Brom: Myhill, Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Yacob, Mulumbu, Amalfitano, Sessegnon, Berahino, Anelka
Subs: Daniels, Popov, Morrison, Brunt, Lugano, Long, Rosenberg
Arsenal: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Arteta, Flamini, Ramsey, Wilshere, Ozil, Giroud
Subs: Fabianski, Monreal, Vermaelen, Rosicky, Gnabry, Miyaichi, Bendtner

Southampton vs Swansea City October 6, 2013

Southampton and Swansea City face off on Sunday morning in the Premier League.

Both teams are off to contrasting starts. Southampton currently sits in seventh place in the league with three wins, two draws, and one loss; they are only five points behind current first place side Liverpool. Meanwhile Swansea City sits in 14th place with only two wins, one draw, and three losses this season.

Despite the poor start for Swansea, Southampton's manager Mauricio Pochettino feels tremendous respect for Swansea' boss Michael Laudrup.
''With Swansea's last few managers, they have played, good attractive attacking football and Laudrup is no different,'' said Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino according to ESPN. ''He and I share a simple philosophy about how our teams want to play so we do have that in

''I am happy for him. Since I have come to England I have been able to see more of the work he has done there. He has done a great job.''

Laudrup also praised the opposition ahead of the tilt.
"Southampton have a good team, last year when we went there they were struggling, but they played well," he said in the same report. "Since then they have brought in a new manager, they have some new players and they are building on what was there."
"They have a good squad, have made a good start, and they play good football," he added. "It will be difficult as it's a game between two sides who like to have control of the ball, and we will need to ensure we have enough of it, as if they have it too much we will have a lot of running to do, which will be tough after our run of games."
Prediction: Both sides battle to a 2-2 draw.

Norwich vs Chelsea October 6, 2013

Jose Mourinho is pleased with the way his Chelsea team has responded from some early problems following his return the club and believes that more is yet to come. Chelsea lost consecutive matches to Everton and Basel in the middle of last month, but they rebounded with three wins and a draw from their next four encounters, including an impressive 4-0 victory away at Steaua Bucharest in midweek. And, ahead of a trip to face Norwich on Sunday, Mourinho sounded confident that his players were on the right track.

Chelsea will conclude a four-game road swing in their schedule when they visit Norwich City at Carrow Road in Week 7 of English Premier League play on Sunday.

The Blues will be looking to build on their success from Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League win at Steaua Bucharest where attacking midfielders Juan Mata and Andre Schurrle gained a lot of confidence both internally and in the eyes of perfectionist manager Jose Mourinho with their play in Romania.

Norwich City (2-1-3) have been somewhat anemic on offense early in this season and have scored just two goals in their last five league games—and a pretty paltry four overall—heading into this meeting with the Europa League champions.

Although manager Chris Hughton and the Canaries have some talent in the likes of Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Nathaniel Redmond, Gary Hooper, Anthony Pilkington and Leroy Fer, Norwich City have yet to really gel as a unit offensively, but the same could be said about many other clubs in the Premier League, including Chelsea.

Defensively, the Canaries and goalkeeper John Ruddy have been very respectable, allowing just six goals in their first six games—a total less than league leaders Arsenal (seven), defending champions Manchester United (eight) and big summer spenders Manchester City (seven).

In their last game, 14th-placed Norwich got a clean sheet from Ruddy in a 1-0 win at Stoke City from a Jonny Howson goal. In this particular fixture last season, Chelsea edged the Canaries 1-0 with a Mata goal on Boxing Day.

Norwich are 1-1-1 at home with three goals for and three goals against heading into this highly anticipated meeting with the Blues.

Chelsea (3-2-1) head into this weekend’s action in fifth place, but away from Stamford Bridge, the Blues have yet to win and have scored just one goal—a John Terry equalizer against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Sept. 28—although they have allowed only two.

Where: Carrow Road, Norwich, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom
When: Sunday, October 6, 2013
Weather: The Weather Channel forecast
Time: 1:30 p.m. BST/8:30 a.m.

Barcelona vs Valladolid October 5, 2013

FC Barcelona return to the Camp Nou tomorrow, as they prepare to host lowly Real Valladolid and secure their eighth successive victory under the guidance of Argentine head coach, Gerardo Martino. With seven wins from seven in La Liga, Barcelona are edging ever closer to Real Madrid’s record of nine wins – a record they could fittingly beat with an El Clasico victory in three weeks time – but with their 1-0 win over Celtic on Tuesday, the Blaugrana also grabbed their seventh successive win in all competitions.

Spain's La Liga returns to action this weekend with a full slate of matches on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Villarreal hosted Granada on Friday night to kick off the weekend, with nine more matches set to follow throughout the weekend. In these slides, we recap all the scores from all the games.

No disrespect to either Real Valladolid, or Barcelona’s next opposition after the international break, Osasuna, but that streak should extend to nine over the coming weeks, even if Barça have been somewhat ravaged by injuries. Lionel Messi is sidelined, as are regular starters Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba and club captain Carles Puyol – and the squad that was tipped to be "too thin" to deal with an injury crisis is coping admirably.

The defense that supposedly needed desperate reinforcements has conceded just once in its last five matches and kept a staggering four clean sheets in its last four away fixtures; in fact, pretty much everything is going according to plan for Gerardo Martino. His rotation policy has been well-received and if the past few weeks are any indication, Martino might etch his name into the record books sooner rather than later.

Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdés; Alves, Piqué, Bartra, Montoya; Busquets, Xavi, Roberto; Alexis, Fàbregas, Neymar

Valladolid (4-2-3-1): Marino; Rukavina, Rueda, Valiente, Pena; Baraja, Rossi; Ebert, Osorio, Omar; Guerra

Levante vs Real Madrid October 5, 2013

Levante UD take on the mighty Real Madrid in La Liga in a fixture that they would not usually be expected to win any points from.

After a solid last season, the Valencia based team are again performing admirably, sitting in ninth place and having lost just a single game all season – the opening defeat thrashing by FC Barcelona.

However, Real Madrid have not fully convinced under Carlo Ancelotti this season, losing to city rivals Atletico de Madrid last weekend, and dropping further points to Villarreal earlier in the season.

There are signs that the Italian boss is starting to figure things out though, with impressive victories over Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League – in which they scored ten goals total – putting Los Blancos top of their group.

Without the injured Gareth Bale, goals will have to come from Cristiano Ronaldo, Isco and Angel Di Maria – or Karim Benzema, if he can end his drought in front of the posts.

Real Madrid continue to be an enigma, wrapped in bacon and topped off with a little parsley. A team that can't seem to find consistency and struggling under the massive expectations place upon them by investment, fans and the media.

There loss against Atlético Madrid last week has left Los Blancos five points adrift of their two biggest rivals and while the season is hardly over, this is not the kind of start Carlo Ancelotti wanted or needed. The continued absence of Gareth Bale isn't helping either as the world record transfer has yet to make an meaningful impact for his new side.

It's with all that in mind that Madrid travels to face Levante, a team that has improved since their season opening bludgeoning from Barcelona. Since that 7-0 loss, Valladolid have won twice and drawn four times. It's a great chance for Joaquin Caparros' team to make and impact, steal some points and potentially lower Ancelotti a little closer to a waiting boiling cauldron of doubt if they fall any further behind in the title race.

Levante injuries and suspensions

In Doubt: Pape Diop (knee).

Real Madrid injuries and suspensions

Out: Gareth Bale (thigh), Xabi Alonso (foot), Marcelo (hamstring). In Doubt: Pepe (cut)

Gareth Bale's thigh problem continues to keep the winger on the sideline as he's at least two weeks away from getting back on the pitch. Alonso and Marcelo remain out as well, recovering from foot surgery and hamstring problems respectively. Raphaël Varane could get his first league start of the season with Pepe in doubt after suffering a bad cut in Champions League play.Pape Diop's status is up in the air after missing training during the week with a knee problem.

Projected lineups

Levante: Keylor Navas; Christian Lell, Loukas Vyntra, Héctor Rodas, Juanfran; Pape Diop, Simão Mate; Pedro López, Rubén García, Nabil El Zhar; Baba Diawara.

Real Madrid: Diego López; Álvaro Arbeloa, Raphaël Varane, Sergo Ramos, Fábio Coentrão; Sami Khedira, Asier Illarramendi; Cristiano Ronaldo, Isco, Ángel Di Maria; Karim Benzema.

Match Date/Time: 8 p.m. local, 2 p.m. ET

Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen October 5, 2013

In my opinion this is the marquee match up of the Saturday line up. The Bundesliga doesn’t get the love that the English Premier League, La Liga, or even the Italian Serie A league get in the United States.

This game has a loaded and talented Bayern Munich squad, who won the Champions League last May, and have been in three of the last four Champions League finals.

Munich’s opponent, Bayer Leverkusen, isn’t weak competition by any means. They are playing in the Champions League this season and currently sit in third place in the Bundesliga table, one spot behind Bayern Munich.

Date: October 5
Start Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Location: Leverkusen, Germany

Bayer Leverkusen take on Bayern Munich in the biggest clash of the Bundesliga weekend on Saturday afternoon.

The two sides sit third and second respectively, each having dropped points in just one game so far.

The hosts have won their last three league games, most recently a 2-0 victory over Hannover and it is the same story for Bayern, who beat Wolfsburg by a single goal.

Gonzalo Castro remains out for the hosts, which is a blow for them, while Bayern are still waiting for the return of Javi Martinez and Thiago Alcantara.

Recent form

Leverkusen: WWLWWW

Bayern: WWDWWW

Possible starting lineups

Leverkusen: Leno; Hilbert, Wollscheid, Toprak, Boenisch; Bender, Reinartz, Rolfes; Sam, Kiessling, Son

Bayern: Neuer; Rafinha, Boateng, Dante, Alaba; Lahm; Schweinsteiger, Muller; Robben, Ribery, Mandzukic

Sunderland vs Manchester United October 5, 2013

Champions Manchester United look to kick-start their season at bottom of the table Sunderland.

After their defeat at home by West Bromwich Albion last weekend, manager David Moyes will be desperate to get United's domestic campaign back on track.

In what is United's worst start to season in nearly a quarter of a century, they sit 12th in the table having lost half of their opening six matches.

However, Sunderland's start has been the worst in the league as they currently prop up the table with just one point.

Caretaker boss Kevin Ball took charge from Paolo Di Canio late last month after their defeat at West Brom and, despite a 3-1 loss to Liverpool in his first game in charge, there were plenty of positives to take.

History wise Sunderland have a woeful record against United, and have not beaten them in the league since March 1997 - some 22 games ago - and indeed the Red Devils have won the last five meetings.

Despite their relative struggles in the league, United's start to their European campaign has been decent and that continued with a midweek draw against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Manchester United may have had a shaky start to the season by their standards, but the Red Devils' misery is nothing compared to the suffocating gloom engulfing the Stadium of Light. Sunderland are still without a manager after Paolo Di Canio's disastrous reign came to a messy end, and they host the Premier League's reigning champions in Saturday's late kickoff.

Sunderland injuries and suspensions

Out: Phil Bardsley (ankle), Wes Brown (knee), Steven Fletcher (shoulder). In doubt: Andrea Dossena (thigh).

Manchester United injuries and suspensions

Out: Darren Fletcher (illness). In doubt: Rio Ferdinand (groin).

Projected lineups

Sunderland: Keiren Westwood; Jack Colback, John O'Shea, Carlos Cuéllar, Craig Gardner; Ki Sung-Yueng, Lee Cattermole, Sebastian Larsson; Emanuele Giaccherini, Jozy Altidore, Adam Johnson

Manchester United: David De Gea; Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidić, Chris Smalling; Tom Cleverley, Michael Carrick; Danny Welbeck, Wayne Rooney, Antonio Valencia; Robin van Persie

Asian Cup Qualification

Slovenia vs Norway October 11, 2013

Albania vs Switzerland October 11, 2013

Germany vs Ireland October 11, 2013

Moldova vs San Marino October 11, 2013

France vs Australia October 11, 2013

Croatia vs Belgium October 11, 2013

Wales vs Macedonia October 11, 2013

England vs Montenegro October 11, 2013

Spain vs Belarus October 11, 2013

Denmark vs Italy October 11, 2013

Netherlands vs Hungary October 11, 2013

Lithuania vs Latvia October 11, 2013

Serbia vs Japan October 11, 2013

Armenia vs Bulgaria October 11, 2013

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