WORLD CUP DIGEST:SOUTH AMERICAN QUALIFYING: Argentina coach Diego Maradona will have to go back to the drawing board after his team's rudderless performance in their 1-0 win over Colombia.
The three points and the standings in the South America group, where Argentina are safely in the direct qualifying places for South Africa with five matches to play, were the only good news for Maradona after Saturday’s game.
Argentina should comfortably qualify for the World Cup but will have to improve enormously if they are to challenge for the title.
Argentine critics agree that Maradona’s three-pronged attack of diminutive strikers, Sergio Aguero, Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez is not working.
Argentina, beaten 6-1 by Bolivia 3,600 metres above sea level in April, face another high altitude test when they visit Ecuador on Wednesday.
Brazil served up another lethal cocktail of uncompromising defence and clinical counter-attacks in their unprecedented 4-0 win in Uruguay on Saturday and are top of the 10-team qualifying group with 24 points, virtually assuring themselves of a place in South Africa with five matches to spare.
Japan return to a hero's welcome
ASIAN QUALIFYING: Japan's players returned to a hero's welcome yesterday after booking their place at next year's World Cup.
Japan reached the South Africa finals after a battling 1-0 victory over Uzbekistan in Tashkent on Saturday.
Japan were later joined by South Korea and Australia, leaving just one more automatic Asian qualifying spot up for grabs.
“First In!” trumpeted the popular Nikkan Sports daily while the Sports Hochi also celebrated Japan’s fourth successive World Cup appearance under the headline Worlds Fastest!
Japan striker Shinji Okazaki was hailed as “chief Samurai” after his goal secured Japans qualification along with Australia in Group One with both sides on 14 points after six games.
Vidic limps off with ankle injury
EUROPEAN GROUP SEVEN: Serbia defender Nemanja Vidic is likely to miss his side's World Cup qualifier against Brian Kerr's Faroe Islands team after limping out of Saturday's 1-0 win over Austria, his coach Radomir Antic said.
Serbia tightened their grip on Group Seven of European qualifying with the win and lead with 15 points from six matches, five more than France who have a game in hand.
However, Vidic limped off with an ankle injury at half-time is likely to miss the trip to Torshavn for Wednesday’s game.
Nenad Milijas’ early penalty earned Serbia the win.
Netherlands book place in finals
EUROPEAN GROUP NINE: Two early goals put The Netherlands on track for a 2-1 win against Iceland on Saturday and secured their qualification for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.
They clinched the top position in Group Nine with 18 points after six matches, 11 more than second-placed Scotland, and are the first European country to book their finals place.
Holding midfielder Nigel de Jong headed home the opening goal after eight minutes following a fine cross from Rafael van der Vaart.
Mark van Bommel doubled the lead seven minutes later with a well placed shot from just outside the penalty area. Kristjan Sigurdsson pulled one back for the home side two minutes before time with a close-range header.
“Winning six straight World Cup qualifiers deserves a compliment,” coach Bert van Marwijk said.
