Top 10 Performances from Around the World for Weekend of October 9-12
We've been treated to a weekend of international matches over the past few days, as major domestic action takes a brief respite in the world of football.
While some leagues have still been continuing—MLS, European second-tier football and such—we'll be focusing exclusively on international duty for our best performances of the weekend.
The nature of recent European Championships results means that we're looking at some of the lesser-heralded nations this time around, with one unusual inclusion: A team who didn't actually win their match.
10. Moldova
1 of 10
Here we are: Our first inclusion and the only one who failed to win.
The reason for inclusion is Moldova's unlikely point in Russia; the 105th-ranked side in the world held on until the last 15 minutes at 0-0 in Moscow, only eventually conceding a penalty. They then went straight up the other end and equalised, claiming a 1-1 draw and their first point of the qualifiers.
Moldova are fifth in their group, above Liechtenstein on goal difference.
9. France
2 of 10
One of just two inclusions from friendly matches this week, France defeated Portugal 2-1 in Paris on Saturday evening.
They could have been far higher in this ranking if they had maintained their first-half performance throughout, but after dominating and blowing away Portugal early on in the game—though only scoring once in that period—they eventually sat off a little more and allowed Portugal themselves to improve.
Karim Benzema and Paul Pogba scored the goals, while Raphael Varane and Steve Mandanda particularly impressed.
8. Iceland
3 of 10
Iceland went to the top of Group A in their Euro 2016 qualifiers after an impressive 3-0 win away to Latvia.
Having gone so close to qualifying for the World Cup in 2014, Iceland—who have never reached a major finals—must be thinking they have a great chance to get through into the expanded European Championships this time around. They took full advantage of Latvia going a man down to score three second-half goals in Riga.
Iceland face Netherlands on Monday night.
7. Brazil
4 of 10
Our second friendly inclusion is Brazil, who beat Argentina 2-0 in Beijing at the weekend.
Brazil put in a reverse performance to that of France; started poorly, looked like being overrun entirely...and then bounced back to comfortably be the better side, the more clinical side and eventually the deserved winners.
Diego Tardelli did his chances of remaining the new No. 9 no harm at all with two goals, while Kaka made a late sub return to the international scene.
6. Czech Republic
5 of 10
Group A is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing qualification groups for Euro 2016, with Czech Republic pushing their own credentials this week.
They travelled to Turkey on Friday and came from behind to take a 2-1 victory and move joint-top with six points, leaving Turkey bottom without a point themselves.
Tomas Sivok and Borek Dockal got the goals, with the Czech side showing both mental resilience and technical quality in their comeback victory.
5. South Africa
6 of 10
Over to the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers now and South Africa moved to the top of their group with an impressive win in Congo, who had occupied top spot previously.
A brilliant bicycle kick from Bongani Ndulula and a strike by Tokelo Rantie gave South Africa the victory in Pointe-Noire, with the away side impressing with their approach play as much as their clinical edge.
Later, when Congo tried to come back at them, South Africa showed the defensive side of their game was also up to scratch. The teams will meet again, in South Africa this time, on Wednesday.
4. Sudan
7 of 10
Staying with the AFCON qualifiers, the same group as South Africa's win saw a shock victory for Sudan over reigning African champions Nigeria.
Despite starting on the back foot, as expected, Sudan grew into the game and dominated Nigeria through the centre, fully deserving their 1-0 lead at the break, a lead they held onto throughout the game to claim their first win of the group stage.
Nigeria slump to the bottom of the group ahead of the teams meeting again, in Nigeria, on Wednesday.
3. Slovenia
8 of 10
Back to Europe, Slovenia boosted their qualification hopes for Euro 2016 with back-to-back wins in Group E this week.
A good, solid 2-0 win over Lithuania over the weekend was impressive, but perhaps even better was their 1-0 victory at home against Switzerland on Thursday. Veteran forward Milivoje Novakovic scored all three goals between those two matches, moving Slovenia into the top two of the group for now.
2. Slovakia
9 of 10
The top two both produced standout performances and results in European Championships qualifying this week, starting with Slovakia.
They held off and beat the reigning European champions Spain by 2-1 on Thursday, taking an early lead and then defending well throughout the match before a late equaliser from the former world champions looked to have robbed Slovakia of two points.
Not to be outdone, Slovakia then went back down the other end and netted a winner with three minutes to play, Miroslav Stoch heading in the winning goal.
1. Poland
10 of 10
The biggest performance, and result, of the weekend has to go to Poland, who for the first time ever beat rivals Germany, the new World Champions.
Arkadiusz Milik and Sebastian Mila scored the goals, but the 2-0 scoreline doesn't begin to tell the story of a match where they had to defend heroically, and with no shortage of luck at times, yet overcame a team still enjoying their recent success of being the world's best.
Poland are top of Group D with two wins from two, with Germany down in fourth.
