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