Games to watch for Tuesday's World Cup Qualifiers

Today will be the last day of the World Cup Qualifiers for September. Enjoy your Tuesday evening.

 Asia

 In the Asian qualifiers there are two groups of six teams in this round. The top two teams from each group automatically qualify for the World Cup, the 3rd place teams from Group A and B have a play-off match against each other. The remaining teams can't qualify for the World Cup. 

Group A: Uzbekistan vs South Korea

18:00 CET (+3) - 20:00 local time, Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium, Tashkent

It is the last game for both teams as it is now or never for both teams to qualify to the World Cup. Despite Uzbekistan losing a crucial game to China 1-0, they still have a chance to qualify directly to Russia if they beat South Korea. Uzbekistan's strength is defense with Lokomotiv Moscow's Vitaliy Denisov, keeping the back line stable. In midfield Uzbekistan have Odil Ahmedov who plays for Shanghai SIPG and can help Uzbekistan by controlling the game.

South Korea have decent midfielder and forwards, however they struggle on defense. In the middle, Augsburg player Ja-Cheol Koo will be a key player for South Korea has he will need to take control and lead his nation to victory. South Korea will also need their big man Heung-Min Son to step up. As South Korea are in 2nd place but just two points above 3rd place Syria and Uzbekistan. A win would send South Korea to Russia. If they lose, South Korea could be eliminated unless Syria doesn't beat Iran in the other game.

Other Matches: 

Group A: Iran vs Syria 18:00 CET (+3) - 19:30 local time

                Qatar vs China 18:00 CET (+3) 

Group B: Australia vs Thailand 13:00 CET (+3) - 20:00 local time

                Iraq vs UAE 17:00 CET (+3) 

                Saudi Arabia vs Japan 20:30 CET (+3)

Africa

In the African qualifiers, there are 5 groups of four teams. The 1st place teams in each group qualify directly to the World Cup.  The remaining team cannot qualify for the World Cup.

Group E: Egypt vs Uganda
21:00 CET (+3), Borg El Arab Stadium, Alexandria

The Pharaohs will be ready to redeem themselves against Uganda after losing 1:0. Egypt have Ahmed Hegazi in the back who plays at West Brom. Egypt need Liverpool forward Mohammed Salah to bring his strength from Liverpool to Egypt. The Pharaohs also have Arsenal midfielder Mohamed El Nenny  and Ramadan Sobhi who is an up and coming midfielder at Stoke City.

Uganda proved that their defense can be solid as a rock even against some of Africa's best forwards. Ugandan forward Emmanuel Obwi performed above expectations as he scored against Egypt in his first game in the qualifiers. 19 year old striker Farouk Miya who plays for Standard Liege in Belgium, has scored 17 goals for his country and will like to add that number against the Pharaohs. A win for both teams would put them in 1st place. 

Other Matches:

Group A: DR Congo vs Tunisia 20:30 CET (+3) - 18:30 local time

Group B: Algeria vs Zambia 22:30 CET (+3) - 20:30 local time

Group C: Cote d'Ivoire vs Gabon 20:30 CET (+3) - 17:30 local time

                Mali vs Morocco 22:00 CET (+3) - 19:00 local time

Group D: South Africa vs Cape Verde 20:00 CET (+3) 

                Burkina Faso vs Senegal 21:00 CET (+3) - 18:00 local time

Group E: Congo vs Ghana 17:30 CET (+3) - 15:30 local time

Europe

In the European qualifiers, there are 9 groups of six teams. 1st place in each group qualifies directly to the World Cup. 2nd place teams enter a playoff round against each other. The rest cannot qualify.

Group I: Iceland vs Ukraine

21:45 CET (+3) - 18:45 local time, Laugardalsvollur, Reykjavik

Iceland take on Ukraine in a very important game. As Iceland lost to Finland 1-0, they were dropped from 1st to 3rd place. Since Iceland had a very successful Euro 2016 reaching the quarter finals, expectations are higher for the Nordic country. Iceland have a very strong midfield with players such as Burnley player Johann Gudmundsson and Udinese Emil Hallfredsson. The star player for Iceland is Gylfi Sigurdsson who just joined Everton for 45 million pounds. He will need to prove to the rest of the world that Iceland is not a one hit wonder.

Ukraine on the other hand beat Turkey 2-0 a few days ago which brought them from 4th to 2nd place. Ukraine has one of the best defenders in the group and have only conceded five goals. The players to lookout for on Ukraine's team is Schalke midfielder Yevhen Konoplyanka who has a key player in Ukraine's victory over Turkey. Another player to watch is Dortmund's new midfielder Andriy Yarmolenko who has scored five goals in seven matches for Ukraine. The last encounter between Ukraine and Iceland ended in 1-1. A win for Iceland would put them in 2nd place and potentially 1st if Turkey beat Croatia. A win for Ukraine would keep them in 2nd place. A draw would keep both teams in 2nd and 3rd. 

Other Matches: 

Group D: Austria vs Georgia 21:45 CET (+3) - 20:45 local time

                Moldova vs Wales 21:45 CET (+3) 

                Ireland vs Serbia 21:45 CET (+3) - 19:45 local time

Group G: Italy vs Israel 21:45 CET (+3) - 20:45 local time

                Liechtenstein vs Spain 21:45 CET (+3) - 20:45 local time

                Macedonia vs Albania 21:45 CET (+3) - 20:45 local time

Group I: Turkey vs Croatia 21:45 CET (+3) - 20:45 local time

               Kosovo vs Finland 21:45 CET (+3) - 20:45 local time