First Leg World Cup Qualifiers, Carrick Hurt, Brighton For A Pound, Jozy's Column

Hump Day, Fools. The big action today takes place down in Mexico City where New Zealand and Mexico will get their World Cup 2014 Playoff battle underway. The pressure is on El Tri after a poor qualifying campaign and the loss of El Azteca's invincibility. No European-based players will show for Mexico as they opt to go with guys already acclimated on home soil. Here's a preview. ESPN will carry the match live this afternoon at 3:15 p.m. EST.

Ready for Uruguay

The other match is currently underway over in Jordan. Uruguay are the opponents in Amman as Luis Suárez, Edison Cavani & Co. face off against Saeed Al-Murjan, Mus'ab Al-Laham & Co at King Abdullah International Stadium. So...we'll see how that one turns out. Cough. Jonathan Wilson is an expert in affairs such as this and he takes a gander at the Jordanian situation. It's the biggest match in the history of football in Jordan, suffice to say.

Since we're talking World Cup, let's examine The Diving German's U.S. squad for the upcoming friendlies while we have a moment. And since we're talking the U.S., did you know that Seattle, New York and Los Angeles are all out of the MLS playoffs? Here's what went wrong, according to resident expert Jeff Carlisle.

Just when Manchester United appeared ready to ditch the shackles and catch fire, news comes that Michael Carrick will miss around six weeks due to an achilles tendon injury.

Do you want to own a piece of Brighton? Amy Lawrence explains how to get it done.

Back in the Premier League, Richard Jolly assesses the chances of all the main contenders, who are separated by just six points, to determine who has the best chance of title glory come May.

We're going to keep things a bit brief today, but before we go, let's check in with Yank Abroad Jozy Altidore. His Sunderland side upset Manchester City at the weekend, and the win coincided with Jozy's 24th birthday. Well done, son!

Onward!!

-SSN