World awaits the Euros

In the months leading up to Euro 2012 a limited number of international matches were played with the Philippines excelling in the rankings after defeating India 2-0, Tajikistan 2-1 and finally overcoming Palestine 4-3 in Nepal to finish 3^rd in the AFC Challenge Cup, but as June approached, the world sprang into action with preparatory matches for the Euro 2012 participants and World Cup qualifiers for other FIFA members. In European friendly matches the Netherlands suffered a shock 2-1 loss to Bulgaria and Germany were sunk 5-3 away to the Swiss while Italy were routed 3-0 by Russia in Zurich. Portugal were held to a goalless draw at home to Macedonia and later stunned 3-1 by non qualifiers Turkey who went on to conquer co hosts Ukraine 2-0 in Germany while the Czech Republic lost 2-1 to the visiting Magyars. Latvia went on to beat Finland on penalties and win the Baltic Cup after having belittled Lithuania 5-0 in Estonia.

In World Cup qualifiers Iran picked up 3 vital points with a stoppage-time goal in Uzbekistan while in South America champions Uruguay were brought down to earth with a 1-1 draw at home to Venezuela. Argentina eased past Ecuador 4-0 and Colombia scored a single goal to win in Peru while Brazil lost a friendly 2-0 to Mexico in the U.S.A. New Zealand may have beaten Honduras 1-0 in an American friendly, but their narrow 1-0 and 2-1 wins over Fiji and Papua New Guinea in the Oceania Nations Cup/World Cup qualifiers held on the Solomon Islands were far less impressive while Tahiti defeated 9-man New Caledonia 4-3 before hammering Vanuatu - who had already lost 5-2 to New Caledonia - 4-1 to top their group.

In Africa, Sudan celebrated a 2-0 home triumph over Zambia, and Central African Republic enjoyed the same success over Botswana while Cape Verde lost 2-1 in Sierra Leone and Mali lost to a single goal in Benin. Ethiopia picked up a dazzling 1-1 draw in South Africa and Uganda achieved the same result in Angola.          

Asia chooses top ten

On the day that Asia filtered its World Cup hopefuls down to 10 and Africa began opened its path towards the 2013 Cup of Nations, there were friendly matches taking place in other corners of the globe.

Uzbekistan finished above Asian champions Japan with a shock 1-0 win in Toyota as both teams progressed to the next round with Japan losing top Asian spot in the rankings while Bahrain’s 10-0 routing of Indonesia was in vein as Qatar drew 2-2 in Iran. North Korea bowed out of the World Cup with a 1-1 draw in Tajikistan while down and out China finished with a 3-1 home win against Jordan and the United Arab Emirates ended their miserable campaign with a 4-2 win at home to already qualified Lebanon. Iraq sank Singapore 7-1 in Qatar.

In Africa Sao Tome & Principe celebrated a 2-1 home win against Sierra Leone and Cape Verde returned from Madagascar with a 4-0 victory while Uganda lost 3-1 away to Congo and Chad overcame Malawi 3-2 in their home match. A single goal gave Liberia a home win against Namibia while Burundi defeated their visitors from Zimbabwe 2-1 and Algeria won by the same scoreline in Gambia.

Among friendly matches the U.S.A. triumphed 1-0 on Italian soil while Germany lost 2-1 at home to France and Colombia defeated Mexico 2-0 in Miami. Turkey surrendered 2-1 at home to Slovakia and Russia defeated Denmark 2-0 in Copenhagen while Palestine stunned Azerbaijan 2-0 in Dubai.