Qualifying matches for the 2010 FIFA World Cup resume in full force this weekend following a summer's slowdown of activity to allow most players to focus on preseason club training and competitions.
A number of intriguing matchups will take place through Sept. 9 as qualifying for the tournament enters its final critical months.
Here's a review of key games through Wednesday:
UEFA - Of the 46 matches scheduled for European teams, the most intriguing take place in Group 1. Hungary, a once dominant soccer nation that finished runner-up in 1938 and 1954, has not competed in a World Cup since 1986. The team holds the record for most goals scored in a FIFA World Cup final (27) in 1954 during its peak years.
Hungary sits in second place in Group 1, three points behind leader Denmark and four points ahead of Portugal and Sweden, the two teams they will play before next Wednesday.
Third place Portugal sits in a precarious position with only nine points and with three of its four remaining games against Denmark and Hungary (twice). Portugal's fate could clearly be defined by this time next week. Two losses would eliminate them from any chance of qualifying for the finals and would mean one of the world's top players, Christiano Ronaldo, would miss the tournament.
In Group 2, Greece and Switzerland are tied atop the table with 13 points, but Greece is ahead on goal differential. The two will play Saturday in Switzerland. Greece, the 2004 European Championship winners, has not played in the World Cup finals since 1994.
Group 6 leader England could clinch a spot in the World Cup finals with a win Wednesday over Croatia, which trail in second place by eight points with both teams still to play three games. England has not lost in 2010 qualifying.
In Group 7, leader Serbia will host France Wednesday and will try to expand its five point lead over the 2006 finals runner-up. A loss would force France, the 1998 champion and 2006 runner-up, to win its remaining three games to have a chance to win the group.
CONMEBOL -- South American teams will play 10 games by Wednesday, with the most attention focused on Argentina vs. Brazil on Saturday.
Argentina sits in fourth place with four games remaining. Two wins, including over qualifying leader Brazil, should guarantee them no lower than their current position and the last automatic qualifying spot for the finals. But Argentina must also face second place Paraguay away on Wednesday.
Since Argentine legend Diego Maradona took over as head coach in November, Argentina has two wins and two losses in 2010 qualifying, including 6-1 to second to last place Bolivia.
To inspire passion in his players, Maradona has moved the match against Brazil from Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, the normal site for home World Cup matches, to Central Stadium in Rosario, the home town of the team's most dynamic player, Lionel Messi.
Unlike in Monumental Stadium, Rosario's fans sit up against to the pitch, increasing the environment's intensity.
Second-place Chile is the surprise of South American qualifying and with two of its four remaining games against lower half teams Colombia and Venezuela, the team should reach its first finals since 1998. They will travel to play Brazil on Wednesday.
CONCACAF -- The United States stands the best chance of the top three teams in the region of helping themselves in the two games all teams will play through Sept. 9. The Americans host fifth place El Salvador Saturday and travel to last place Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday.
The Americans have never lost to El Salvador in World Cup qualifying and that should not change on Saturday. The U.S. beat Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 in a final round qualifier in January at home. At least one win is critical; two wins would provide a comfort zone for its last two qualifiers against first place Costa Rica and second place Honduras.
Mexico, a point behind the United States in fourth place, will play away at Costa Rica on Saturday and then will host Honduras Wednesday. The Mexicans need to win one of those games to have a chance for an automatic qualifying spot (top three).
CAF - Halfway through the final qualifying round for African nations, two situations offer some surprise. Gabon, which has never advanced to a World Cup final, leads Group A by two points and Algeria, which last appeared in the World Cup finals in 1986, leads Group C by three points.
Gabon's lead is a bit misleading. They've played only twice and have yet to face traditional powerhouse Cameroon. The two will face each other Saturday and Wednesday (one game was rescheduled from June following the death of Gabon president Omar Bongo). Cameroon has played in five of the last six World Cup finals and faces likely elimination with a loss in one of the two games.
Ghana sports a five point lead in first place in Group D and a win over last place Sudan on Sunday would create a likely advancement to the finals.
AFC - Four teams from Asia - Australia, Japan, North Korea and South Korea - have already qualified for the World Cup finals, but another Asian team can still advance to the finals in South Africa. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia both finished in third place in their groups and the two teams will play each other starting Saturday in Bahrain. The second game will be played Sept. 9 in Saudi Arabia. The winner will play Oceania winner New Zealand later this year to fill one slot in the finals.
Johnson's U.S. role diminished - The U.S.'s preliminary roster for its World Cup qualifier Saturday against El Salvador will again exclude 25-year-old forward Eddie Johnson, once considered a young National Team star with much promise. Are Johnson’s chances of making the 2010 World Cup team fading?
Johnson last dressed for the Americans in a World Cup qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago in April but did not play. He was on the roster for two semifinal round World Cup qualifiers last September, but played only 23 minutes in a 3-0 win over Trinidad. Johnson started in matches against Poland, England, Spain and Argentina from March through June 2008 and last scored for the U.S. in a 4-1 loss to Argentina in June 2007.
The U.S. matches Saturday and Wednesday will likely determine the team's 2010 World Cup fate, so it behooves head coach Bob Bradley to roster his most reliable forwards. Jozy Altidore and Charlie Davies earned Bradley’s confidence with strong performances at the Confederations Cup in June; Conor Casey of the Rapids leads MLS in scoring this season with 11 goals; Brian Ching has scored seven goals for Houston this year and scored a goal for the Americans in July against Honduras in the Gold Cup. Robbie Findley of Real Salt Lake has 10 goals this season, but boasts just one cap and will not likely dress for the game.
Johnson is back with Fulham in the English Premier League after playing on loan last season with Cardiff City. He’s played in one of three Fulham games this season and along with Donovan is the only other pure striker candidate who has played in a World Cup (two games in 2006) for the U.S.
Bradley is likely waiting to see what kind of season Johnson puts together in Fulham before bringing him back to the Natoinal Team, which probably would not happen until next year. If the Americans qualify for 2010 after its next two games by Wednesday, Johnson would be wise to focus on his time with Fulham rather than suit up for two remaining U.S. qualifying games that have little relative significance.
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