World Cup qualifying action continued into Tuesday, with several teams looking to book their place in next year's final after quite a long wait.
There's also the wait for club football, and to some fans, it must feel like just as long of a stalling. But the international stage did not disappoint, throwing up a good few goals for supporters and neutrals alike.
EUROPE
The biggest result was probably one that was expected, with Spain facing Liechtenstein.And the Spaniards certainly lived up to expectations, routing the opposition 8-0 through an opener from Sergio Ramos, braces from Alvaro Morata and Iago Aspas, as well as strikes from Isco and David Silva, plus a Maximilian Goppel own goal.
Italy, who lost to Spain on the weekend, were able to nick a narrow win against Israel through Ciro Immobile's strike. While Iceland, who provided one of the biggest shocks in the European Championships last year, defeated Ukraine 2-0.
Wales, meanwhile, struggled against Moldova, but Euro 2016 hero Hal Robson-Kanu was able to break the defence with a header in the 80th minute following more excellent work from Liverpool teenager Ben Woodburn, and Aaron Ramsey topped things off with a stoppage time goal to make it a 2-0 win.
The Republic of Ireland recorded a loss to a 10-man Serbia, courtesy of a goal from Aleksandar Kolarov.
The Serbs lost Nikola Maksimovic in the 68th minute of the match after he was shown a straight red, but were able to hold on to the lead until the end - with Ireland falling out of the top two because of Wales' result in the process.
Elsewhere, there were wins for Iceland, Finland and Turkey.
AFRICA
Tiny Cape Verde Islands catapulted themselves into surprise World Cup contention with a 2-1 victory away to South Africa on Tuesday as the identity of the African qualifiers for next year's finals remained far from resolved.
The small nation shook up the African qualifiers as they registered a second successive win over South Africa that suddenly sees a country of 500,000 inhabitants in with a chance of a fairytale trip to Russia.
Garry Rodrigues fired home two long-range wonder strikes in the second half to stun the South Africans in Durban and leave the 2010 World Cup hosts last in Group D.
Nigeria, who did not play on Tuesday, look best placed to become the first of the five African teams to book a place in Russia as they will qualify if they beat Zambia at home in their next game next month.
Teenager Patson Daka kept Zambia's World Cup hopes alive with a close-range second-half strike as they upset Algeria 1-0 away in group B.
It was Zambia's second win in four days over Algeria, who reached the last 16 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but have been eliminated from the race.Patson Daka opens the scoring for Zambia against Algeria (1-0) #ALGZAM pic.twitter.com/PCqxjPnNcz— Walid Bylka (@bylka613) September 5, 2017
The loss leaves Algeria rooted at the bottom of Group B, World Cup Qualifying with one point to their name and unable to qualify for Russia – same as Cameroon who are third with three points following their 1-1 draw with Nigeria on Monday.
The win for Zambia sees them keep up their pressure on Nigeria in Group B – the Southern African side has seven points, three behind leaders Nigeria
The Ivory Coast went down 2-1 at home in a shock loss to Gabon to let a comfortable lead slip to one point in group C and open the door for second-placed Morocco.
#saintsFC's new boy Mario Lemina has just scored this beauty against the Ivory Coast. Not bad, not bad at all pic.twitter.com/VezlLVLU6B— Aidan Small (@MrAidanSmall) September 5, 2017
Tunisia took command of group A as they drew 2-2 away to second-placed Democratic Republic of Congo, while Egypt opened up a two-point lead with a 1-0 win over Uganda in group E courtesy of a goal from Liverpool star man, Mohammed Salah.
SOUTH AMERICA
Argentina came from behind to draw 1-1 with Venezuela at home on Tuesday, a result that leaves the 2014 losing finalists a long way from guaranteeing their place in Russia next year.
The hosts had won all six of their previous home qualifiers against Venezuela and were expected to do the same against the team at the bottom of the South American group and without a win in 10 games.
But Argentina's failure to take all three points left them fifth in the standings with two matches remaining – out of the top four spots which brings direct qualification for the finals.
Colombia andBrazil shared a 1-1 draw in a hard-fought draw after Radamel Falcao's second-half header cancelled out Willian's stunning first-half volley.
Colombia have still never beaten Brazil in a World Cup qualifying match but the draw marked the first time in 10 games that Brazilian coach Tite has come away from a qualifier with anything other than all three points.
Brazil have already qualified for the finals in Russia next year and the result kept the Colombians in second place behind them with two matches remaining.
Peru beat Ecuador2-1 to move up into fourth and keep alive their hopes of a first appearance since 1982.
Second-bottom Bolivia got just their fourth win in 16 qualifiers when they deservedly beat Chile 1-0 thanks to a second-half penalty from Juan Carlos Arce.
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