World Cup qualifiers: Top things and matches to watch out for live on September 6, 2013

Topics: World Cup Qualifiers, Brazil, Italy, Uruguay, USA, Mexico, Spain, England, Portugal, Live Stream

After an exciting transfer deadline day, club football will now take a break as we move towards an important international week, as teams look to seal their places in the World Cup to be held in Brazil next year.

European World Cup qualifiers: Italy and Bulgaria vie for top spot

Group B of the UEFA qualification campaign has seen Bulgaria offer very stern resistance to the mighty Italians for an automatic berth to Brazil. As things stand, the Azzurri are on top of the table with 14 points from four games, followed by the Bulgarians who have 10 points and lead third placed Czech Republic by only one point.

The Bulgarians drew 2-2 with Italy in the reverse fixture and the two sides are set to lock horns again, this time at Renzo Barbera stadium. A win for Italy will draw them ever so close to an automatic berth while a defeat might spell curtains for Bulgaria if the Czechs manage to beat Armenia at home.

Czech Republic did beat Armenia 3-0 in the reverse fixture which means that the second place would be up for grabs again.

European World Cup qualifiers: Second place up for grabs in Group C

With Germany occupying the top spot with 16 points from six games, Group C is very much open for Austria, Sweden and Republic of Ireland. On September 6, the Irish host the Swedes while Die Mannschaft takes on Austria.

Results of these two fixtures will go a long way in deciding which of the aforementioned three teams take advantage for a playoff berth. Both Austria and Ireland’s task are tough ones considering the fact that the Leprechauns are yet to win a single game on home soil, with the last one being a 2-2 draw with Austria. The Austrians on the other hand, lost 2-1 to Germany at home and are likely to struggle at the Allianz Arena.

South American World Cup qualifiers: Argentina and Colombia near qualification

Despite being criticised by the local media, Argentina and Colombia have been in devastating form in the CONMEBOL qualifying group. Lionel Messi and co lead the table with 26 points while Colombia have 23 on the table.

With Argentina not playing on September 6, it is a great chance for Colombia to pip the Argentines to the first spot, albeit for a short while when they take on third placed Ecuador, another side that has done an amazing job in the qualifiers so far.

South American World Cup qualifiers: Uruguayan problems

The qualification rounds have not been good for Uruguay, a side that no one expected to struggle so much before the draws were announced. Oscar Tabarez is under a lot of pressure to deliver in the remaining three games.

With the squad that they have at their disposal, Uruguay should never have been in such a tight spot. However, South American qualifying campaigns are rarely devoid of drama and La Celeste might have to do with a play-off with a nation from Asia same way they did back in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers when they had to beat Bahrain.

CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers: USA’s for the taking

After an excellent qualification campaign, the USMNT has gotten ever so close for a place in the World Cup in Brazil next year. After seeing Mexico dominate the region for the last few years, the current group of players have rose to the occasion under the excellent guidance of manager Jurgen Klinsmann who has taken quite a lot of tough decisions throughout the qualification campaign.

As things stand, The Yanks are on top of the fourth and final round table with 13 points from six games which basically means that only a collapse of shocking proportions could see the team watch the mega event on TV.