Heading into Mexico's World Cup qualifying match against Panama

Here are a couple articles heading into Mexico's World Cup qualifying match against Panama.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1804328-mexico-vs-panama-date-time-live-stream-tv-info-and-preview

http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2013/10/11/4827274/mexico-panama-2013-time-tv-schedule

A Look at Africa Going Into October

Here is an article focusing on the current qualifying scenario in Africa.

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2193484/index.html

Qualifying Matches on October 11th

The following FIFA page provides a listing of all qualifying matches taking place on Friday, October 11th.

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/matches/index.html

Germany looks to Qualify

Today's article also comes from the FIFA website and focuses on Germany's intent to qualify on October 11th.

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2193188/index.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_news

The current situation in the Concacaf

Today's article comes from the FIFA website and focuses on the CONCACAF and Mexico's current predicament.  

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2193148/index.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_news

Qualification Scenarios Explained

Today we look at the FIFA website, which has taken the time to explain the qualifying scenarios around the world.

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2193264/index.html?intcmp=newsreader_news_caption

Jamaica's hopes for qualifying will come to a head on Friday

The article featured today talks about Jamaica's precarious predicament going into Friday match against the U.S. team.  Though not mathematically eliminated, their hopes for qualifying have all but disappeared. 

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2191975/index.html

Player #69 - Mathieu Valbuena (France)

Name: Mathieu Valbuena
Age: 29
National Team:  France
Team: Marseille
Position: Attacking Midfielder

Description of his Game: As an attacking midfielder, Valbuena is highly skilled at envisioning plays before they take place.  His accurate passing game and his field vision are the kind of skills that make all his surrounding players better.  Overall, he is known for his quickness, technical ability, and tenacious style of play.

Mathieu Valbuena's Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7opVdbn6O9c

Career News:  As his Guardian profile reads, he was "rejected by Bordeaux as a teenager on the grounds that he was supposedly too small ever to make it as a footballer, Valbuena showed characteristic doggedness to succeed all the same and is now recognised as one of the most impressive playmakers on European pitches."  He is only 5'6".  Valbuena appeared in only one of the three matches France contested at the World Cup in South Africa 2010.

Interesting Personal Facts:  He is of Spanish origin through his father.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

France's National Team 

October 15th - Finland (World Cup Qualifier) 
Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/teams/team=43946/index.html

Marseille  (French League)
October 18th -OGC Nice
October 22nd - Naples
Schedule: http://www.om.net/fr/Saison/102001/Calendrier_Resultats

Player #69 - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)

Name: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Age: 24
National Team:  Gabon
Team: Borussia Dortmund
Position: Striker/Winger

Description of his Game: He does not seem to possess skills that would allow him to dominate a game.  However, he does appear to be incredibly adept at positioning himself well as a striker/winger, and his speed and athleticism also allow him to score as a poacher.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu20ZBBbz5A

Career News:  Aubameyang is the first Gabonese player to appear in the Bundesliga.

Interesting Personal Facts:  Aubameyang is the son of former Pierre Aubameyang, a Gabonese national player who accumulated 80 caps and is currently a scout for AC Milan. 

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

Gabon's National Team 
Gabon has been eliminated from the current qualifying tournament for the World Cup.
 
Borussia Dortmund  (German League, Bundesliga)
October 19th -Hannover 96
October 26th - FC Schalke 04
Schedule: http://www.bvb.de/?%86%98_%1B%E7%F4%9D

Player #70 - Robert Lewandowski (Poland)

Name: Robert Lewandowski
Age: 25
National Team:  Poland
Team: Borussia Dortmund
Position: Striker

Description of his Game: Because of his athletic frame he's been referred to as "the body".  His speed makes him look like he's gliding across the field, which is especially dangerous when you consider how soft his touch appears to be when on the attack.  His passing ability is probably more effective than his striking ability, but that doesn't mean he's not a threat when leading an attack.

Robert Lewandowski's Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vPFu6FVP00

Career News:  As part of his debut for the senior national team only three weeks after his 20th birthday, Lewandowski scored a goal as a sub, making him the second youngest player to ever do so.

Interesting Personal Facts:  Lewandowski comes from a rather successful family.  His father was a Polish judo champion and also played professional soccer at the second division level.  His mother was a former volleyball player, and his sister plays volleyball, having previously represented the U21 national team.  Even his wife has had her own success in the sports world, having won a bronze medal from the 2009 Karate World Cup.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

Poland's National Team 
October 11th - Ukraine (World Cup Qualifier)
October 15th - England (World Cup Qualifier)
 
Borussia Dortmund  (German League, Bundesliga)
October 19th -Hannover 96
October 26th - FC Schalke 04
Schedule: http://www.bvb.de/?%86%98_%1B%E7%F4%9D

Player #71 - Hernanes (Brazil)

Name: Hernanes
Age: 28
National Team:  Brazil
Team: Lazio (Italian League) 
Position: Central Midfielder

Description of his Game:  Hernanes is quite spectacular to watch!  Since he is relatively unknown outside of the Italian league, he is expected by some to be Brazil's breakout star of Brazil 2014.  Hernanes shows great poise in his play, has masterful dribbling skills, possesses tremendous speed and is an amazing striker.

Hernanes' Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzCFB4cwf5Y

Career News:  In January 2009, Hernanes was listed as the most promising football player in the world by the British newspaper, The Times. 

Interesting Personal Facts:  In 2008, as a São Paulo player, Hernanes won the Premio Craque de Brasileirao's best player award.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

Brazil's National Team (None of their games are World Cup Qualifiers, as World Cup Host Countries automatically qualify)
 
Lazio  (Italian League)
October 6th -Fiorentina
Schedule: http://www.sslazio.it/

Player #72 - Pedro Rodriguez Ledesma (Spain)

Name: Pedro Rodriguez
Age: 26
National Team:  Spain
Team: Barcelona (Spanish La Liga) 
Position: Winger, Attacking Midfielder

Description of his Game:  Pedro is said to have exceptional timing, having made it a habit of scoring timely goals.  His skills feature great speed and agility.  If given space anywhere near the goal, he's fantastic and creating shots for himself, especially in split seconds when all he has to do is do a half turn and take a shot.  He's got a cannon of a right foot.

Pedro Rodriguez's Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO3qqjzFJxQ

Career News:  Pedro was included by Vicente del Bosque in Spain's 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. 

Interesting Personal Facts:  Relative to other superstars, Pedro arrived late, having joined FC Barcelona's youth team at the age of 17.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

Spain's National Team

(None of these games are World Cup Qualifiers, as World Cup Defending Champions automatically qualify)

October 15 - Georgia

Barcelona  (Spanish La Liga)
October 5th - Valladolid
October 19th - Osasuna
Schedule:  http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team

Player #73 Santi Cazorla (Spain)

Name: Santi Cazorla
Age: 28
National Team:  Spain
Team: Arsenal (English Premier League) 
Position: Winger, Attacking Midfielder

Description of his Game:  Cazorla can do almost anything from the wing, he can play equally with both feet, he can beat defenders with speed, change directions and take shots at goal with tremendous accuracy.  As a tackler he is highly effective with quick sudden bursts of energy.

Santi Cazorla's Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VtRnK-0kdg

Career News:  Cazorla represented Spain at Euro 2008 and 2012, winning both tournaments and gaining more than 60 caps.  This is an amazing accomplishment considering that Spain has been playing at such a high caliber since 2008.  He may be the 73rd ranked player according to a survey done by the Guardian, but he is also ranked as the 10th best footballer in the world by Bloomberg this year. 

Interesting Personal Facts:  After missing the 2010 FIFA World Cup due to a hernia, Cazorla appears to be ready for Brazil.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

Spain's National Team

(None of these games are World Cup Qualifiers, as World Cup Defending Champions automatically qualify)

October 15 - Georgia

Arsenal  (English Premier League)
October 6th - West Bromwich Albion
October 19th - Norwich
Schedule:  http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3643933/first-team/w.b.a.-v-arsenal

Player #74 Christian Eriksen (Denmark)

Name: Christian Eriksen
Age: 21
National Team:  Denmark
Team: Tottenham Hotspur F.C. (English League) 
Position: Midfielder

Description of his Game:  He is considered the successor to Wesley Sneijder and Rafael Van Der Vaart.  He is great with both feet, shows great poise on the attack and excellent judgement.  He might look somewhat scrawny, but Eriksen is very skilled and still getting through and passed defenders.

Christian Eriksen's Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi5DkSuUmI8

Career News:  Eriksen was the youngest player of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.  In 2011, Eriksen was named Danish Football Player of the Year, Dutch Football Talent of the Year, Ajax Talent of the Year, and mad the UEFA Euro U-21 Team of the Tournament.  

Interesting Personal Facts:  Having attracted the scouts of Ajax when he was 16, there is a great deal of anticipation for this young man since he is only 21 years old.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

Denmark's National Team
October 11th - Italy (World Cup Qualifier)
October 15th - Malta (World Cup Qualifier)
Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/teams/team=43941/index.html


Tottemham Hotspur  (English Premier League)
September 28th - Chelsea
October 6th - West Ham
Schedule:  http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/matches/

Player #75 Ezequiel Lavezzi (Argentina)

Name: Ezequiel Lavezzi
Age: 28
National Team:  Argentina
Team: Paris Saint Germain (French Football League) 
Position: Forward/Winger

Description of his Game:  He is considered to be selfless, making goals for others while averaging one in every four matches himself. He is blessed with great speed and the ability to make intelligent choices on the field.

Ezequiel Lavezzi's Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z1VkrH6-xA

Career News:  After not being included in Maradona's national squad in South Africa 2010, Lavezzi will be looking to be full form for Brazil.

Interesting Personal Facts: He is commonly known as el Pocho or the Chubby One,

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:
Argentina's National Team
October 2nd - Brazil
October 11 - Peru (World Cup Qualifier)
Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=arg/index.html


Paris Saint Germain (French League)
September 28 - Toulouse
October 2nd - Benfica
October 6th - Marseille 
Schedule:  http://www.psg.fr/en/News/201001/Fixtures-results

Player #76 Joao Moutinho (Portugal)

Name: Joao Moutinho
Age: 27
National Team:  Portugal
Team: Monaco (French Football League) 
Position: Central Midfielder, Attacking Midfielder

Description of his Game:  As a central midfielder, Moutinho has great vision and can make incredible passes when on the attack and from midfield.  As an "attacking" midfielder, he's not a great scorer, if the last three years are of any indication.  He is considered by some to be the heart of the Portuguese national team.

Joao Moutinho's Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAO0KS7Gfi8

Career News:  He became an international at the age of 18 and since Germany 2006 he's been a regular player on the Portuguese national squad.  He brings a great deal of experience, having played more than 600 professional games at only 27 years of age.

Interesting Personal Facts: Not much is easily available regarding his personal life.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

Portugal's National Team

October 11th - Israel  (World Cup Qualifier)

October 15 - Luxembourg  (World Cup Qualifier)

Schedule: http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=por/index.html

Monaco (French Football League) 

September 29th - Stade de Reims

October 5th - AS Saint-Etienne

Schedule: http://www.asm-fc.com/en/first-team/fixtures-results-276.html

World Cup Qualifying Update

 Today we take a look at an update regarding World Cup qualifying and a taste for how much excitement and interest is beginning to spread.

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=2179516/index.html

The race to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil will hit fever pitch over the next two months, with 22 places still up for grabs, and more than 50 teams still in contention.

Player #77 Mario Mandžukić (Croatia)

Name: Mario Mandžukić
Age: 27
National Team:  Croatia
Team: Bayern Munich (German Premier League) 
Position: Forward

Description of his Game: Mandzukic is very agile and has an incredible knack for scoring.  He's very hard to beat in the air and seems to always be in good position to score when poaching.  

Mario Mandžukić's Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHuUy5IbEs8

Career News:  He was named Croatian Footballer of the Year in 2012. 

Interesting Personal Facts: Not much information out there about his personal life, though he does claim tennis as a hobby.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:
Croatia's National Team
October 11th -Belgium  (World Cup Qualifier)
October 15th - Scotland (World Cup Qualifier)
Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/matches/team=43938/index.html
Bayern Munich (German League, Bundesliga) 

September 28 - VfL Wolfsburg

October 5th - Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Schedule: http://www.fcbayern.telekom.de/en/matches/fixtures-results/bundesliga/

Player #78 Patrice Evra (France)

Name: Patrice Evra
Age: 32
National Team:  France
Team: Manchester United (English Premier League) 
Position: Left Back

Description of his Game: Described as "the classic example of a modern full-back", Evra is known for his "pace, athleticism, and determination".  He started his career as a midfielder and was later converted into a full-back. 

Evra's Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3twsH77kZA

Career News:  Evra has participated in three major international tournaments for France; the 2008 and 2012 editions of the UEFA European Football Championship and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where France endured a disastrous campaign which saw the players go on strike. The incident resulted in Evra, for his role as captain, being suspended from national team duty for five matches.

Interesting Personal Facts: Born in Senegal to a father of Guinean descent and a mother of Cape Verdean descent, Evra has a total of 25 siblings, though 2 are now deceased.  Ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Evra revealed that he had suffered racial abuse from supporters of the Senegal national team for choosing to represent France internationally over his native homeland.  He is fluent in five languages and attempted to learn Korean in order to better communicate with former a South Korean teammate.  Apparently Evra has a running feud with Luis Suarez of Uruguay.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

France's National Team 

October 15th - Finland (World Cup Qualifier) 
Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/teams/team=43946/index.html

Manchester United  (English Premier League)

September 26 - West Bromwich Albion
October 2 - Shakhtar Donetsk
October 5 - Sunderland

Schedule:  http://www.manutd.com/en/Fixtures-And-Results/United-Fixtures-And-Results.asp