With 32 names in the bag (irrespective of how they got there) thoughts can now turn to the subject of the draw for the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa.
The first thing to be decided is which countries to seed. This is calculated just before the draw and is based on past performances in recent World Cups and the FIFA World Ranking. Click to continue reading...

Why are we waiting...
The 17 Clubs Around The World Who Have Been Waiting The Longest To Win Another Championship Title Despite Holding The Record For The Most Championship Titles In Their Country
1. Club Colonial, Martinique (18 titles, last one - 1972)
2. Horseed, Somalia (8 titles, last one - 1980)
3. Click to continue reading...

Saturday 21st November
11:00 Rubin Kazan v Zenith St Petersburg, Russian Premier Liga, ESPN
What better way to return to club football than by watching a potential domestic title decider? Yep, it's starting to get a bit parky in Russia and this is the penultimate round of the season. Click to continue reading...

Africa
Arguably the headline match of the day was the special play-off match between Algeria and Egypt to decide the final World Cup qualifier from Africa.
Both teams had finished with identical records in Group 3 of the final qualifying round which led to this hastily-arranged one-off match in Sudan to decide the winner. Click to continue reading...

Now that the bunting has been torn down from between the tenements and the houses and the last of the party revellers bundled into a taxi for the long ride home, the mandarins at the SFA find themselves in a situation that gets less unique with every tournament that passes Scottish football by.

Click to continue reading...

Europe
With four places left to be filled, the eight best runners-up from the group stage took to the field on Saturday to kick-off the first leg of the European play-offs.
In Dublin, Ireland battled tenaciously against the visiting French team but somewhat frustrating played true to form, i. Click to continue reading...

At the end of day, you can keep your Premier Leagues and your Champions Leagues. Hell, you can even keep your MLS Supporters Shield... The real deal for any football fan worth their salt is the four-yearly spectacle that is the FIFA World Cup Finals, and the good news is there's another one appearing on the horizon as we speak. Click to continue reading...

As the last batch of teams book their reservations at next year's World Cup Finals. The gang reflect on the drama and excitement in Moscow, Dublin and Cairo. We also ask if Portugal can navigate their way past a tricky Bosnia team and celebrate the qualification of the All Whites.
You can listen by clicking here. Click to continue reading...

Monday 16th November
19:45 Coleraine v Glenavon, IFA Premiership, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Not much to talk about this week. The last knockings of World Cup qualifying is underway with precious little local interest. So instead, Sky have wheeled out this rare gem from Northern Ireland.
Tuesday 17th November
19:45 Northern Ireland v Czech Republic, U21 International , Sky Sports 1& HD1
This is a European Championship Qualifier. Click to continue reading...

Major League Soccer is now just one game away from the end of the season, and this weekend the two conference Finals were played to determine the two MLS Cup finalists. The two matches were devoid of goals over 90 minutes, and while the Western winners managed to conjure up a couple in extra time, a team from the West took it all the way to penalties in the Eastern final. Click to continue reading...

Saturday 14 November
07.00 New Zealand v Bahrain, World Cup Qualifying Play-off 2nd Leg (0-0), British Eurosport
A treat for early risers to decide the 24th qualifier for next summer's World Cup. A goalless first leg sees the All Whites as narrow favourites to progress. Bahrain haven't relied on Brazialian ringers for their success (unlike their neighbours) and fully deserve their shot at getting to the finals. Click to continue reading...

In association with...
FIFA's 35 Official World Cup Partners Since 1982
1. Adidas (1998 onwards)
2. Alfa Romeo (1990)
3. Anheuser-Busch / Budweiser (1986, 1990 and 1998 onwards)
4. Avaya (2002 and 2006)
5. Bata (1986)
6. Canon (1982 to 1998)
7. Castrol (2010)
8. Click to continue reading...

If Week 14 of the 2009/10 Ligue 1 season took a little while to warm up in terms of 'goals scored', it was well and truly ablaze by the time it ended.
And end it did with the most dramatic game seen in the French top flight for many a long year. Lyon and Marseille faced each other having gained important UEFA Champions League results last week (a 1-1 draw for Lyon over Liverpool and a 6-0 thrashing by Marseille over FC Zurich) while looking to keep pace with Bordeaux at the top of the Ligue 1 table. Click to continue reading...

It was Tim Vickery who said that of all the unimportant things in the world, football is the most important. So while Germany comes to terms with the death of Robert Enke, let us take a few moments to reflect on trivial yet happier matters, namely last weekend's Bundesliga action. Click to continue reading...

This week's Bundesbag was all set to go when we heard of the sudden death of the German international Goalkeeper Robert Enke. The Hannover 96 goalkeeper took over as Germany's Number 1 after Jens Lehmann retired last year.
The circumstances surrounding his death are not confirmed at the time of writing but it is quite clear that they are of the most tragic kind. Click to continue reading...