:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/23042615/184746063.0.jpg)
Nobody likes the international break, even if they tell you they like the international break. It's probably a cry for help if they do, and you should treat it as such. We're all waiting for the real business, which in this case is a trip to Goodison for the derby in a week and a half. FIFA wants us to pretend there's other things to care about, but we know better. The only thing to care about here is that the Premier League's co-leading goalscorer--an honor he shares with his Liverpool strike partner--will *literally* be traveling around the world before he resumes club duties. That's cool, right? Oh, no, not really that at all.
Jordan v. Uruguay
3:00PM GMT/10:00AM EST
Amman International Stadium
One World Sports (trial package available in the US and Canada); check local listings
Uruguay forced themselves into an underdog role in CONMEBOL qualifying by trying to make everyone forget how good they were during the last World Cup and the subsequent Copa America title run (Sebastian Coates xoxo), but they're probably now favorites in the intercontinental playoff against a Jordan squad that's as close as they've ever been to a World Cup Final. Luis Suarez will undoubtedly log 90 minutes barring injury or blowout, and Uruguay will hope to leave themselves with little work to do heading into next Wednesday's second leg in Montevideo. Jordan need a result today--"the biggest match in (their) history" according to Assciation president Prince Ali bin al-Hussein--to give themselves a chance ahead of the return leg, with over two years' worth of work in qualifying now coming down to two dates in November for Hossam Hassan's squad.
There's also the Mexico v. New Zealand playoff later in the day to follow, and we'll be back shortly after the end of proceedings in Amman to talk about whether or not there's a chance to see Luis Suarez competing in Brazil next summer. He'll probably still be a Liverpool player at that point. At least for a week or two, I think.