Five most important international matches for Chelsea players this break

2. United States (Christian Pulisic) versus Mexico, 12 November

The US versus Mexico won’t feature the quality of any of these other matches, but it is one of the few, extremely heated, rivalries this break. Matches between the two almost always turn into slug fests and this one is following up two earlier slug fests in the summer. The United States proved victorious in the Nations League and the Gold Cup with radically different squads, so Mexico is sure to have a bit of extra bite.

This is another first versus second match with the US sitting three points behind Mexico with two goals less on GD. A classic Dos a Cero would put the US in first based on goals scored. A loss would put the US in a somewhat precarious position if Panama wins their match against basement dwellers Honduras. Unlike UEFA, there will be two more breaks for the US to catch up but few in the States will want things to run that close after the last failed qualification campaign.

Christian Pulisic, freshly back from injury, is almost guaranteed to play against Mexico. He’s not the only important player for the US, but there are a few injuries in attack and Gregg Berhalter is surely not going to risk the result against Mexico by resting Pulisic. That should be a cause for concern for Chelsea fans as this match is almost guaranteed to get ugly.

1. Argentina versus Brazil (Thiago Silva), 16 November

Of all the first versus second matches, this one has the lowest stakes and the biggest gap between teams. That being said, it’s Argentina versus Brazil. Few matches in the world get much bigger than this rivalry and even fewer feature more talent.

The reverse fixture was suspended through Covid shenanigans, so this will be the first time these two face off this qualifying campaign. That will be fresh in the minds of many of these players, as will the recent Copa America victory of Argentina over Brazil (and don’t kid yourself, those two events are connected). Should Argentina win this one, they’ll still have another fixture against Brazil where another win could, theoretically, put them first. First through fourth doesn’t matter in CONEMBOL, but bragging rights do matter a lot in this part of the world so believe that everyone will go all out.

Silva is a guarantee for this one and it will delay his return to Chelsea. The Blues have plenty to cover for him though so he can go all out against his South American rival.

What match are you looking forward to this break? Let us know in comments and on Twitter!