An unprecedented period of European dominance of international football could be about to come to an end.

Like most of the country, I find it pretty hard to watch England play during the international break. However I can’t get enough of the late-night South American World Cup Qualifiers.

The decision to put all ten national teams from the continent into one marathon round-robin qualifying group must rank as one of the best ever made in football

Right from the moment qualifying begins, three years before the World Cup, every game is meaningful, and most are high-quality. Even notably poor teams like Bolivia can provide viewers with some interest as top sides struggle in the altitude of La Paz.

What’s more, South America will be sending its strongest group of teams to Russia in at least 12 years. With Spain in transition, Germany failing to achieve the greatness they threatened in Brazil and Italy having a particularly weak group of players, the 2018 World Cup should see a realignment in international football.

A few months ago, Brazil had arguably their worst team ever. But it turns out that all they needed was a decent coach.

Brazil’s football federation, the CBF, tended to give too many chances to insiders. But in July they were forced to get serious when Dunga, in his second ill-fated spell with the national team, led them to elimination from a Copa America group containing Peru, Ecuador and Haiti.

In his place comes Tite, who won Corinthians’ first ever Copa Libertadores in 2012 with the kind of solid defending Brazil hasn’t seen in over a decade. Since Tite took over, Brazil have gone from worrying about whether they’d even get to Russia to topping South American qualification by four points. Philippe Coutinho, Neymar and Gabriel Jesus now form one of the most frightening front lines in international football. The only question is whether they have peaked too soon.

Last Thursday night, Brazil’s victims were Argentina. In one of the most one-sided meetings ever between the two sides, the seleção romped to a 3-0 win which could have easily been double figures. That win left the Argentines in 6th place and in serious danger of not qualifying for the World Cup at all.

But beware the wounded animal. All Argentina’s problems seemed to disappear in a 3-0 win at home to Colombia yesterday. In recent years, watching Argentina has been like watching some kind of stand-off between Lionel Messi and the rest of the front players.

Messi seemed to believe his national team-mates were as capable as those at Barcelona, and if he just played some incisive through balls, he would create goals. However, the likes of Higuain, Di Maria and Aguero, when he plays, seemed to believe the hype about Messi being the greatest player ever and wait for him to take the responsibility of scoring goals.

Coach Edgardo Bauza had started poorly and come in for criticism, even though he is highly qualified and led San Lorenzo to their first ever Copa Libertadores. But last night, he got it tactically spot on. He dropped Higuain to the bench, and Aguero to fourth choice, to make way for Atletico Mineiro target man Lucas Pratto. The message was clear, that Messi would no longer sit deep and play the quarterback role. Instead he would run with the ball, press and take responsibility for every Argentina attack.

In response, the Argentina captain realised that if he wanted something done he would have to do it himself, and delivered a stunning free kick and two brilliant assists. He sounded like Maradona when he called for the team to ‘change this s**t’ after the Brazil loss and he played like him against the Colombians.

Then there is Chile, probably the most entertaining national team in the world. Their fast-paced attacking football is a match for anyone, and a team that can beat Argentina in two Copa America finals in two years is a force to be reckoned with.

Finally Uruguay look like they will easily qualify, and will be desperate to make an impact at what may be Luis Suarez’s last tournament. A more mature Jose Gimenez partnering Diego Godin should also mean they have a stronger defensive pairing than ever.

Strangely, the team that have dropped off were the outstanding team of the last World Cup. Colombia bag a hatful against lesser sides but when they face the top teams they don’t look like they have a plan or any ability to score a goal.

Expect them to vie with Ecuador, who have the altitude advantage at home, for 5th place and a playoff against Oceania’s best team.

But whichever South American teams end up qualifying, the days when Europe had it easy could soon be well and truly over.