Euro 2008 final qualifying stage kicks off
Group A
Poland currently sits in the top spot with 19 points and a gigantic encounter with third-place Portugal (15 points) is on tap on the Iberian peninsula. The Portuguese have a game in hand, but a victory will go a long way towards securing the fourth-place finishers at last summer's World Cup of a spot in Austria/Switzerland. Second-place Finland (17 points) also meets fourth-place Serbia (14 points) to round out the contenders in this section.
Group B
The two powerhouses in this group, France and Italy, are surprisingly not on the clearest paths to qualification. They will square off in one of the weekend's best matchups in Italy. Scotland desperately needs three points at home against Lithuania to really force the issue, while Ukraine's hopes will fade almost completely if they don't top Georgia away.
Group C
Winner's of the last European championship on their home turf, Greece leads what may be the weakest of the groups. The defending champions won't be in action until Wednesday, though, leaving second-place Bosnia-Herzegovina with a chance to close the five-point gap in a match against Hungary. Norway and Turkey trail the Bosnians only on goal difference, and they will be in action at home against bottom-dwellers Moldova and Malta, respectively.
Group D
Three big matches are on the docket for Saturday in this group, with first-place Germany (19 points) visiting hopefuls Wales (7 points), second-place Czech Republic visiting woeful San Marino, which is still without a point after seven games, and third-place Ireland (13 points) visiting fourth-place Slovakia, who are just one point back in fourth.
Group E
In what is probably the most anticipated match of the weekend, England will welcome Israel in a match that is nothing short of a must-win for the hosts. Israel is in second place in the group and tied in points with Croatia with 17. The Three Lions are in fourth place with 14 and could find themselves on the outside looking in if they fail to earn a win Saturday. Croatia, meanwhile, will be looking to tack on points against lowly Estonia, while third-place Russia meets Macedonia.
Group F
It appears to be a three-horse race in this group, with Sweden, surprising Northern Ireland and Spain all separated by just three points at the top. Denmark, the group's dark horse in fourth, looks to crawl into contention against their Scandinavian rivals, while a win for Spain on the road in Iceland will go a long way towards heading up the soccer power's chances. The Northern Irish visit Latvia.
Group G
The situation is similar here. Leaders Romania (17 points) visit long shot Belarus, with second-place Bulgaria (15 points) visiting the Netherlands, in third place with 14 points, in a huge match for both sides.
U.S. to meet strong Brazil: Bob Bradley will face probably his toughest test yet as head coach of the U.S. national team as the Red, White & Blue welcome five-time World Cup champion Brazil to Soldier Field in Chicago on Sunday afternoon. Stars Ronaldinho and Kaka are in Dunga's side, while Bradley has also called in a number of his European-based reinforcements.
Other MLS players in action: While Bradley's group includes five MLS players -- three from the idle Kansas City Wizards (Eddie Johnson, Davy Arnaud and Kerry Zavagnin) as well as the LA Galaxy's Landon Donovan and Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Chris Seitz -- they are not the only players in the league with international duty this weekend.
Toronto FC's Carl Robinson is with the Wales national team for their two Euro 2008 qualifiers against Germany (Sept. 9) and Slovakia (Sept. 12). RSL will also be without Atiba Harris, who has joined the St. Kitts and Nevis under-23 team for its Olympic qualifying tournament, and Willis Forko, who is in Liberia's squad for their African Nations Cup qualifier against Rwanda on Saturday. And when Canada takes on Costa Rica in Toronto on Wed., Sept. 12, there will be MLS players on both sides of the ball. Costa Rica's team features Chicago Fire defender Gonzalo Segares, while Canada's team includes seven MLS players from four different teams: Dwayne De Rosario (Houston Dynamo), Adrian Serioux (FC Dallas), Ante Jazic and Kevin Harmse (LA Galaxy) and Kenny Stamatopoulos, Jim Brennan and Chris Pozniak from host Toronto FC. Segares is with Costa Rica this weekend, as they first take on Honduras in E. Hartford, Conn.
FIFA U-17 World Cup Final set: Spain and Nigeria will meet in the U-17 World Cup final Sunday in South Korea. Spain advanced ahead of Ghana in the first semifinal Wednesday, getting a goal in extra time to reach the championship game with a 2-1 victory. The Africans surprisingly ran through Germany 3-1 in the second semifinal on Thursday, using two early goals and one in the final minute to send the Germans packing.
Mexican Apertura rolls on: Week 7 in Mexico's fall season features a couple of exciting fixtures, including a top-of-the-table clash. Group 1 leaders and SuperLiga champions Pachuca will take on Group 3 leaders Cruz Azul on the road Saturday. CD Guadalajara will also face off with San Luis, while Sunday's action is highlighted by a Group B meeting between America and leaders Santos.
Women's World Cup kicks off Monday: The FIFA Women's World Cup in China will get underway on Monday when Germany and Argentina face off in Shanghai. The U.S. opens its championship bid the following day against North Korea. The USA will also face Sweden and Nigeria in Group B action. The Women's World Cup Final is scheduled for Sept. 30.
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
