All 32 team that qualified for the 2014 World Cup are in action on Wednesday – the last official FIFA international match day before the end of the 2013-14 season. Though cakes in North and Central America will kick off later tonight, here are how the day’s European kickoffs unfolded (teams ordered by FIFA world ranking):
1. Spain – Pedro Rodríguez’s early second half score gave the world champions a 1-0 lead on Italy, an advantage la Roja were able to carry through full-time with relative ease after giving up some early opportunities.
2. Germany – An early goal from Bayern Munich’s Mario Götze hinted at an easy day for Joachim Löw’s team, but held off the scoreboard by Chile for the next 74 minutes, Germany were left to settle for a 1-0 victory over Jorge Sampaoli’s team in Stuttgart.
3. Argentina – A lackluster performance from a full strength Albiceleste saw Romania hold earn a 0-0 draw in Bucharest.
4. Portugal – An early goal from Cristiano Ronaldo saw the Seleccao captain pass Pauleta for first place on his country’s all-time scoring list. Vincent Aboubaker’s goal, however, allowed the visiting Cameroonians to equalize minutes before halftime. Second half goals from Raul Meireles, Fabio Coentrao, Edinho, and a second from Ronaldo left Cameroon routed at full-time, Paulo Bento’s team posting a 5-1 win in Leiria.
5. Colombia – An early goal from James Rodríguez gave the Cafeteros an early lead in Barcelona, but Wahbi Kahzri’s response in the 35th minute provided the equalizer for Tunisia, who held on for a 1-1 draw.
6. Switzerland – A duel between Josip Drmic (goals in the 33rd, 41st minutes) and Ivica Olic (39th, 54th) left the two World Cup qualifiers drawn at the final whistle, with Croatia’s visit to the AFG Arena producing a 2-2 result.
7. Uruguay – Marc Janko’s 14th minute opener put Austria up early, but substitute Álvaro Perreira’s equalizer in the 66th minute salvaged a 1-1 draw for la Celeste.
8. Italy – See Spain.
9. Brazil – Three goals from Neymar were complemented by scores from Chelsea’s Oscar and Manchester City’s Fernandinho as the Seleçao routed South Africa, 5-0.
(MORE: Neymar hat trick runs international goal total to 30 in Brazil’s 5-0 rout of South Africa)
10. Netherlands – With a disappointing performance in Paris, Louis Van Gaal’s team gave up first half goals to Karim Benzema and Blaise Matuidi en route to a 2-0 loss to France.
11. Belgium – Marouane Fellaini’s return to health produced a 17th minute goal for the Manchester United midfielder, with an early second half score from Radja Nainggolan giving Marc Wilmots’ team to a 2-2 lead over visiting Cote d’Ivoire. Thanks to goals from substitutes Didier Drogba and, in stoppage time, Max Gradel, the Ivorian were able to earn a 2-2 result in Brussels
12. Greece – A much stronger South Korea team than the one that lost in Carson, Calif., last month went up early through Park Chu-Young, with a giving 10 minutes into the second half from Son Heung-Min giving the visitors an impressive 2-0 win.
(MORE: Ukraine 2-0 USA: Disjointed U.S. display sees fired up Ukraine prevail)
Elsewhere: Asian champions Japan got two goals from Shinji Okazaki in a 4-2 win over New Zealand; World Cup-qualifiers Iran were upset at home by Guinea, 2-1; Two first half goals saw Russia trot past Armenia, 2-0; Scores from El Arbi Soudani and Saphir Taider gave Algeria a 2-0 win over Slovenia; Ghana conceded a first minute penalty in a 1-0 loss to Montenegro; Gedo and Mohamed Salah led Egypt to a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina; Daniel Sturridge’s 82nd minute goal give England a 1-0 win over visiting Denmark; Two goals from Tim Cahill couldn’t prevent Australia from giving up a three-goal lead to Ecuador following Mitchell Langerak’s 58th minute red card. With goals from Fidel Martínez, Segundo Castillo, Enner Valencia, and Edison Méndez (90+2′), Ecuador claimed the comeback victory.
Later: Mexico hosts Nigeria in Atlanta; Honduras takes on Venezuela in San Pedro Sula; while Costa Rica welcomes Paraguay to San José.
