5 big matches to watch out for this international week

This could be the most important week of international matches for the next four years. World Cup qualifying is drawing to a close around the globe and over the course of the next seven days, it will become much clearer who will be going to Russia 2018 and who’ll be staying at home.

As such, the pressure is on. Many big guns face missing out, while there are several more who have not booked their place at the competition yet.

Here are five of the matches that promise to be the most important over the next few days.

1.Argentina v Peru, October 5

It seems impossible to think it, but Lionel Messi and Argentina stand a very high chance of missing out on Russia 2018, particularly if they fail to get the better of Peru in Buenos Aires on Thursday.

The World Cup qualifying campaign for them has been one fraught with difficulties. 6 wins from 16 games mean they are actually behind their midweek opponents, while any slip in their final two matches would allow Copa America champions Chile to sneak in and overtake them.

Jorge Sampaoli boasts a squad replete with attacking talent, yet they have been unable to fire in qualifying. Remarkably, only Bolivia have scored fewer goals in the Conmebol section than the Argentines’ 16.

More than any other big nation, the pressure is on.

2. USA v Panama, October 6

Costa Rica v United States - FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier

The USA have grown to be big dogs in the Concacaf region, yet they will face what amounts to a knockout fixture against Panama on Friday. With nine points to their credit, they lie fourth in the group – the playoff spot – one point behind their guests but only ahead of Honduras on goal difference.

Bruce Arena’s side is, therefore, walking a real tightrope before going into their penultimate game of the group stage.

When the teams met in Panama City back in March, Clint Dempsey opened the scoring for the Americans before Gabriel Gomez levelled matters to secure a share of the points. That would not be good enough for Christian Pulisic & Co this time around.

3. Bulgaria v France, October 7

The French national squad has enviable depth

When France missed out on World Cup 94, they did so because they lost a last-minute goal at home against Bulgaria. Their qualification had seemed almost assured when they went to Israel with two matches of the group stage remaining, yet Michel Platini’s side blew things entirely.

Now Didier Deschamps, with a group of world-class players at his disposal, stands in a similar position but this time the weight of history weighs heavy on his side’s shoulders.

Les Bleus are expected to win handsomely in Sofia – a match that would go a long way to assuring their place at the finals, but life is complicated by a number of injury problems, with Paul Pogba, Benjamin Mendy and Ousmane Dembele among those sidelined.

Failure before a home meeting with Belarus is unimaginable, but then again France do have a reputation of struggling when the chips are down.

4. Wales v Republic of Ireland, October 9

Wales v Serbia - FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier

By the time Wales face Ireland on Monday, it is likely that they will be playing for second place in Uefa Group D. This would be a big match in regular circumstances, but the Cardiff fixture is simply huge with so much on the line.

There has been bad news for Wales on the injury front: they will be without star man Gareth Bale.

Even a draw may not be enough, as the second-placed side with the fewest points scored in the group will not go into the playoffs, which means that both nations may have to fight eyeballs out to get the win.

Perhaps more than any other game this week, this promises to be an incredible spectacle.

5. Portugal v Switzerland, October 10

Portugal v Andorra - FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier

Next Tuesday’s encounter is sure to be a straight fight for qualification to Russia unless the Portuguese somehow slip against the minnows of Andorra, whom they defeated 6-0 at home.

The European champions have been playing catch-up in Group B since the opening round of fixtures when they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Swiss in Basel, but they will have their chance to exact revenge in Lisbon.

Since that night in September 2016, neither team has blinked, winning all of their subsequent eight fixtures in an admittedly weak group. Portugal have been spectacular, scoring 28 goals, Cristiano Ronaldo getting 14 of those, whereas the Swiss have been merely solid.

If the resolve of the visitors continues, Ronaldo and his Portugal colleagues will face a playoff.