Australia played Argentina, Brazil played Russia, the Netherlands took on Ireland, France played England, the team hailing from North America took on South America's Chile, South Africa played Ghana, and 2007 champions Scotland took on Poland in a grand final rematch. 

2008 champions Afghanistan aren't here to defend their title (the reasons are unknown, but the general consensus is that they couldn't raise the funds), and it's anyone's guess who'll take out the 2009 Homeless World Cup in a strong field of contenders.  

Scotland and Poland faced off in a 2007 grand final rematch, in perhaps the most passionately fought match of the day. Plenty of niggle, tight, physical defence, and heroic saves from the goalkeepers kept both teams scoreless in the first half.  

The Polish goalkeeper was falconed when someone kicked the ball away at half time and things got feisty when the game recommenced. True to the Homeless World Cup spirit, though, players from other teams spontaneously chanted 're-spect' from the sidelines to remind the on-court players of the tournament's fair play focus.  

Poland pulled away with a two-goal lead before the Scots clawed three back. Poland immediately answered with a third goal of their own and, with the scores deadlocked at 3-3, the game went to a penalty shoot out.  

Scotland stepped up first: scored. 

Poland: scored. 

Scotland: scored. 

Poland: scored. 

Scotland: hit the backboard. Missed. 

Poland: scored, winning the game 3-2 on penalties. 

The talented Brazilians, whose lead goalscorer wears an impressive short mohawk, took on last year's runners up Russia in a similarly passionate encounter. Solid defence and clinical finishing gave the Russians a first-half two-goal lead.  

Two penalties-one awarded after one of the Brazilians was knocked over and another when the Russians were deemed to be wasting time-levelled the scores at two goals apiece and the reinvigorated Brazilians found their on-court mojo. They scored three goals in quick succession to the Russian's one to win 5-3. 

The cheeky Chileans, who remember this writer's name because of the Cameron Diaz-voiced Princess Fiona character from Shrek, and who are room mates of sorts with the equally good fun Australians, took on their northern counterparts, the USA.  

They led 2-0 at half time, but a cracking shot by a USA player and a mistimed Chilean back pass which resulted in an own goal brought the USA back into the game. The slight but speedy Chileans rallied, piling on another six goals to the USA's one to record a convincing 8-3 victory. 

The Australians then took on Argentina in their only match of the day, after an inspirational pep talk by Australian referee Harry Milas. Milas, whom the Street Socceroos had been cheering on throughout the tournament with 'The ref-er-ee's an Aussie', was asked to join the Homeless World Cup international refereeing team on the basis of his skilful and compassionate refereeing at the 2008 Homeless World Cup in Melbourne. 

James Crawford injured his hamstring on Day 3 day so wasn't able to take to the pitch, but contributed strongly by cheering from the sidelines, including making his way over to wish the Argentineans luck in the match. 

The Australians started well, pressuring the Argentineans in their own area and receiving a penalty after one of the Argentinean players stepped into the out-of-bounds goalkeeper's area. Dave O'Grady took the shot, but couldn't make anything of it, and the Australians then peppered the goal with shots. 

Nabil Hermiz got the Street Socceroos on the board before Argentina equalised with a piledriver of a shot that Scott Endersby, who had stepped into the goal to give Beau Tyson an opportunity to play on the field, and proved himself to be an equally solid goalkeeper, could do nothing about. Argentina added a second goal, to give them a low scoring but hard-fought 2-1 wins. 

The match also contained some lighter moments. A deflection from Thom Lino's boot falconed the referee at point blank range, much to the crowd's-and even the referee's-amusement. And O'Grady's shoe came off and he was passed the ball while he was trying to refit it. Unphased, he stood up, placed the pass, and then ducked back down to continue fixing his footwear. 

The secondary stage continues on Days 5 and 6, with the Street Socceroos set to take on Japan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and India. Other heavy hitter matches on Day 5 will include England versus Portugal, Brazil versus Scotland, and Ghana versus Ireland.