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From Brazil to China, 10 key developments in October's World Cup qualifiers
Another FIFA international fixture window is in the books, and attention is set to return to the club game. Bob Bradley will make his Swansea City managerial debut at Arsenal on Saturday. Manchester United and Liverpool clash Monday at Anfield. Pep Guardiola returns to Barcelona with Manchester City in the Champions League next week. Big matches are on the horizon.
But before getting too ahead of ourselves, some important developments took place around the world during the most recent set of World Cup qualifying matches.
Here are the top 10, in no ranking order, as the road to Russia 2018 continues to unfold:
1. Chile has new life
Two-time reigning Copa America champion Chile has its sights set on a deep run in the World Cup, but even getting to the 2018 competition is not a given. It was set to be almost a long shot before Arturo Vidal pumped new life into La Roja's hopes. His two goals–including an 85th-minute winner–gave Chile a massive three points and shrunk the gap to fourth place (CONMEBOL's last automatic berth) and fifth (a playoff vs. Oceania's qualifying champion). Tests against Colombia and Uruguay loom next month, so Chile is far from out of peril, but for at least another few weeks, things are looking up.
2. Is Brazil back?
Building on the momentum created by its Neymar-led U-23 team at the Olympics, Brazil is on an absolute roll in CONMEBOL. Entering September, Brazil was out of the World Cup places. Now, it sits atop the region's 10-team table through 10 of 18 games as a winner of four straight qualifiers. Granted, beating Bolivia and Venezuela, the bottom two sides, should be expected of Brazil, and next month's showdown vs. Argentina will surely provide a more accurate litmus test for where the Seleção stand. No matter, give new manager Tite credit for righting a wayward ship, turning to his rising stars like Gabriel Jesus and restoring some semblance of optimism back to the five-time World Cup champions. Brazil's deep-rooted problems have not magically disappeared, but there's reason to samba again after some highly disappointing results.
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3. China falters again
For a nation of 1.35 billion people and one that has poured hundreds of millions in resources into its domestic soccer league, it's rather shocking that China's national team can't figure out how to navigate Asia's World Cup qualifying competition. With a single point from four games hope fading fast, manager Gao Hongbo resigned following a 2-0 loss to Uzbekistan. China has only qualified for one World Cup, back in 2002, and it appears as if the drought will extend until at least the 20-year mark barring a miracle run and drastic change in fortune in its final six qualifiers.
GALLERY: Tifos from around the world
Best soccer tifos from around the world
Galatasaray fans display a sensational "Rocky" tifo ahead of their clash against rival Fenerbahce. It didn't inspire a victory, though. The Turkish rivals played to a 0-0 draw.
Borussia Dortmund fans channel their 1963 cup triumph over Benfica ahead of the teams' second leg in the Champions League round of 16 at Signal Iduna Park.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva fans turn to Moses for tifo inspiration, with his splitting the Red Sea illustrating how "impossible is nothing" in their Europa League series against Besiktas.
Fans of Tunisia's Club Africain display this pointed tifo at a friendly against PSG, whose Qatari owners have pumped millions and millions into the club.
U.S. fans in Columbus, Ohio, make a "One Nation, One Team" statement ahead of the USMNT's World Cup qualifying match against Mexico on November 11, 2016.
Germany fans display their heart for the team colors ahead of a World Cup qualifier against Czech Republic in October 2016.
Italy fans spell out their support for the Azzurri ahead of a massive World Cup qualifier vs. Spain in October 2018.
Iceland fans keep up their world-famous passion for the national team during a World Cup qualifier against Turkey in October 2016.
Fans in the United Arab Emirates set their sights on reaching the 2018 World Cup in Russia during a qualifying match vs. Australia in September 2016.
Colombia fans send a massive jersey around the stadium during a World Cup qualifier vs. Venezuela in September 2016.
Seattle Sounders fans turn to Game Of Thrones for inspiration in a game against the Cascadia rival Vancouver Whitecaps in September 2016.
Djurgardens fans go all out in Sweden for a match against AIK in September 2016.
Zulte Waregem fans prepare Kortrijk for the absolute worst in this Belgian top-flight match in September 2016.
Seattle Sounders fans turn their pop culture reference to Poltergeist in March 2016 ahead of the season home opener against Sporting Kansas City.
The Timbers Army doubles down on their Eastbound and Down theme, adding another wrinkle during the club's MLS Western Conference final first leg vs. FC Dallas on November 22, 2015 at Providence Park.
Fans make a French flag tifo at Wembley Stadium during the singing of Le Marseillaise ahead of England's friendly vs. France, which took place days after the terrorist attacks in Paris.
The Timbers Army referenced Eastbound & Down's Kenny Powers with their "Cup Bound and Down" tifo for the Portland Timbers' MLS playoff elimination game against Sporting Kansas City on October 29, 2015.
Brondby IF fans display a gladiator holding up a lion's head during the team's Danish Alka Superliga match against FC Copenhagen, whose logo is a lion's head, on September 27, 2015.
New England Revolution fans equate Jermaine Jones to Indiana Jones on their quest to capture the 2015 MLS Cup on September 26, 2015.
New England Revolution fans display a Lion King theme in honor of Orlando City FC's first visit to Gillette Stadium on September 5, 2015.
Red Bulls fans take a shot at NYCFC's two summer arrivals, 37-year-old Frank Lampard and 36-year-old Andrea Pirlo, ahead of their third MLS meeting of 2015.
Germany fans in Cologne salute their World Cup champions ahead of a friendly against the United States in June, 2015.
Real Madrid fans went all out prior to the second leg of the 2014-15 Champions League semifinal vs. Juventus.
Lazio fans display a stunning eagle tifo ahead of the Rome derby against AS Roma in their penultimate Serie A match of the 2014-15 season.
Barcelona fans bid farewell to veteran midfielder Xavi with this banner at his last league game at Camp Nou before he departs for Qatari club Al Sadd.
Fans at Anfield pay tribute to Steven Gerrard in his final home match as a Liverpool player in May 2015.
Juventus fans state their case to beat Real Madrid in the 2014-15 Champions League semifinals and reach the final in Berlin.
Fans at Benfica's Estadio da Luz remind rival Porto who the Primeira Liga reigning champion is during an April 2015 match in Portugal.
New York Red Bulls fans send a pointed message to their NYCFC counterparts prior to the teams' first MLS meeting in May, 2015.
Inter Milan's Curva Nord announces its presence ahead of the April 2015 Derby della Madonnina–the annual clashes between city rivals Inter and AC Milan.
Bayern Munich fans implore their club to (translated) "Never give up" in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg vs. Porto. Bayern then turned a 3-1 first-leg deficit into a 7-4 aggregate win and a place in the semifinals.
Dortmund fans commemorate their 1997 Champions League trophy in the club's clash vs. Juventus–the opponent on the wrong side of that title bout.
Portland Timbers fans speak out against homophobia with this tifo in a 2013 match against Chivas USA
Atletico's supporters display a banner reading "Atleti crushes" before the Spanish league match between Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid,
Borussia Dortmund fans put on a remarkable display ahead of a UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg match.
Brondby IF fans unveil a tifo ahead of a match in Denmark against Randers FC.
FC Barcelona fans display a huge banner in memory of former head coach Tito Vilanova.
Galatasaray fans support their team during the UEFA Champions League Group D match between Borussia Dortmund and Galatasaray at the Turk Telekom Arena in Istanbul.
The American Outlaws unveil a huge tifo ahead of a 2014 World Cup send-off match between the USA and Turkey at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.
Marseille's supporters use paper sheets to create an "OM" (Olympique de Marseille) tifo at the beginning of the French L1 football match between Marseille and Genoble.
Seattle Sounders fans display their tifo that shows coach Sigi Schmid playing cards and holding a Royal Flush before a match against the Portland Timbers.
Panathinaikos Athens fans display a banner during the UEFA Europa League match against Dynamo Moscow.
Fans of the Saudi Al-Hilal team celebrate after the scoring of a goal against Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor.
Seattle Sounders fans unveil a tifo inspired from the “Build a Bonfire” chant, featuring Sounder players holding torches on horseback ahead of a game against the Portland Timbers.
Fans of Hertha BSC before the Bundesliga match between Hertha BSC and Werder Bremen in Berlin.
Sporting Kansas City fans channel their inner Mario ahead of the 2013 MLS Cup final vs. Real Salt Lake.
Brondby IF fans.
Thousands of Barcelona fans hold up cards to spell out "Barca! Orgull," which translates to "Barcelona pride" ahead of a Champions League clash with Bayern Munich at Camp Nou.
Fans raise a tifo celebrating “Community, Club and Country” ahead of a CONCACAF Gold Cup match between the USA and Belize in Portland, Oregon.
Vitesse fans unfurl a massive Eagle banner at the Dutch Eredivisie match against Ajax at the GelreDome.
Valencia fans drape a banner featuring a king for a Copa del Rey ("The King's Cup) match against Atletico Madrid.
Juventus fans make a statement in Turin in a match vs. Inter Milan.
Dortmund fans put on another strong display at a Bundesliga match against Mainz 05.
German fans boast the newest star earned by the national team, symbolizing its 2014 World Cup triumph, at a Euro 2016 qualifying match in Dortmund.
Real Madrid fans make a point to display the club's 10 European championships ahead of the October 2014 clash against rival Barcelona at the Bernabeu.
San Jose Earthquakes fans unleash a massive tifo to mark the opening of Avaya Stadium, MLS's newest soccer-specific venue, in March 2015.
Barcelona fans show all who the real 12th man is ahead of the March 2015 Clásico vs. Real Madrid.
Ahead of a clash with Mexican foe Monterrey, Tigres players are treated by this message by its fervent supporters.
Standard Liege fans have a pointed message for Steven Defour, who departed the club for Belgian rival Anderlecht.
Orlando City fans mark their club's inaugural MLS game vs. fellow expansion side New York City FC with a statement that the Lions' "reign begins now."
Real Madrid fans salute Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo after he captured the most prestigious individual prize in world soccer again.
Vitesse fans pay homage to Operation Market Garden ahead of an Eredivisie match against SC Heerenveen.
Sevilla's fans deploy a giant banner in the stands before the UEFA Europa league final match between Benfica and Sevilla.
Fans in Liverpool’s Kop End at Anfield commemorate those lost in the Hillsborough disaster.
Lyon fans during a game against Saint Etienne.
4. England moves on, but for the better?
With the Sam Allardyce scandal in the rearview mirror, England fans turned their criticism to Wayne Rooney, their captain and all-time leading scorer, booing him during a 2-0 win over Malta. Interim boss Gareth Southgate put Rooney on the bench for the subsequent 0-0 draw against Slovenia and afterward labeled the Three Lions' situation "a mess." It's clear that change needed to come from the FA after the Allardyce debacle, and it's become more evident that Rooney's time as a must-start player is over. But the expectations that A) England's coaching job is a desirable destination and B) benching Rooney would suddenly lead to the glory days are beyond unreasonable. Southgate is right. England has many problems. It also has the fortune of a soft qualifying group in which it can iron them out over the course of the next year.
Disgraceful Sam Allardyce scandal a new low for England national team
5. Iceland magic continues
It took a little bit of controversy, but Iceland's magical Euro 2016 run appears to be continuing on into World Cup qualifying. The dramatic late comeback against Finland was followed with a more standard 2-0 triumph over Turkey, keeping everyone's favorite underdog on the pace through three matches. The true test of the magic comes in the next qualifier, which should be the toughest of the round: At Croatia (both Iceland and Croatia are atop Group I with seven points). If Iceland can take even a point of that, it can start to let itself think ahead just a bit about the dream of qualifying for a first World Cup.
6. Belgium plays like its ranking
The second-ranked Red Devils were among the biggest disappointments at Euro 2016, and they'll never fully be able to placate critics until they embark on a deep run at a major trophy, but the signs that things are clicking for Belgium were prevalent in a pair of lopsided wins that brought the side to a perfect 3-0-0 with a 13-0 goals for/goals against margin. The most impressive of the bunch was a 4-0 triumph over Bosnia-Herzegovina, a World Cup-caliber side in terms of talent. With Roberto Martinez and Thierry Henry at the helm, the bevy of attacking pieces Belgium has in its arsenal are putting it together.
7. Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Portugal
Portugal won Euro 2016 without Cristiano Ronaldo for the majority of the final, but it happily welcomed its captain and all-time leading scorer back into the fold after his long injury layoff. Ronaldo torched Andorra for four goals and tacked on beautiful finish against the Faroe Islands and now leads all UEFA World Cup qualifying scorers with those five goals. Surely Portugal would have been fine without Ronaldo in these two one-sided affairs, and he'll likely feast on another minnow next month with the lone qualifier coming against Latvia.
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8. Germany on cruise control to Russia
There was little doubt that Germany was the favorite in its World Cup qualifying group, and with comfortable victories over top "contenders" Northern Ireland and Czech Republic in the last week, Jogi Low's defending World Cup champions can pretty much assume the autopilot position until they hit their destination, Russia 2018. Germany is a perfect 3-0-0 with no goals conceded, and it's hard to see Die Mannschaft tripping up at any point in its quest to be able to defend its trophy.
9. Argentina misses Messi
As loaded as Argentina is from a talent perspective, it remains clear as ever that Lionel Messi is the key ingredient if the Albiceleste are ever going to break their trophy drought anytime soon. A 2-2 draw at Peru and 1-0 home loss to Paraguay (which followed September's 2-2 draw to Venezuela) have Argentina in fifth in CONMEBOL's table, outside of the automatic berths to Russia. While Messi has been nursing a groin injury, Argentina has struggled against teams it should be expected to beat without him. Anyone in the camp that Argentina is better off without Messi is sorely mistaken, and the reigning Copa America runner-up will need all of Messi's magic next month in what should be two of Argentina's toughest tests in qualifying: At Brazil and home against Colombia.
10. Nobody had a more eventful window than Enner Valencia
To recap: Ecuador's Enner Valencia faked an injury against Chile last week and left a stadium in an ambulance to escape police, who had a warrant for his arrest over a reported $17,000 in unpaid child support. That warrant was promptly revoked, clearing Valencia to travel with Ecuador to face Bolivia. With Ecuador trailing 2-0, Valencia emerged as the hero, scoring twice–including one in the 89th minute–to salvage a hard-fought point in La Paz and keep La Tri in third place in CONMEBOL. Now that is one wide-ranging international window.
Avi Creditor is a senior editor and has covered soccer for more than a decade. He’s also a scrappy left back.