Now that Copa América and the Euros are behind us, the focus turns to World Cup qualification. For South American teams – who kicked off their campaigns last October – the road to the biggest football tournament in the world has always been tough and since 1996, when the current round-robin format was originally introduced, competition has improved tremendously. Historical powerhouses such as Brazil and Argentina are no longer shoe-ins to qualify as teams such as Chile, Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay and Ecuador, with star players of their own, are more than just also-rans. Less successful teams such as Venezuela and Peru, who enjoyed a good run at this summer’s Copa América, are still in the running and Bolivia – who struggled at the Centenario – are above both of them in the table. Quite simply, there are no easy matches, and given the improvement in talent and coaching, it’s a stark contrast to the European qualifiers where teams such as Andorra and Gibraltar provide cannon fodder and little else.

It’s also far better entertainment than the Champions League, whose popularity is purely saved by its own historic reputation. Despite the Champions League’s financial fair play regulations, matches (especially in the knockout stages) are often dull because no matter what happens, the same teams end up winning. It’s time to pay attention to the most exciting football on the planet.

In his 1995 book, Soccer in Sun and Shadow the Uruguayan writer, Eduardo Galeano, said, “All Uruguayans are born shouting ‘Goal!’ and that’s why there’s always such a tremendous racket in our maternity wards.” Galeano’s words ring true with the South American soccer fan and the way the continent experiences the beautiful game. No emotion is internalized, no sentiment is hidden, every match is experienced as if it was your last day on Earth, and the stadium (or even your own living room) is your last refuge. From the Pacific classic between Peru and Chile to Brazil’s tumultuous rivalry with Argentina – one that drove sociologist Pablo Alabarces to say, “Brazilians love to hate Argentinians, and Argentinians hate to love Brazilians” – every encounter has a significant competitive agenda. Every fixture is a derby.

But the qualifiers are about far more than passionate fans. Another factor is geography as this is a tough part of the world to play in, especially for European-based players who have to readjust to different altitudes and climates. It’s fascinating to see how Neymar, Messi or Suárez – spoiled by the comforts of Barcelona – perform in locations such as La Paz (12,000 ft above sea level) or Quito (9,000 feet above sea level). Cities such as Barinas in Venezuela and Barranquilla in Colombia can also be extremely uncomfortable to play in, given the high temperatures throughout the summer. In the South American qualifiers, pressure comes from the stands and mother nature.



The coaching and tactical philosophy throughout each nation also makes for some attractive, hail-mary fútbol, managers who enjoy sitting back are a rarity. Head coaches such as Jose Pekerman, who has turned Colombia into an experimental wonderland, switches his formations (3-5-2, 4-2-3-1, 4-2-2-2) in accordance to the players at his disposal - and not the other way around. Or how about Óscar Tabárez? The deep-thinking manager who has been able to soften Uruguay’s traditional rough-rugged style by helping the squad - especially upfront - develop a more fluid approach. Brazil – feeding off their successful Rio campaign – are finally looking like the seleção of old and when Neymar plays for his country, he appears to mature, disregarding the need to be the main event and happy to make everyone around him better.

Many teams have also placed their trust in young coaches, hoping that they can introduce a fresh approach and bring in new ideas. Venezuela’s Rafael Dudamel is no stranger to the South American game. The 43-year-old former-goalkeeper played for 15 teams in Colombia and Venezuela and was capped 56 times. Paraguay – after finishing last in the 2014 qualifiers – are quietly moving up the table. Francisco “Chiqui” Arce took over the squad after Ramon Diaz departed following this summer’s Copa América, but from a strategic perspective, smartly decided to keep things the same. Last week, the 45-year-old manager led his team to a 2-1 victory over Chile, and now sit in sixth place, only trailing Brazil by goal difference.

On the field, there is an abundance of talent. Aside from the obvious names who we know so well from European leagues, there are players making their trade in South American domestic football. From Venezuela’s Romulo Otero to Lucas Pratto from Argentina – who both play for Atlético Mineiro in the Brazilian league – the qualifiers are a perfect opportunity for these players to make a statement on the international stage.



Tim Stillman (@Stillberto) CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table at the moment. One of the world's most exciting leagues IMO. pic.twitter.com/n5YzmsUdov

All this has made the road to Russia 2018 so captivating to watch, and the table is extremely tight. The difference right now between first-place Argentina and seventh-place Chile is four points. Contrast this to European qualifying where a team as modest as England can sail through qualifying, and the smaller teams are there to make up the numbers. There are of course favorites in South America, but no one is invincible.

