FIFA World Cup 2010 Qualifying Update - October 2008

We are still 610 days away from kick off in the 2010 FIFA World Cup but the qualifying process for the most important football competition on the planet is at it's full force all over the world.

This month the only confederation that does not have any matches scheduled is Oceania (OFC). All the other will have their nations battling for precious points that will get them closer to the World Cup 2010 in South Africa.

Some important matches this month are:

UEFA:

Sweden v. Portugal (Saturday 11 October)

We will be able to watch Zlatan Ibrahimovic's class battle his new teammate Ricardo Quaresma. Not to mention the return of Cristiano Ronaldo to the national team after his injury.

Germany v. Russia (Saturday 11 October)

The German team will count on Ballack when the Euro runners-up face the Ruski with Pavlyuchenko and Arshavin in Dortmund.

Romania v. France (Saturday 11 October)

These two teams presented the most boring match of the Euro 2008. The fans expect a much different pace this time. Ribery will be on the pitch for France. Romania will count on the talent of Mutu.

Bulgaria v. Italia (Saturday 11 October)

Fabio Cannavaro already declared his desire of breaking Paolo Maldini's number of appearances for the Scuadra Azzura. Maldini has 126 appearances and Cannavarro can reach 120 if he play the next two matches. The first one is on Saturday against Dimitar Berbatov's Bulgaria.

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CONMEBOL

Argentina v. Uruguay (Saturday 11 October)

Messi and Aguero will lead Argentina in their attempt to secure three precious points that could put them closer to Paraguay in the race for one of the spots in the World Cup 2010. Uruguay has Forlan and Abreu among the three top scorers of the South American qualifiers and Uruguay could really use their goals in this clash. Uruguay has 12 points, one less than the Argentines, Brazil and Chile, leaving them in 5th place right now.

Colombia v. Paraguay (Saturday 11 October)

Colombia is in a dangerous 6th position with 10 points and beating the leader of the tournament would definitely boost the team's confidence.   

Venezuela v. Brazil (Sunday 12 October)

A match that wouldn't normally attract a lot of attention as Brazil would crash the Venezuelans with at least 4 goals but last time these two faced each other we saw an incredible performance by the "Red Wine" especially from Giancarlo Maldonado and Ronald Vargas. But can thy repeat the 2-0 win from the friendly in June?

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CONCACAF

USA v. Cuba (Saturday 11 October)

The North-Americans should not have a problem to win this match but with all the political rivalry between the two countries it would be interesting to see the outcome of this clash.

Canada v. Mexico (Wednesday 15 October)

Mexico is in a comfortable position but Canada is the team who needs to prove that they really improved since their last and only appearance in a World Cup back in 1986. But so far the Canucks have failed to cause an impression.

Trinidad and Tobago v. USA (Wednesday 15 October)

The USA could get to this match against the Socca Warriors with enough points to move to the final round of the CONCACAF Tournament so it's Trinidad and Tobago who needs to come string at home and take the three points in their battle against Guatemala for the remaining spot.

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AFC (Asia)

Australia v. Qatar (Wednesday 15 October)

Australia had a hard time to beat Uzbekistan 1-0 last month and now they face Qatar at home. A great opportunity for the Australians to move to the top spot of their group. 

Japan v. Uzbekistan (Wednesday 15 October)

The 63,000 seats at Saitama Stadium are already sold out for this important match for the Japanese. It's their home opening in this fouth round of the AFC qualifiers and the team wants to give their fans what they want: a convincing victory.

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CAF (Africa)

All the African Nations will play this coming week but there are no big clashes scheduled.
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You can check the table with all the upcoming matches bellow:

CAF 

DATE	MATCHES
11 October 2008	Ghana-Lesotho
	Côte d'Ivoire-Madagascar
	Malawi-Congo DR
	Cameroon-Mauritius
	Gabon-Libya
	Togo-Swaziland
	Tanzania-Cape Verde
	Namibia-Zimbabwe
	Nigeria-Sierra Leone
	Equatorial Guinea-South Africa
	Senegal-Gambia
	Liberia-Algeria
	Botswana-Mozambique
	Tunisia-Seychelles
	Mali-Chad
	Morocco-Mauritania
	Sudan-Congo
	Uganda-Benin
	Guinea-Kenya

AFC

DATE	MATCHES
15 October 2008	Ira-Korea DPR
	Japan-Uzbekistan
	Australia-Qatar
	Korea Republic-United Arab Emirates

UEFA

DATE	MATCHES
11 October 2008	Faroe Islands-Austria
	Finland-Azerbaijan
	England-Kazakhstan
	Wales-Liechtenstein
	Switzerland-Latvia
	Denmark-Malta
	Sweden-Portugal
	Ukraine-Croatia
	Luxembourg-Israel
	Serbia-Lithuania
	Poland-Czech Republic
	San Marino-Slovakia
	Slovenia-Northern Ireland
	Germany-Russia
	Belgium-Armenia
	Turkey-Bosnia-Herzegovina
	Greece-Moldova
	Romania-France
	Estonia-Spain
15 October 2008	Czech Republic-Slovenia
	Iceland-Macedonia FYR
	Latvia-Israel
	Russia-Finland
	Lithuania-Faroe Islands
	Norway-Netherlands
	Malta-Hungary
	Northern Ireland-San Marino
	Ireland Republic-Cyprus
	Luxembourg-Moldova
	Bosnia-Herzegovina-Armenia
	Croatia-Andorra
	Slovakia-Poland
	Austria-Serbia
	Georgia-Bulgaria
	Portugal-Albania
	Germany-Wales
	Belgium-Spain
	Italy-Montenegro
	Greece-Switzerland
	Estonia-Turkey
	Belarus-England

CONCACAF

DATE	MATCHES
11 October 2008	Suriname-Costa Rica
	Haiti-El Salvador
	Jamaica-Mexico
	USA-Cuba
	Honduras-Canada
	Guatemala-Trinidad and Tobago
15 October 2008	Jamaica-Honduras
	Canada-Mexico
	Cuba-Guatemala
	Costa Rica-Haiti
	El Salvador-Suriname
	Trinidad and Tobago-USA

CONMEBOL

DATE	MATCHES
11 October 2008	Bolivia-Peru
	Argentina-Uruguay
	Colombia-Paraguay
12 October 2008	Venezuela-Brazil
	Ecuador-Chile
14 October 2008	Bolivia-Uruguay
15 October 2008	Paraguay-Peru
	Chile-Argentina
	Venezuela-Ecuador
	Brazil-Colombia