5 Best Goals from Friday's World Cup Qualifiers

With less than nine months to go before the final draw for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, 62 nations took part in the latest round of qualifying matches on Friday.

The bulk of the games involved sides from Europe, with 24 fixtures taking place across the continent.

Added to those were two games from South America, where Colombia met Bolivia and Uruguay faced Paraguay, while New Zealand played New Caledonia and Honduras took on Mexico.

Overall, 31 total games produced 91 goals.

Having to narrow all those down to just five was tough, and there were lots of crackers I haven't included, so feel free to pay them some service with your comments.

Here are the five best, in no particular order.

Honourable Mentions: Luis Suarez and Bastian Schweinsteiger

I know this list is only supposed to contain five goals, but the efforts of Luis Suarez and Bastian Schweinsteiger have to get a mention.

Suarez's finish for Uruguay in their qualifier with Paraguay was a classic example of his lethal finishing prowess—the sort that's brought him 28 goals for Liverpool so far this season.

Schweinsteiger's skill for his goal in Germany's 3-0 win in Kazakhstan was also exceptional—even if there was a slight touch of Thomas Mueller.

His juggling of the ball was reminiscent of Paul Gascoigne's memorable goal for England against Scotland at Wembley in Euro '96.

Eden Ben Basat: Israel 3-3 Portugal

A brilliant strike from a cracking game in the Winter Stadium in Ramat Gan.

Eytan Tibi's through ball is wonderfully flicked on by Tomer Hemed (who tied the game for Israel in the 24th minute) into the path of Ben Basat.

The Toulouse striker beat the offside trap, outpaced his marker and smashed an unstoppable shot past Rui Patricio. 

The goal put Israel up 2-1, and although they eventually built that to 3-1, they let it slip, as Portugal hit back through Helder Postiga and Fabio Coentrao (in injury time) to grab a point.

The result leaves Israel still ahead of the Portuguese (but now only on goal difference), four points behind leaders Russia in Group F.

Gylfi Sigurdsson: Slovenia 1-2 Iceland

He might not be getting much of a look at Tottenham this season, but Gylfi Sigurdsson is still a key man for Iceland.

Milivoje Novakovic had put Slovenia ahead in the 34th minute against Iceland with a brilliantly taken goal. He just returned to international duty at the start of 2013, following a decision to retire a year earlier.

It wasn't enough, though. Two goals from Sigurdsson won the game for Iceland to keep the pressure up on Group E leaders Switzerland.

Sigurdsson's first was an absolute stunner. 

Hamdi Salihi: Norway 0-1 Albania

One from the training ground playbook here, as Albania pulled off an excellent win in Norway from another game in Group E.

Salihi appears from nowhere in the penalty area and finds space to hammer home Ervin Bulku's free kick.

Albania held on for the victory despite being reduced to 10 men after Andi Lila was sent off in the last minute.

The result takes Albania level on points with Iceland, just two points behind leaders Switzerland.

Ashley Young: San Marino 0-8 England

England fans expected an avalanche of goals and that's exactly what they got, as England recorded their biggest win in a quarter of a century against hapless minnows San Marino.

Jermaine Defoe scored twice while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge added further goals.

The best of England's eight came from Manchester United's Ashley Young, who picked his spot superbly from 25 yards.

England remain second in Group H, two points behind Montenegro, who won 1-0 in Moldova.

Roman Zozulia: Poland 1-3 Ukraine

Another great team goal here, as Ukraine eased their way to a comfortable win in Warsaw, also in Group H.

All the goals came in an action-packed first half, as Andriy Yarmolenko and Oleg Gusev put Ukraine up 2-0 inside eight minutes.

Lukasz Piszczek then pulled one back for the hosts before Zozulia finished off a neat passing move in fine style to restore Ukraine's two-goal cushion before halftime.