International updates: Spain start World Cup qualifiers with victory - Palacios plays in Argentina win

+++ 05.09.: Palacios and Argentina still lead +++

Argentina played their penultimate match of the South American World Cup qualifiers, which are played in a league system with a single table, on Thursday night. The Albiceleste celebrated a 3:0 victory against Venezuela. While Claudio Echeverri did not play, Exequiel Palacios came off the bench on 74 minutes with the score at 1-0. Two minutes after coming on as a substitute, Lautaro Martinez made it 2-0. Four minutes later, Lionel Messi, who had also scored the first goal, wrapped uo the scoring. With 38 points and a ten-point lead over Brazil, the already qualified Argentinians remain top of the South American table. The final match on Wednesday, 10 September, will be against fourth-placed Ecuador, led by former Leverkusen player Piero Hincapie, who drew 0-0 with Paraguay.

+++ 04.09.: Algeria with Maza still on course for the World Cup +++

Algeria had an extremely successful evening: The clear leaders of Group G in the African World Cup qualifiers increased their already strong chances of qualifying for the World Cup after their 3-1 victory over Botswana, in which Bayer 04 new signing Ibrahim Maza did not play. With 18 points from a possible 21, they are currently six points clear of their nearest rivals Mozambique, who have played one game less. Four of the nine best group runners-up in the African World Cup qualifiers also qualify for the World Cup finals.

+++ 04.09.: Germany lose in Slovakia +++

Unlike Spain, Germany failed to get off to a winning start in their World Cup qualifying campaign. They suffered a 2-0 defeat in Slovakia. Werkself captain Robert Andrich did not feature. In a first, Germany lost on the road in the World Cup qualifiers for the first time ever - previously there had been 42 wins and ten draws. The next opponents on Sunday night in Cologne are Northern Ireland, who beat Luxembourg 3-1 in their match.

+++ 04.09.: European champions live up to their role as favourites +++

European champions Spain have started their World Cup qualifying campaign with a comfortable away win. All three goals in the 3-0 win in Bulgaria were scored before half-time. The Werkself players Alejandro Grimaldo and Aleix Garcia did not play. The team will continue with the top match in Group E in Turkey, who beat Georgia 3-2.

+++ 04.09.: Flekken and Oranje remain top of the table +++

Even though there was no winner in the top match of Group G, the Netherlands remain equal top with Poland after a 1-1 draw in Rotterdam. The visitors equalised in the closing stages of the game after the Oranje had taken an early lead. Bayer 04 keeper Mark Flekken, who did not play, and his teammates are level on points with Poland and Finland at the top of the group, but have played one match less. The next opponents for the Oranje are Lithuania.

Results and fixtures at a glance: