Italy, Spain and Israel all won to stay in the running in their tight World Cup qualifying group while Ireland also enjoyed an important win while Wales were held by Serbia in Saturday's (Sunday AEDT) qualifiers.

• Dominic Bossi

Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan will be looking to leave Spanish giants Valencia in the January transfer window after becoming frustrated with the limited first team football he's been offered at the club.

• Michael Lynch

It's not often that both managers are in agreement that the referee made a poor call on a penalty, but that's how it was at Etihad Stadium when Kevin Muscat and his old Socceroos teammate, Tony Popovic, both felt that referee Jared Gillett should have awarded Wanderers a penalty in the second half as the visitors chased an equaliser when Victory led 1-0.

• Michael Lynch

Australia has produced several fine players and a handful of top graders but there have been no superstars. Or at least few players who would be regarded as superstars outside of their own country.

• Michael Lynch

Melbourne Victory leapt to fourth place on the A-League table after seeing off the challenge of Western Sydney Wanderers by a  2-0 scoreline in front of a crowd of at Etihad Stadium.

• Caden Helmers

Canberra United "created enough chances to win three or four games" but fell short in their season-opener.

• David Polkinghorne

If Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick wants international breaks in the A-League, then his players did him no favours with a well-deserved 2-0 victory over Central Coast Mariners at Canberra Stadium on Saturday.

• David Polkinghorne

Central Coast Mariners chief executive Shaun Mielekamp admits there's lingering resentment towards the FFA in Canberra, but he's determined to "earn the right to have the crowd" at their games.

Roy Krishna has continued his stellar A-League form to inspire Wellington to a dominant 2-0 win over a disappointing Central Coast in Canberra.

Thailand's soccer association is offering a 10 million baht ($400,000) bonus to the national team to defeat the Socceroos in Tuesday's 2018 World Cup qualifier in Bangkok.

• Dominic Bossi

Hopes of Aaron Mooy playing in the English Premier League for Manchester City remain alive after the Socceroos midfielder confirmed he is on the club's radar despite being moved on loan to English Championship side, Huddersfield.

• Dominic Bossi

Alex Brosque will play his 150th game for Sydney FC on Sunday when they face Perth Glory at Allianz Stadium but despite spending eight seasons at the club, it's a milestone he never thought he would reach.

• Dominic Bossi

Thailand's coach says Australia's height advantage is the Socceroos' biggest advantage, not their fast-paced and possession-based style of play.

Rafa Marquez scored a tiebreaking goal on a header in the 89th minute to give Mexico a 2-1 win, its first victory in the United States in World Cup qualifying since 1972.

A trio of thundering headers gave England a thumping victory over their oldest foes as Scotland were swept aside 3-0 in their World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

• Marissa Payne

​Argentina is in danger of not qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1970 after the team's devastating 3-0 loss to rival Brazil in a qualifying match on Friday (AEDT).

Adelaide United have snapped a run of four straight losses with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Brisbane in Friday night's A-League clash at Coopers Stadium.

Adelaide United have snapped a run of four straight losses with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Brisbane in Friday night's A-League clash at Coopers Stadium.

Aspiring Socceroos are seizing a rare extended opportunity to impress coach Ange Postecoglou ahead of Tuesday's World Cup qualifier in Thailand, uncapped midfielder Jimmy Jeggo says.

• Michael Lynch

Melbourne Victory's German import Maxi Beister approached training on Friday with more than the average gusto that might be expected of a player a day before a game.

• David Polkinghorne

Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick says "no one's listening" when he talks about international breaks.

• David Polkinghorne

Connor Pain would love to replicate last week's stunning strike against Adelaide in Canberra on Sunday.

• Jason Dasey

Former England goalkeeper David James refuses to rule out the possibility of following the lead of Luis Garcia this year in turning an appearance at an over-age exhibition game into an Asian swansong.

• Dominic Bossi

A club whose history is steeped in the success delivered by experienced players and elder statesmen is aiming to be the refinery of Australian football's richest talent reserves, and not just the shopfront.

• Michael Cockerill

Self-help is a theme which has run through Indigenous affairs throughout its long and often tortured white-funded history. Easy to imagine, hard to achieve. But maybe, just maybe, football has finally made a breakthrough.

• Michael Lynch

Will it suddenly all go quiet at Etihad Stadium when Melbourne Victory face Western Sydney on Saturday night?

• Michael Lynch

Melbourne City briefly bring the phrase "tactical overload" to a new level.

• Michael Lynch

Melbourne City moved into second position on the A-League table after seeing off a determined challenge from Newcastle Jets at AAMI Park in the first of this A-League season's Thursday fixtures.

• David Polkinghorne

Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick might have helped resurrect Blake Powell's A-League career, but the Central Coast Mariners attacking midfielder won't be doing his old coach any favours.