It’s a big day in World Cup qualifying, with most European and North American teams playing their next to last games. Tonight, the United States faces Honduras, though it’s almost impossible to see in America. I haven’t heard of any place showing it locally. (If you know of one, please tell.)

In Africa, Ivory Coast tied Malawi 1-1 to clinch its group and a spot in South Africa. Cameroon and Gabon both won to keep Cameroon a point up in its group. Cameroon’s last game is at Morocco, Gabon’s is at Togo. Algeria and Egypt are tied in their group, but Algeria has a game against last-place Rwanda today that should put them back up by 3.

New Zealand and Bahrain played to a scoreless tie in the Asia-Oceania playoff, so New Zealand will have the slight edge in the return match, though any tie that wasn’t 0-0 would put Bahrain in.

And now to Europe, where action is going on as I write. Germany beat Russia 1-0 to clinch its group and a spot in the World Cup.

In Group 1, Denmark clinched a spot with a 1-0 win over Sweden. Portugal’s 3-0 win over Hungary means it just needs a win against Malta in the final game to finish second. If they don’t, Sweden can sneak in. 

Greece beat Latvia 5-2 and Switzerland and Greece have pretty much locked up the 1-2 spots in Group 2. Switzerland just needs a tie against Israel to take first. Greece has Luxembourg. Israel has a shot at second, but only if Luxembourg were to beat Greece. Which is pretty unlikely. Switzerland beat Luxembourg 3-0 today.

In Group 3, Slovenia beat Slovakia 2-0 to keep Slovakia from qualifying. Slovakia has a two-point lead and closes with so-so Poland. Slovenia has a gimme against San Marino. Both are even on goal difference, so if Slovenia wins and Slovakia ties, Slovenia takes the group. With Slovenia playing San Marino, effectively everyone else is out of the running for first or second.

Bosnia-Herzegovina clinched second in Group 5. Bosnia and Russia are the only set second-place teams.

In Group 6, Ukraine beat an England team with nothing at stake and moved past Croaita into second. Both teams have easy final matches, so Ukraine looks good for second.

Serbia took Group 7 with a 5-0 win over Romania. France is beating the Faeroe Islands and would secure second place.

In Group 8, Italy scored a 90th minute goal to tie the game and book its trip. Even with a loss, Italy was in good shape with a game against Cyprus coming up. Ireland has locked up second.

So the European teams that are in are: Denmark, Germany, Spain, England, Serbia, Italy and Netherlands. Teams to lock up second place, and a playoff berth, are Russia, Bosnia and Ireland. Norway is second in group 9, but will probably be the second-place team that doesn’t make it.

That’s it for the morning/afternoon action. South American games kick off at 5 p.m., as does Mexico-El Salvador.  The U.S. kicks off at 8. I’ll be back after the games.