sport news Scotland, Lionel Messi, David Beckham, Harry Maguire: winners and losers of the ... trends now
It was an eventful international break, with many managers using the chance to look at their players for the final time before the World Cup kicks off in November.
England's Harry Maguire endured a painful night against Germany on Monday, while Three Lions icon David Beckham's £10million ambassadorial role for World Cup host nation Qatar was blasted by former Man United team-mate Eric Cantona.
Meanwhile, Steve Clarke's resurgent Scotland sealed promotion to the top tier of the Nations League with a gritty draw against Ukraine, and Lionel Messi scored a superb double for Argentina to continue his fine form.
New Chelsea manager Graham Potter was handed a big fitness boost, while Arsenal's Mikel Arteta will be cursing his luck after several key injuries before the North London derby.
Below, Sportsmail takes a look at the winners and losers of the international break.
It was an eventful international break, with Scotland sealing their Nations League promotion
England defender Harry Maguire had a night to forget against Germany on Monday - and below
WINNERS
Resurgent Scotland battle through
John McGinn joked after the game that it was Scotland's 'second-best 0-0 win' after a goalless draw against Ukraine on Wednesday confirmed their promotion from Nations League Group B1.
Looking back at the celebrations after a stalemate against eventual finalists England at Euro 2020, which gave them their only point as they finished rock bottom of the group, just shows how far they have come.
Now that same result has left them shooting upwards into the competition's top tier, while their old foes from across the border are relegated. Yes, it was only a draw. But they were ravaged by injury and knew defeat in Krakow would see them fall short.
Steve Clarke's resurgent Scots battled through for the 'second-best 0-0 win' in their history
Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney, potentially the team's two best players, were out injured and were among the seven defenders missing in total. Scott McTominay was out too. A virus in the camp served only to bring the players together.
No longer are the Scots whipping boys at international level, and the result means promotion, a guaranteed spot in the Euro 2024 play-offs and a pot two seeding in the draw for Euros qualification. Not bad for a 0-0.
Among the other British sides, Northern Ireland avoided relegation and Wales - despite going down from their group - have an extremely united fanbase and a positive mood around the camp, exemplified by actor Michael Sheen's rousing speech.
It was a tricky season of adaptation for Lionel Messi at Paris Saint-Germain last year, at least in terms of goals and assists.
A total of 11 goals in all competitions (six in the league) was the same total as Southampton central midfielder James Ward-Prowse and Norwich's Teemu Pukki.
Different leagues, of course, but not exactly setting the world alight for a record seven-time Ballon d'Or winner and one of the greatest players of all time.
With long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo netting 24 in all competitions last campaign, CR7 fans were happy to pronounce the 'GOAT' debate over. Yet this season, their fortunes have been reversed.
Ronaldo is under pressure with Portugal and only has one goal this season, a penalty against Moldovan minnows Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League. Meanwhile, Messi is finally clicking in PSG's all-star front three, with six goals in 11 games for his club.
The 35-year-old wizard only came on in the 56th minute against Jamaica on Wednesday, but managed to score a quickfire double, including a superb low free-kick. He looks in fine fettle again.
Lionel Messi (above) scored a superb brace for Argentina, continuing his fine form this season
It took bravery for Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz to publicly call out Brazilian journalist Milton Neves online for his disrespectful tweet about Luiz' girlfriend Alisha Lehmann on Tuesday.
The controversial 71-year-old had sparked fury as he tweeted a clip of Lehmann - who plays for Villa women's team - celebrating a goal by jumping and turning her back.
The video, shared on social media, appears to zoom in on her backside during a goal celebration and ends with the question: 'Without rewinding the video what number was on her shirt?'. Neves posted the video with the caption 'watch and comment'.
Luiz hit back: 'You’re old, years in soccer and you post a video that does not respect women's soccer or the player herself, who is also my girlfriend. You have not learned what respect is, that's bulls***.'
Players can't be expected to respond to every negative tweet but it was nice to see someone challenge a nasty remark on social media.
It took bravery for Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz to hit out at Brazilian journalist TV star Milton Neves, who has 2.2million followers, over his tweet about footballer Alisha Lehmann
Brazilian Luiz is in a relationship with Lehmann (left), who plays for Aston Villa's women's side
Graham Potter gets timely boost
Although it's been unstable off the pitch at Stamford Bridge - with a sporting director not yet appointed, head physio Thierry Laurent axed on Zoom on Tuesday and medical chief Paco Biosca exiting on Saturday - things look rosier on the field.
With new manager Graham Potter set to lead the Blues against Crystal Palace on Saturday in their first Premier League game since he took over and just a 1-1 draw against Red Bull Salzburg under his belt so far, he needed some good news.
That arrived on Tuesday with the announcement that influential defensive midfielder N'Golo Kante is back in training after missing six games with a hamstring problem, with first choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and Christian Pulisic now fit too.
While lots of club managers have been crossing their fingers none of their players get injured with their countries, Potter has got three back ahead of a busy run of fixtures which will see them contest nine matches across the month of October.
