Moldova claim first win

Late goals from Serghei Dadu and Alexandru Epureanu helped Moldova build on last week's goalless draw with Ukraine with a 2-0 win in San Marino in FIFA World Cup™ Qualifying Group H.

San Marino made life difficult for the visitors who did not break the deadlock until the 72nd minute when Dadu converted from the spot after a foul by Damiano Vannucci on Igor Picusciac.

And Moldova sealed victory three minutes later when Epureanu rose above the static San Marino defence to head their second from a corner by Vitali Bordiyan.

Picusciac almost put Moldova in front after just four minutes when his right-foot shot from the edge of the box was tipped round the post by San Marino keeper Aldo Simoncini.

Picusciac and Alexandru Gatcan had further chances for the Moldovans who stepped up the pace after the break, Picusciac again bringing a good save out of Simoncini shortly before Dadu's opener.

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FIFA Partner Coca-Cola launches innovative sustainability campaign in Brazil

With the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ fast approaching, the issue of environmental sustainability is becoming increasingly prominent. As organisers of the biggest sporting competition in the world, FIFA, the LOC and all the stakeholders are committed to delivering a sustainable event in Brazil in 2014.

Recent results from FIFA’s 2012 public opinion tracker in Brazil also confirm the importance of the topic of sustainability and the environment among fans in the host country. 92 per cent of Brazilians believe that the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil should be environmentally friendly.

50 per cent of the population think that the stadiums should have facilities for recycling and proper disposal of waste. While the people of Brazil are excited about the prospect of hosting the FIFA World Cup, this research further highlights that they are also concerned about key environmental issues.

FIFA Partner Coca-Cola is making its own mark by announcing a pioneering sustainability project. Coca-Cola Brazil is to launch a campaign for the donation of plastic (PET) bottles to be reused in the linings of 6,773 seats in the new Maracanã Stadium, the venue for the final match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Around 100 collection points where people can dispose of their plastic bottles will be set up in the city of Rio by Coca-Cola Brazil ready for the launch of the campaign on 15 November (a complete list can be found on their website).

Increasing the culture of recycling is one of Coca-Cola’s objectives for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, and it’s an area that definitely seems to resonate with the people of Brazil.

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Strachan: Job would be an honour

Gordon Strachan has said it would be "an honour" to be invited to become the new manager of Scotland.

The former Celtic manager is the leading contender to replace Craig Levein, who was sacked on Monday after a poor run of results that have left Scotland's hopes of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in Brazil hanging by a thread.

Strachan was asked about the possibility of becoming Scotland manager while working as a pundit for ITV on Tuesday. He said: "It's quite simple really, it would be an honour to be asked to be the manager of your own national side, it's terrific.

"I could sit here and say 'yes, it would be great' or 'no, it's not for me' but it would also be arrogant of me to answer that if nobody has asked you and presume that someone will ask," the 55-year-old added.

"Until you've been asked a question about a job, any job, then you really don't know how you'd go about it, that's for sure. I wouldn't have the arrogance to think that someone is going to knock on my door."

Strachan enjoyed success during a four-year spell at Celtic from 2005 but has been out of management since leaving English club Middlesbrough in October 2010.

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Hexagonal fixtures confirmed in CONCACAF

The fixtures for the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ are now set, following the Official Draw in Miami, USA on Wednesday 7 November. The final six-team group, also known as the Hexagonal, will be played over ten matchdays between February and October 2013.

Jurgen Klinsmann’s USA begin their campaign with a tricky road test in Honduras on 6 January at San Pedro Sula’s Estadio Olimpico, the very same ground where the Catrachos dismantled Canada 8-1 in their last qualifying game.

The good news for the Americans is that they avoid a midsummer trip to Mexico’s steamy Estadio Azteca. Instead, they will travel to their arch-rivals from south of the border in their third game on 26 March.

“We’ve got to go to places like Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras with the mentality that you are spot-on once you get on the field,” said Klinsmann. “I think that if the players are aware of that like they were the last two, three games, when they got the job done, then we will also qualify for Brazil in 2014.”

Reigning CONCACAF and Olympic champions Mexico, who finished the semi-final round of Brazil 2014 qualifying with a perfect record in their six games, open their Hexagonal account against Jamaica in Mexico City.

Central American giants Costa Rica meet neighbours Panama in Panama City in their first game.

“After a very exciting third round in the CONCACAF qualifiers we are very much looking forward to the last stage to begin,” said FIFA Head of World Cup and Olympic Qualifying Gordon Savic, who was on hand for the event in the US state of Florida.

The top three finishers from the final round will qualify automatically for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, while the fourth-place finisher will play off home and away against a team from the Oceania zone.   

Hexagonal Schedule:

Wednesday 6 February
Mexico-Jamaica
Honduras-USA
Panama-Costa Rica

Friday 22 March
Jamaica-Panama
Honduras-Mexico
USA-Costa Rica

Tuesday 26 March
Mexico-USA
Panama-Honduras
Costa Rica-Jamaica

Friday 7 June
Jamaica-USA
Panama-Mexico
Costa Rica-Honduras

Tuesday 11 June
Mexico-Costa Rica
Honduras-Jamaica
USA-Panama

18 June**
Jamaica-Mexico
USA-Honduras
Costa Rica-Panama

6 September
Mexico-Honduras
Panama-Jamaica
Costa Rica-USA

10 September
Jamaica-Costa Rica
Honduras-Panama
USA-Mexico

11 October
Mexico-Panama
Honduras-Costa Rica
USA-Jamaica

15 October
Jamaica-Honduras
Panama-USA
Costa Rica-Mexico

** The fixture involving Mexico on 18 June will be moved to 4 June to allow Mexico, the CONCACAF representative, to participate in the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013.

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Victories excite Asian media

While fresh angles and differing views are usually encouraged by the media, those from Japan opted to join each other in lauding their team's performance after the 2-1 defeat of Oman on the latest matchday of Asia's final qualifying round for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.

In a tense game during which the hosts threw everything forward as they sought their first win against Japan, Alberto Zaccheroni's visitors demonstrated determination and will power in overcoming the home crowd and their team. The result leaves them as the only side with an undefeated record in the campaign and well-placed to seal early qualification.

"Japan wins, on verge of reaching 2014 World Cup" was the headline of Mainichi Daily News, one of the country's oldest newspapers. The article read: "Japan leads Group B in Asian qualifying by eight points over Australia, Jordan and Oman, and is on the verge of reaching its fifth World Cup with three matches remaining."

Germany-based Hiroshi Kiyotake put Japan ahead with his first international goal after ten minutes, but having missed a couple of glorious chances, Oman equalised 13 minutes from time courtesy of Ahmed Mubarak's sublimely-taken free-kick. The Red Warriors threw everything forward in the time remaining but Shinji Okazaki settled the contest with just a minute left.

Kyodo, Japan's leading news agency, paid tribute to the prolific forward in an article entitled "Okazaki late show puts Japan on verge of World Cup berth".

The Stuttgart marksman, who is the tournament's joint top-scorer with seven goals, reflected on the memorable win while speaking to Japan Time. "I'm glad I was able to score because I didn't do much else all game," said a modest Okazaki, who had seen a header bounce just over in the first half. "We persevered and found a way to win in the end. We weren't in control today so I hope we can dominate to beat Jordan next time."

Mixed moods
While that victory cemented Japan’s dominance in Group B, struggling Iraq could let out a sigh of relief with a 1-0 win against Jordan for their first triumph of the campaign. The single goal by teenage striker Hammadi Ahmed proved valuable for Zico’s side, who moved level with both Australia and Oman on five points behind Japan. 

"The Jordan win has reignited our qualifying hopes," announced Aswat al Iraq, an independent news agency in the country. Daily Arabic-English newspaper Azzaman, meanwhile, stated: "A lone goal gives Iraq a precious win against Jordan on the road to Brazil".

In Group A, Uzbekistan stunned hosts Iran 1-0 to move into the section lead. The feat earned praise from national news agency UzA, who dubbed it as "a crucial victory" on the road to Brazil 2014.

Also joining them in celebratory mood was Qatar's Al Jazeera, who said their one-goal home win against Lebanon leaves "Qatar World Cup hopes still burning".

As the winners’ gain is the losers’ pain, Lebanon daily Assafir was left to rue their "diminishing hopes", while Al Akhbar remained philosophical by predicting the potential "end of a campaign" to be "a start of a new era".

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Chile coach Borghi sacked after Serbia defeat

Chilean national coach Claudio Borghi was sacked on Wednesday following his side's 3-1 defeat to Serbia in St Gallen.

The 48-year-old Argentinian - who replaced compatriot Marcelo Bielsa in February last year - paid the price for a slump in form that has seen Chile lose three successive 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ qualifiers and slump to sixth in the standings.

"The record isn't good after the last four matches we have played and a few minutes ago I met a couple of the federation's directors who asked me to step down," said Borghi.

"I have already announced the news to the players. They (the directors) asked me to go, I have been sacked and I have not resigned.

"This closes a really nice chapter in my life, and I am really proud to have been the coach of Chile."

Despite their loss of form Chile only trail fourth and fifth placed Venezuela and Uruguay by virtue of a worse goal difference with seven matches remaining.

The first four earn an automatic place at the finals in Brazil while the fifth placed team go into a play-off.

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Aussies name young squad for Korea Republic test

Holger Osieck has named a youthful 19-man squad for Australia’s upcoming international against Korea Republic in Hwaseong on 14 November.

Only four players that featured in the Socceroos’ 2010 FIFA World Cup™ squad are selected, with five uncapped players named.

Receiving a maiden call up are A-League players Tom Rogic (Central Coast Mariners) and Aziz Behich (Melbourne Heart), along with Eli Babalj of Serbia’s Crvena Zvezda.

Returning to the Socceroos squad after varying periods of absence are Mathew Leckie (FSV Frankfurt 1899, Germany), Mathew Ryan (Central Coast Mariners), both of whom are also yet to debut, and Michael Thwaite (Perth Glory).

This will be the 25th match between Korea Republic and Australia with the teams last squaring off in the group phase of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar where they played out a hard-fought 1-1 draw.

The pair are both in the midst of FIFA World Cup qualifying, with the other eight remaining Asian nations featuring in next week’s Brazil 2014 matches.

Australia are currently in second position of Group B with a win against Iraq (2-1), draws against Oman (0-0) and Japan (1-1), and a loss to Jordan (1-2) at the half-way point of the final round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers.

Korea Republic are at the top of Group A with wins against Qatar (4-1) and Lebanon (3-0), a draw against Uzbekistan (2-2), and a loss to Iran (0-1).

Australia squad
Goalkeepers: Mathew Ryan (Central Coast Mariners), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham/Eng)

Defenders: Aziz Behich (Melbourne Heart), Ryan McGowan (Hearts/Scotland), Lucas Neill (Al Wasl/UAE), Matthew Spiranovic (Al Arabi/Qatar), Michael Thwaite (Perth Glory), Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow/Russia)

Midfielders: James Holland (Austria Vienna/Austria), Matt McKay (Busan I'Park/Korea Republic), Tommy Oar (Utrecht/Netherlands), Adam Sarota (Utrecht/Netherlands), Carl Valeri (Sassuolo/Italy)

Forwards: Eli Babalj (Crvena Zvezda Beograd/Serbia), Alex Brosque (Al Ain/UAE), Mathew Leckie (Frankfurt 1899/Germany), Tom Rogic (Central Coast Mariners), Nikita Rukavytsya (Mainz/Germany), Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory)

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