Easily the best footballing side in the Championship last season, it's hardly a surprise that Swansea have been attracting a lot of positive attention due to their performances in the Premier League. Thomas Rooney thinks a couple of Swans should be given a chance in the England squad and if the widely predicted changes happen after Euro 2012, Thomas has a point!

We're now officially 30 months away from the World Cup in Brazil, which means there isn't much time for the country to start finalizing some basic rules. When it comes to football of course, 'basic rules' really range from the sale of beers to deciding on how much 'fiesta' (partying) is allowed in the stadiums.

Tickets to the World Cup in Brazil are going to be fairly difficult to come by one would expect, if only in comparison to South Africa 2010. Gun violence is also something of a concern, so combining the two is obviously a natural course of action (work with me). Brazil's planning a "guns for tickets" drive ahead of the World Cup, netting at the very least a discount on tickets.

WEEKEND WRAP : CHRISTMAS EDITION

Nothing warms our heart (and stockings) more than futbolitos who are committed to charity work and give back to their communities! To be fair, every club in world football makes an attempt do this but special mention must go out to Tottenham, whose efforts are equally impressive (na na, don't be hatin' this Christmas!

The FAI has agreed a new two-year contract with Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni and his assistant Marco Tardelli.
The new deal was announced in a statement today. It will begin in July 2012 and continue for the duration of the World Cup 2014 qualifying campaign. Fitness trainer Fausto Rossi will also continue in his role.

Ireland will start their qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil away to Kazakhstan.
Following a meeting at the headquarters of their German counterparts in Frankfurt, the Football Association of Ireland announced today that agreement has been reached over their fixture schedule.

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In this week's review section, we congratulate The Czech Republic, The Republic of Ireland, Portugal and Croatia on Euro 2012 qualification, while Guus leaves Turkey and Suarez makes the back pages for the wrong reason.

In this week's review section, we congratulate The Czech Republic, The Republic of Ireland, Portugal and Croatia on Euro 2012 qualification

Lebanon achieve the impossible Lebanon Daily Star.

As a sidebar to all of the hype surrounding the Euro2012 play off qualifiers this past week, I noticed a great story emerging out of the Middle East which deserves more than a mention. Asian power South Korea were beaten 2-1 in Beirut by Lebanon who rank 112 places below them in the FIFA rankings which in any region is a huge accomplishment.

FC Politehnica Timişoara forward Tosaint Ricketts (UW-Green Bay) scored his third international goal as Canada thumped St. Kitts and Nevis 4-0 Tuesday night in Toronto to close out the second round of CONCACAF World Cup 2014 qualifying.

Ricketts, 24, played the full 90 minutes in his first start for the national team and closed out the scoring with his 88th-minute goal for the Canadians, who had clinched a spot in the third round of qualifying with a 0-0 draw with St.

Argentina is still not likely to go to the World Cup. At home, they did not manage to go beyond a 1-1 against the weakest side in South America, Bolivia, and the Argentines now only have 4 points for three matches. It was a well-deserved trashing that the local fans gave Messi and Company, a group of stars who should be in a circus rather than on a football pitch.

By JOEY SAMUEL

When Argentina opened its campaign to qualify for the 2014 World Cup with a commanding 4-1 win over Chile, things looked to be back on track for the Albiceleste after a disastrous 2011 Copa America.

But only two games later, that optimism has completely faded away.

In the only match of the day that really counted, Luis Suarez absolutely shredded Chile, hitting them for four and having a fair shout at at least a couple more. Other things happened today too, but this is a little sexier than international friendlies played at half-speed, even if those other ones did involve a certain Christian P*****n.

It's few and far between for the matches that actually matter this weekend, with really only one from a Liverpool perspective, as none of the current squad members are involved in the playoffs for the final Euro qualifying spots. Those of you with a strong affiliation for any of the nations facing off Bosnia-Herzegovina v.

By Eric Beard

Still only 19 years old, Neymar, alongside his agent and his club, persistently fought transfer talk throughout the summer transfer window, but ultimately he stayed in Brazil. Could he be playing every Sunday in front of hundreds of millions of viewers right now?

On this week's predictions we look at three of the vital play-off games for the European Championships, as well as a selection of World Cup 2014 qualifiers.

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On this week's predictions we look at three of the vital play-off games for the European Championships, as well as a selection of World Cup 2014 qualifiers. You can listen to Damon and Damian discussing their predictions on this week's show.

FC Politehnica Timişoara forward Tosaint Ricketts (UW-Green Bay) will continue his run with the Canadian national team, as he was called into camp for the team's final two second-round CONCACAF World Cup 2014 qualifiers against St. Kitts and Nevis.

Canada (3-0-1) needs just one point out of the two games against the tiny Caribbean country to win Group D and advance to a third-round qualifying group with Honduras, Panama and Cuba.

FIFA announced the Match Schedule for the 2014 World Cup in Zurich last night and we know you'd rather take out your neighbour's trash than see images of Yoda Blatter at the ceremony! So here you go instead, it's the Selecao feminina celebrating their goal against Costa Rica at the Pan American Games yesterday.

In case you were planning on skipping off to the wonderful land of the World Cup in 2014 and were waiting on details to make some travel plans, FIFA's gone ahead and set in motion a few of the details, if we're a long, long way from knowing the names of the participants. Unless you're of the idea that FIFA's corrupt and someone somewhere knows, in which case.

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil might still over two-and-half years away, but that doesn't mean you can't start arranging your travel plans.

FIFA released the full match schedule for the tournament on Thursday, with the opening game to be played at Arena de Sao Paulo in Sao Paulo on Thursday, June 14.

Muuuuuito Obrigada, Neymar. You've given everyone an preview to the specially-commissioned David Luiz Hair Book for the World Cup 2014! / via AP

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The Euro 2012 qualifying group stages are done, some teams are in, some still have a playoff and others start the road to World Cup 2014 qualifying. Ginge and Richard are back to cover all the news from that, along with spending some quality time with Kirsten Schlewitz discussing all things Italian football.

So if the US beats Ghana in the Round of 16 at World Cup 2014 will end justify the means?

Jozy was on the ball Tuesday...

The US players walked off the field on Tuesday night in Red Bull Arena with the fat kid on the other side of the see-saw as US manager Jurgen Klinsmann saw his match record drop, while the US dropped a 1-0 decision to Ecuador.

In what could be the most epic or disastrous move in the history of American soccer road-trips, the American Outlaws have chartered a large, 737-type plane to ferry its most hardcore and cash-flush members from the United States to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup.
I love my Yanks and a good awayday as much as the next guy but I'm not sure that I could personally take a 10-14 hour international flight full of booze, rampant patriotism, people applying for their Mile High Club membership in the toilets and the same 5 songs being sung over & over again in a small contained space.

Another round of internationals done and dusted, and once again Liverpool's participants come out unscathed. That makes it two breaks in a row without serious injury, which is both a refreshing change and strangely unnerving. At least this latest break wraps up the European Championship qualifying group stage.

I have no doubt that if Venezuela had played the same 11 against Ecuador as they did against Argentina, they would have maximum points in the South American World Cup qualification. Now, instead, they have lost 3 points...Argentina started well, patiently in what in the first half seemed a more tactical game, where the Venezuelans were figuring out how to play the Argentinean side.

Venezuela vs Argentina 2011 Highlights 1-0 Score Video Fernando Amorebieta Goal WC 2014 qualifying is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Venezuela vs Argentina 2011 Highlights 1-0 Score Video Fernando Amorebieta Goal WC 2014 qualifying is a post from Soccer Blogger.

I don't think this is what Hart had in mind...
It was a nice night out at BMO, but deja vu was in the air. The last time a team in red played a team from the not-quite-a-U.S.-state, it was a group-stage clincher-type set-up where the visitors put 8 defenders in front of their goal and got the result needed to wreck everything.

The last round of Euro qualifiers, as well as a pair of matches in South America, take place tomorrow, leaving us in a mess of anxiety about the international break finally being over, the hope that everyone returns in full health, and Manchester United's visit on Saturday. As johnnysingapore pointed out the other day, we'll do it all again in November, but getting through each round of internationals feels like a victory.

The last round of Euro qualifiers, as well as a pair of matches in South America, take place tomorrow, leaving us in a mess of anxiety about the international break finally being over, the hope that everyone returns in full health, and Manchester United's visit on Saturday. As johnnysingapore pointed out the other day, we'll do it all again in November, but getting through each round of internationals feels like a victory.

For the Euro 2012 qualifiers Denmark had to defeat Cyprus, and the match was virtually over after 25 minutes, with Denmark winning 4-0. It ended 4-1, but Denmark did what they had to do, and will now be looking towards a group final against Portugal in Copenhagen next Tuesday. Denmark needs to win to win the group though, after Portugal managed a too difficult 5-3 win over Iceland in Lisbon.

This is the internationals wrap up thread. Try to contain your excitement.

We'll get back to Liverpool soon enough, as we're now more than halfway there, and for the most part it was a successful Friday for Liverpool's internationals. It was a complete success for us, though, as we didn't see anyone pick up an injury on the day.

Did you know that the 2014 World Cup qualifying rounds have already started? With 'only' just under a thousand days until the big kick-off in Brazil, we take a look at one of the most hotly-contested qualifying groups: South America.

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Did you know that the 2014 World Cup qualifying rounds have already started? With 'only' just under a thousand days until the big kick-off in Brazil, we take a look at one of the most hotly-contested qualifying groups: South America.

The South American qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil are starting today. Nine teams (Brazil, as hosts, are automatically qualified) are fighting for four and a half spots, and in this continent, there are no San Marinos or Liechtensteins; all sides are highly comptetitive, and surely have a shot at the tournament.

Slovakia and Russia get Liverpool's day started from Zilina at 7:15PM BST/2:15PM EST

Ways to Watch:

ESPN3.com

MyP2P.bz
StopStream.tv
ATDHEnet.tv
FromSport.com
FirstRowSports.eu
KiwiSportz.com

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Euro 2012 Qualifiers:

Slovakia v.

Liverpool's two biggest matches of the early season are divided by yet another international break, with all of the active national sides on the continent wrapping up their Euro 2012 qualifying campaigns, and World Cup 2014 qualifiers starting nearly everywhere else. Fitness struggles mean there's a bit less action than usual for Kenny Dalglish's side, but there's a decent amount taking part in qualifiers or friendlies around across the globe.

On this week's predictions we feature important qualifiers for the European Championships taking place in Poland-Ukraine next summer as well as some World Cup 2014 qualifiers from South America and Asia.

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On this week's predictions we feature important qualifiers for the European Championships taking place in Poland-Ukraine next summer as well as some World Cup 2014 qualifiers from South America and Asia.