The Road to Brazil! Your essential guide to the European qualifying groups for the 2014 World Cup

National Stadium, Malta

From Reykjavik to Ta'Qali, Glasgow to Moscow, this weekend stadiums right across Europe will see 53 nations starting out on the road to the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil. There are nine groups in all, with the group winners guaranteed automatic passage to South America. The eight runners-up with the best records will enter two-legged play-offs in November next year to determine the other four European qualifiers. Here, Sportsmail takes a closer look at the nine qualifying groups.

Eidur Gudjohnsen or Emile Heskey, anyone? Ten free-agent strikers in search of a club

The transfer window may have slammed shut on Friday night but that does not spell the end for comings and goings for many Premier League clubs. Free agents are eligible to join sides and readily available, offering one last chance for managers to boost their squads before the window reopens in January.

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World Cup qualifiers: 10 things we're looking forward to this weekend

Russia's Fabio Capello and France's Didier Deschamps are among the coaches hoping for a winning start, while David Villa, Germany and New Zealand will be keen to bounce back.

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2014 World Cup Qualifying Previews

Who: Jamaica vs United States

When: 8pm EDT

Where: Independence Park, Kingston, Jamaica

U.S. TV: beIN Sport 1

Preview I

Preview II

Frank Isola: The U.S. is in pain heading into World Cup qualifiers

Grant Wahl's Preview

Ives' Preview

2014 World Cup Qualifiers: Group by group look at European teams' prospects

As the battle for the 13 European places at the 2014 World Cup starts, some of the 53 sides will take qualification almost for granted while others will just hope to keep the scores down.

Barney Ronay: Poor Cristiano Ronaldo in his gold top hat, moping like Cesc Fábregas

The news that the footballing superstar, the world's most delighted man, is 'unhappy' at Real Madrid was hard to digest.

Friday MLS Forecast

The Forecast assesses the setbacks incurred by Real Salt Lake and Columbus and previews the lone match of the weekend.

Jonathan Wilson: Sabella meshes Argentina's abundance of attacking talent

It is possible to have too much of a good thing. Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez, Angel Di Maria, Javier Pastore, Ezequiel Lavezzi ... no other nation comes even remotely close to Argentina in terms of attacking and creative talent. The problem has been trying to fit as many of them as possible into the same squad. It did for Diego Maradona and it did for Sergio Batista.

Grant Wahl: After Tottenham transfer, Dempsey can now focus on what's important

There's a scene at the end of the fourth season of Breaking Bad, the remarkable TV series about a high school teacher who tries to make it as a meth kingpin, that reminds me of the recent transfer saga involving U.S. soccer star Clint Dempsey. No, it's not an exact comparison -- Dempsey isn't dealing meth; this wasn't life-or-death -- and if you don't want any spoilers you should go read another story.
But in the scene, the formerly unassuming teacher, Walter White, is on the phone with his wife, who's watching a TV news report of a bomb blast at a retirement center, one that has taken out the longstanding kingpin -- who, incidentally, wanted Walter White dead. "What happened?" asks his wife, who gets a two-word reply. "I won."

Steven Gerrard says England must believe at start of World Cup journey

"When I speak I'm realistic and honest: at the moment, we're not one of the favourites to win the World Cup," Gerrard said. "But that doesn't mean you stop believing or stop working hard to try and improve and learn from the mistakes you've made at previous tournaments. This team has every chance to improve and get better over the next few years, with players coming through and other players who boast experience in the squad. We have to have that faith and keep believing. Miracles do happen in football. That's been proved."

Bentley swaps Spurs for Russia on loan

Bentley joined Spurs from Blackburn in 2008 for a then club record fee of $23.9 million having started his professional career at their north London rivals Arsenal.

Nani switch to Zenit derailed by Man United winger's 'unreal' wage demands

"If Hulk had demanded €8 million to €10 million a year, these conditions would have been unacceptable for Zenit," Mitrofanov told the Daily Mail. "The transfer of Nani failed mostly due to this reason, as he asked for an enormous salary and we would not pay him."

It's Pretty Quiet Today

There's really nothing going on. All of a sudden people think Wayne Rooney's best days might be behind him, Sagna voices what everyone is thinking and it's mega-news, and there are plenty of articles about England ahead of tomorrow's World Cup qualifiers. The U.S. play Jamaica tomorrow night but we can look into that tomorrow.  -SANFORD

MLS Week 26 Power Rankings: Injuries, signings, hirings in full tilt

Breaking down all of the significant happenings, both on and off the field, from Week 26 in MLS:



Number One: San Jose Earthquakes (W/L/T: 16-6-5)
Leave it to the well-balanced Earthquakes to come up with four goals and have none of them be scored by forwards. The Quakes conduced a set-piece clinic in their domination over Chivas USA to assume their place back atop the Supporters' Shield standings after Sporting Kansas City had pulled even momentarily over the weekend. After a brief, few-game lull, the Quakes appear back to their peak sharpness.

Michael Owen joins Stoke City on free transfer

The 32-year-old, who requires Premier League approval to complete the move, is a free agent after leaving United. "We have been in talks for a while and it was a club I was always keen to join," said Owen, who has also played for Newcastle United and Real Madrid.

Paul Doyle: Zenit St Petersburg hope Hulk and Axel Witsel money will do the talking

The Russian champions have lured two stars in their prime who were coveted by more prestigious clubs, demonstrating the seriousness of their Champions League challenge.

Demba Ba gets driving ban after twice being caught speeding

The 27-year-old had failed to attend court at two previous hearings as well as the sentencing without providing a reason.

Martin Samuel: In the era of the owner-manager, you'll never work alone

This has been football's summer of the owner-manager. Meet the new kid on the block.  The most important employee at the club used to be the man who picked the team. Now it is the man who picks the team from which the  team is picked. And that isn’t the manager. Not any more. Changing rules have created changed empowerment. It is not enough to know what is best for the team these days. The manager may think he needs a centre half, but this information is factored in with other policies, cash expectancy, the rafts of red tape now wrapped around what was a simple process of buying the best fit for the starting XI.

Money can't buy Ronaldo love

"Can't buy me love, 

Everybody tells me so, 

Can't buy me love, 

No, no, no, no." 

The Beatles, Can't Buy Me Love.

I think that's probably the first time I've kicked-off an article with song lyrics. You know the one. You're probably singing along right now, aren't you? You probably know just why I've opened with those lyrics, too. 

Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Cristiano Ronaldo denies accusations reason behind unhappiness is he wants more money at Real Madrid.

Sid Lowe in Spain

For the first time in a long time, Real Mallorca have a coach who doesn't have a pistol pointed permanently at his head.

Real Mallorca ready to shoot for the stars under Joaquín Caparrós.