In other European qualifiers played over the weekend a double from Axel Witsel gave Belgium a vital win in Austria while Kazakhstan were brushed aside 4-0 in Germany with Klose and Muller each bagging a brace. In group B Russia were held to a goalless draw in Armenia while the Irish Republic beat Macedonia 2-1 in Dublin and Slovakia picked up 3 points with a single goal away to Andorra. Northern Ireland took the lead behind closed doors in Serbia but ended up losing 2-1 while Italy consolidated their lead in group C with a 1-0 win in Slovenia. In group D France scored twice in Luxembourg while Belarus were beaten 1-0 in Albania and Romania lost 2-1 away to Bosnia & Herzegovina. The Dutch swept Hungary aside 4-0 in Budapest and inn group F Croatia were shocked by a last minute Georgian goal in Tbilisi while Greece won by the same score line in Malta and Israel earned a 2-1 home win against Latvia. Switzerland drew 0-0 with Bulgaria in Sofia while in group H there were no changes with Iceland playing a goalless match in Cyprus and Denmark drawing 1-1 in Norway. David Villa scored both goals for Spain as they came from behind to claim a home win against the Czech Republic.
In friendly matches Neymar scored both goals as Brazil outclassed Scotland at the Emirates in London, Argentina drew 1-1 away to the USA and Uruguay were humiliated 2-0 in Estonia. Hernandez scored twice for Mexico who defeated Paraguay 3-1 in America and Chile drew 1-1 away to Portugal while Abdul Zahra scored both goals in Iraq's win over North Korea in the UAE.
Among African qualifiers a last minute goals for Demba Ba and Mphela gave Senegal and South Africa home wins over Cameroon and Egypt respectively while Malawi won by the same result at home to Togo and there were 1-0 away wins for Botswana in Chad and Uganda in Guinea-Bissau. Cape Verde enjoyed a 4-2 home win over Liberia and Burkina Faso put 4 past Namibia without reply. Zambia won 2-0 in Mozambique and Ghana did one better in Sudan while Nigeria went a goal further to win 4-0 at home to Ethiopia. An Early penalty in Algeria was enough to give the hosts a win over Morocco and Didier Drogba scored both goals for the Ivory Coast as they defeated Benin 2-1 in Ghana.