Hosts South Africa kicked off the 2009 Confederations Cup with a 0-0 draw with Asian champions Iraq at Johannesburg's Ellis Park Stadium. European champions Spain thrashed New Zealand 5-0 in Rustenburg with the help of a first-half Fernando Torres hat-trick. Over 48,000 fans saw South Africa waste a number of opportunities to begin their Confederations Cup campaign in style. Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News

The under-21 European Championships kick off tonight in Sweden. There are 8 teams in two groups contesting the finals. Group A consists of Belarus, Italy, Serbia and hosts Sweden. Group B has England, Finland, Germany and Spain. To win their first U21 Euros in a quarter of a century, Stuart Pearce's team need to overcome the favorites of Spain and Serbia. Pearce's England team includes Premiership stars Theo Walcott, Aaron Lennon, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Micah Richards. Bet with Bet 365

Well, if it’s the summer before a World Cup or a European Championship, it must mean another summer of thrilling Confederations Cup action. You're excited, too. I know. This is perhaps...

The move into the Asian confederation has created so many possibilities for the World Cup-bound Socceroos, but it has unexpectedly robbed them of something - a proper climax to qualifying. Few punters will forget that November night in 2005 when a bare-chested John Aloisi wheeled away after scoring the decisive penalty in Australia's shootout victory over Uruguay, a goal, which combined with Mark Schwarzer's heroics, confirming only the country's second appearance in a World Cup finals. But a scratchy goalless draw in Doha was never likely to provide the impetus for anything resembling the party which followed in Sydney three-and-a-half years ago.

For South Korea, the 2010 World Cup qualification campaign is almost over and first place in the group guaranteed. There is still one act to be played out however and it promises to be an intriguing one. The final game takes place on Wednesday. South Korea have bagged the first of two automatic qualification spots which leaves one up for grabs. There are three teams that would very much like to take that second slot, third place is not the end of the world as it offers a play-off route to South Africa. Fourth equals nothing. The Taeguk Warriors will have a big say in just who gets what. At the moment, North Korea is in second with eleven points, above Saudi Arabia on goal difference while Iran is in fourth and just a point behind. But it really is anybody’s place. North Korea travels to Saudi Arabia for the last match while Iran comes to Seoul led by Afshin Ghotbi, a former assistant coach of the South Korean national team.