Looks like fun ... Costa Rica weren't happy this game went ahead. Source: Jack Dempsey / AAP
England captain Steven Gerrard has refused to condemn the fans who taunted Rio Ferdinand in San Marino following the Manchester United defender's controversial withdrawal from the squad.
The 34-year-old turned down the chance to add to his 81 caps, claiming he was unable to join up with the England squad as it would disrupt his detailed pre-planned training and medical programme.
But it was Ferdinand's decision to travel to Doha to appear as a television pundit for Al Jazeera Sport, who were covering the qualifier, that seems to have especially irked the 3,000 England supporters who travelled to San Marino to watch Friday's 8-0 victory.
A constant stream of anti-Ferdinand chants were heard during the match in Serravalle and rather than condemn the chants, Gerrard, rested for the match, acknowledged fans were entitled to their opinions.
the Liverpool midfielder said: "I think the fans have shown their frustration about Rio not being here.
"They're entitled to their opinion. They pay good money to come over here.
"We all wanted Rio here because he's a good player and he certainly would have helped us over these two games.
"But he's made his decision and we need to respect that.''
In Spain, midfielder Santi Cazorla has dismissed suggestions that Spain's era of success could be coming to an end after they only managed a 1-1 draw at home to Finland on Friday in their 2014 World Cup qualifier.
It was the second consecutive home qualifier that the reigning World and European champions have failed to win after France also snatched a draw back in October.
However, Cazorla believes that against packed defences all they lack is a little variety to turn their dominance in possession into chances.
"It doesn't make any sense to now doubt this team just because of a draw,'' he told a press conference on Sunday.
"You cannot speak of the end of an era, the team has hunger and wants to keep winning titles.''
"In the last game we lacked some things, we need to have more variation. We need to ensure that all the possession the team have is transformed into chances.''
Friday's draw also allowed France to open up a two-point lead at the top of Group I.
In Italy, AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli says he owes his increased popularity in Italy to the national team.
Balotelli left Italy under a cloud in 2010 following a turbulent time at Inter Milan.
However, he established himself as a key player in the national side during last summer's European Championship, notably by scoring both goals in the 2-1 semi-final victory over Germany.
"Many people like me, but not everybody,'' Balotelli said on Sunday ahead of Italy's World Cup qualifier against Malta.
"After Euro 2012 I noted that my popularity increased. Thanks to the Italy squad, now fans of other clubs are starting to like me too. I can see from the way they act around me.
"The Nazionale has something special, something more. I can't explain it, it's above all else.''
Balotelli will be looking to add to his tally in Malta on Tuesday.
Italy tops its World Cup qualifying group with 10 points from four games. Bulgaria is second with six.
"I spoke to my father after the Brazil draw and he told me off because I missed so many goals,'' Balotelli said.
"Now a big game awaits us in Malta and we want to do well because that game will mean a lot for our World Cup qualifying.''
Costa Rican football officials have requested a replay of their snow-hit World Cup qualifying defeat to the United States, insisting the game should have been called off.
Amid farcical scenes in Denver on Friday, Costa Rica slumped to a 1-0 defeat to their CONCACAF rivals in a match which saw both sides labour through a blizzard on a pitch blanketed in thick snow.
Friday's defeat left Costa Rica at the bottom of the CONCACAF final round qualifying standings while the the victory elevated the USA to second in the table.
Lionel Messi scored once and set up two goals as Argentina beat Venezuela 3-0 to remain in control of the South American qualifying race for the 2014 World Cup.
The Argentinian skipper was the architect of two Gonzalo Higuain strikes which came either side of an emphatic Messi penalty on the stroke of half-time at the Monumental Stadium.
The Barcelona superstar was Argentina's best player throughout, twice forcing Daniel Hernandez into scrambled saves early on before producing the pass which enabled Higuain to break the deadlock on 29 minutes.
In other games on Friday, Colombia remained on course to end their 16-year World Cup exile after sweeping aside Bolivia 5-0 in Barranquilla.
Goals from Macnelly Torres, Carlos Valdez, Teofilo Gutierrez, Radamel Falcao and Pablo Armero secured an easy win as Colombia leapfrogged Ecuador into second place in the standings.
Elsewhere, Uruguay's hopes of a vital victory against bottom side Paraguay were dashed after they conceded a late equaliser in a bruising game which finished 1-1 in Montevideo.
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez looked to have settled a niggly encounter when he volleyed home a Nicolas Lodeiro cross on 82 minutes.
But Paraguay, who had rarely threatened during a stop-start game scarred by some rugged tackling, plucked an equaliser against the run of play four minutes later when substitute Edgar Benitez slotted home.
The draw saw Uruguay inch into the automatic qualifying spots, leapfrogging Venezuela in fourth, but coach Oscar Tabarez will be left ruing his team's failure to take all three points.
In Africa, Ethiopia snatched a dramatic 1-0 home victory over Botswana on Sunday to keep alive hopes of a first appearance at the World Cup in Brazil next year.
Ethiopia returned to the top of Group A with seven points, two more than overnight leaders South Africa, who overcame Central African Republic 2-0 in Cape Town thanks to goals from Thabo Matlaba and Bernard Parker.
Tanzania scored three second-half goals to thrash four-time World Cup qualifiers Morocco 3-1 in Dar es Salaam and climb to within a point of Group C pacesetters Ivory Coast.
Litsebe Marabe levelled a minute from time to give minnows Lesotho a 1-1 draw with 2012 African champions Zambia in Maseru after Collins Mbesuma opened the scoring entering the closing stages.
The failure to collect maximum points was a bitter blow for Zambia, who stay top of Group D with seven points, but Ghana can close the gap to just one point if they defeat Sudan in Kumasi later on Sunday.
Mozambique and Guinea drew 0-0 in a dour Group G clash in Maputo, leaving leaders Egypt with the possibility of opening a five-point gap should they beat generally poor travellers Zimbabwe in Alexandria on Tuesday.
Mali, third behind Nigeria and Burkina Faso at the recent Cup of Nations in South Africa, fought back to overcome Rwanda 2-1 in Kigali and rise two places to the Group H summit.
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