World Cup Qualifiers
- CROATIA VS ICELAND, feat. Luka Modric: The midfielder will lead his compatriots in a must-win match in Zagreb at 19:15 CET.
- FRANCE VS UKRAINE, feat. Karim Benzema, Raphael Varane: France needs to overcome a 2-0 defeat from its first leg showdown with Ukraine to secure a place in Brazil 2014. Raphael Varane remains questionable but may start in place of the suspended Laurent Koscielny. Kick-off at 21:00 CET.
- PORTUGAL VS SWEDEN, feat. Pepe, Fabio Coentrao, and Cristiano Ronaldo: While Paulo Bento's men secured a 1-0 victory last week that gives them a minor advantage as they take on Sweden in Stockholm this evening, the job is far from over. Portugal must keep the mighty Zlatan Ibrahimovic at bay if it hopes to lock down a spot in the World Cup. Kick-off at 20:45 CET.
- SPAIN VS SOUTH AFRICA, feat. Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Arbeloa, and Xabi Alonso: La Roja returns to the land that saw them raise the World Cup trophy as they challenge South Africa in a friendly match. AS speculates that all the names listed above will start the match under Vicente del Bosque. Xabi Alonso appears to be fine after bruising his ankle in Spain's last match.
- ARGENTINA VS BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA, feat. Angel di Maria: the Argentines will test their sans-Messi squad against the Eastern European nation in the hopes that players like Angel di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero will rise to the occasion in the absence of Argentina's #10. Kick-off at 2:30 am CET.
- While he remains sidelined for both club and country, Brazilian left-back Marcelo has spoken at length with ESPN correspondent Fernando Duarte about his experiences in the Spanish capital. Marcelo defends his pal Cristiano Ronaldo and claims Merengue legend Roberto Carlos was instrumental in helping an 18-year-old Marcelo settle in Madrid.
- FIFA is set to pay Real Madrid 2.5 million Euros as compensation for Sami Khedira's knee injury while on international duty with Germany.
- ESPN author Rob Train has published a blog entry on the likelihood of Casemiro filling in for Sami Khedira in Carlo Ancelotti's midfield. Managing Madrid covered the same issue earlier today, so make sure to check it out!