A very good weekend for.....

Chile pulled off a stunning 2-0 win away to CONMEBOL group leaders Paraguay. Paraguay had won all of their previous five home matches in qualifying and had conceded only one goal.

Brazil thumped Uruguay in Montevideo and now leads South American qualifying on goal difference from Paraguay but Chile is only a point behind and has a safety margin of six points in respect to an automatic qualifying spot.  Chile is at home for the next two games against Bolivia and Venezuela.

Three of the five spots from Asia were decided with Japan, Australia and South Korea now able to make summer 2010 travel arrangements.

Costa Rica's midfielder Celso Borges followed up a goal against the USA in midweek with a double in a 3-2 away win against Trinidad and Tobago.

The Netherlands became the first UEFA country to qualify through the group stages after beating Iceland 2-1. Six wins in six games, 14 goals scored and only two conceded in a feeble Group 9.

Denmark took a giant stride to automatic qualification by beating Sweden 1-0 away from home in Group 1. The Danes still have four games left but are at home against their main threats Portugal, Hungary and Sweden with only one away game in Albania.

With only one country from each qualifying group in Africa qualifying for South Africa the chances of a surprise or two are increased substantially. Of all the Federations the African qualifying groups promise to be the most competitive and riveting. There are still four of six games left but the groups are beginning to take shape.

Gabon has a 100% record having beaten Morocco (a) and Togo (h) already. Favourites Cameroon has only one point and play Gabon away and home in the next two games.  

Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast both have a 100% record after two games in Group E and now face each other in critical back-to-back games later this month and in September.


Not so good......

Mexico changed their coach but it did not change their fortune away from home. A third straight away loss in the hex - this one to El Salvador. Mexico still has the fortress Azteca to fall back on but their failure on the road only increases the pressure on a side that is already feeling the heat.

Group 1 started out looking like a fight for first and second between Sweden and Portugal. It has turned out very differently. Sweden may have a game in hand but they are ten points behind leaders Denmark, seven adrift of Hungary who are in second and three below third place Portugal. The Swedes have failed to score in four of their five games and a runners-up spot now looks to be about the best on offer.

Bulgaria is unbeaten in six but five of the games have finished as draws and they have already played second place Republic of Ireland twice. Two more dropped points against Ireland on Saturday was a major setback for the Bulgarians.

African Cup of Nations Champions Egypt lost 3-1 away to Algeria and the result combined with an opening 1-1 draw with Zambia leaves them stranded on one point and three points behind Algeria and Zambia in Group C.


What was said....

FIFA removes age limit on players changing country.

SPL clubs may be regretting a decision they made last summer.

The Katine tournament in north-east Uganda is partly sponsored by the Guardian.

Here is an audio segment that ran on CBC radio on the tournament - there is a running order provided so you don't have to listen to the complete show.

Ligue Une starts on August 8 and will finish May 15, 2010.

A list of the early player moves in the Bundesliga.


Coming up this week.....

World Cup qualifying continues for some countries this Wednesday.
CONCACAF - Mexico v Trinidad and Tobago & Honduras v El Salvador.

COMNEBOL - Ecuador v Argentina; Colombia v Peru; Venezuela v Uruguay; Chile v Bolivia; Brazil v Paraguay.

UEFA - Group 1 Sweden v Malta; Group 4 Finland v Russia; Group 6 England v Andorra & Ukraine v Kazakhstan; Group 7 Faroe Islands v Serbia; Group 9 FYR Macedonia v Iceland & Netherlands v Norway.

The CONCACAF Champions League draw for 2009/10 will be made this Thursday June 11.


Poll Position.....