Going into this evening's final round of World Cup qualifiers, there are still a few matters to be settled around the globe.
In Africa, the tastiest fixture is undoubtedly that between Egypt and Algeria in Cairo, in a repeat of the Italia 90 qualifier that became known as the 'hate match'.
Just as it was in 1989, African champions Egypt need to beat Algeria to reach the finals. On that night, they managed it, but not without sparking some fallout.
Ornamental plant pots inside the ground were used as missiles by riotous fans, the officials were harangued by the Algerian bench and the Egyptian team doctor ended up blinded in one eye.
ED has always thought it would be nice to spruce up tired old football grounds with a few plants scattered about the place. Now it knows who to blame.
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However, the match of the night has to be Argentina's do-or-die clash in Uruguay.
When the AFA announced the recruitment of Diego Maradona you knew it could only go one of two ways: celestial glory or abject misery for the Albiceleste.
If sixth-placed Ecuador beat Chile, who have already qualified, then one of the two sides fighting it out in Montevideo will definitely be out.
Key numbers from Maradona's year in international management
17 - Matches played
7 - Matches won
6 - Matches lost
1970 - The last time Argentina failed to make a World Cup finals
78 - Number of players called up
0 - Number of players called up named Juan Roman Riquelme or Walter Samuel
22 - Number of goals Gonzalo Higuain scored in La Liga last season
0 - Number of caps Higuain had earned before Saturday's 2-1 win over Peru
6 - The number of caps shared between five of the players that lined up against Peru
99 - Combined age of Martin Palermo, Ariel Ortega and Pablo Aimar, who all earned recalls after a total of 20 years out of the international picture
37,000,000 - Amount in euros that the Italian tax authorities believe is owed to them by El Pibe
If Argentina make it through tonight then, as a side usually tipped to go all the way before a disappointing exit, they'll probably go on to win the whole thing. Then ED will truly believe Maradona is a messiah, and become a fully paid up member of his church.
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Europe is the continent most lacking in jeopardy, with four of the nine groups already sewn up, although there are likely to be a few high-profile names missing from the draw in December.
2006 semi-finalists Portugal, 2004 European champions Greece (yes, that really did happen) and Slovenia should all make it to at least a play-off spot as long as they avoid defeats to Malta, Luxembourg and San Marino respectively.
Those last two results will confirm misery for Sweden and Czech Republic, both perennial qualifiers in recent times, while Ukraine only have to beat Andorra to put Croatia out. Which is nice.
Whatever happens, there'll be many a sight of hirsute, swarthy types crying into their local delicacies. You can't watch it all, but you can follow it all via our World Cup multiplex, which has already kicked off.
Oh, and England are playing too.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY: "There have been a lot of rumours but I don't have an offer or plans to be manager or whatever for North Korea, absolutely not." Sven nips the most exciting story of the year in the bud sharpish. Thanks for that.
FOREIGN VIEW: Australian midfielder Joel Griffiths has been given a seven-match ban for making an insulting gesture with his middle finger while playing for Chinese club Beijing Guoan.
Griffiths was also fined 50,000 yuan (£4,600). He vehemently denied the offence and said he would appeal against the punishment.
The 30-year-old, who had been substituted, rushed back on to the pitch when Beijing scored an equaliser in the 93rd minute of their 2-2 draw in a Chinese Super League match in Henan on Saturday.
"He then made an insulting gesture, which caused terrible impact," the Chinese Football Association said.
The former Newcastle Jets player said that the punishment was "unacceptable". He said he had been celebrating with his team mate and brother Ryan and that the CFA decision was based on unclear pictures.
"My life has been completely destroyed. It's all because of the CFA," he said. "The Australian media, my family, my friends have all heard about this. In their eyes I have become a mad man, a bad man.
"I will 100 per cent appeal. If it fails, I will have to appeal to FIFA. I believe they will carefully look into whether those pictures could prove what I was doing. I believe they can prove me innocent."
COMING UP: LIVE comments of England v Belarus, Ireland v Montenegro, Czech Republic v Northern Ireland, Liechtenstein v Wales and Uruguay v Argentina