Qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup has kicked off in spectacular, goal-filled style - including an 11-0 Canada win and a 14-0 victory for Japan
- It was goals galore in the latest round of World Cup qualifying.
- Belgium beat Belarus 8-0 and the Netherlands thumped Gibraltar 7-0.
- Japan produced a record breaking 14-0 win over Mongolia, while Canada won 11-0 vs. the Cayman Islands.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher described international soccer in 2016 as being "awful" and having "no excitement."
If he watched the latest round of 2022 World Cup qualifying, however, he will have probably changed his mind.
The crazy round of action started with Canada. The 73rd ranked team in world soccer pounded the Cayman Islands 11-0 in Florida in a game which included a hat-trick for Lucas Cavallini of the Vancouver Whitecaps, and two for Bayern Munchstarlet Alphonso Davies.
Action then shifted to Asia, where on Tuesday Japan recorded an astonishing 14-0 victory over Mongolia - the country's biggest ever win in World Cup qualifying.
Among those on the scoresheet for Hajime Moriyasu's side were a number of stars plying their trade in Europe.
Liverpool's Takumi Minamino, who is currently on-loan at Southampton, Eintracht Frankfurt's Daichi Kamada, and Werder Bremen's Yuya Osako - who netted a hat-trick - all bagged on the day.
Later that night in Europe, Belgium and the Netherlands also produced two stunning displays in wins over Belarus and Gibraltar.
Belgium beat Belarus 8-0 despite resting most star players for the tie, including Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Yannick Carrasco.
Head coach Roberto Martinez opted to give opportunities to a number of his fringe players instead, including Crystal Palace duo Michy Batshuayi and Christian Benteke - both of whom found the net on the night.
The Netherlands beat Gibraltar 7-0, despite having only found the net once in what was a wasteful first half.
Feyenoord's Steven Berghuis, FC Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong, Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum, PSV striker Daley Malen, and Manchester United outcast Donny van de Beek, were all on target for Frank de Boer's side, while Lyon's Memphis Depay bagged a brace.
Elsewhere, Portugal overcame a shaky start to beat minnows Luxembourg 3-1, Wales produced a shock 1-0 victory over the high flying Czech Republic, and Croatia beat Malta 3-0.
Turkey and Latvia also produced perhaps the most exciting game of the round, with the two nations seeing out a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul.
International soccer is many things, but right now, it certainly isn't boring.