Barely three weeks into the new European season and the international games are back. The clubs had only begun to find their footing in the new campaign but are already interrupted with a spate of international friendlies and World Cup qualifiers lined-up over the course of a fortnight.
Here are five fixtures to look forward to this week:
#1 Belgium vs Spain – 2nd September (IST)
After an unsuccessful Euro championship, these two European giants have a point to prove. Both sides have been drawn into challenging groups for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers and begin their preparations with a high-profile friendly in Brussels.
The hosts have a change of guard as Roberto Martinez gears up for his first taste of international football. Marc Wilmots was given the boot after Belgium’s disappointing outing in France, and now the Red Devils begin a new era under the former Everton manager.
The story’s quite similar in the Spanish camp too. After a very limp defence of their title, Vincente del Bosque stepped down from the hotseat to make way for Julen Lepotegui and ‘La Roja’ will be hoping to rebuild their status under him, after falling off the perch in del Bosque’s last 2 years at the helm.
The sides were supposed to meet in November last year, but the unrest caused by Paris attacks led to the cancellation of the tie.
Both new managers are in for a baptism of fire.
Venue: King Baudouin stadium, Brussels, Belgium
Date and Time: 12:15 AM (IST), Friday, 2nd September 2016
#2 Italy vs France
It’s ten years since the epic World Cup final in Berlin in 2006. Although both sides have undergone a sea of change since, the sight of Zinedine Zidane headbutting Marco Materazzi would always be associated with this tie.
Les Blues will set out to banish the heart-break of the Euro finals to embark on a new era, whereas the Azzurri's begin life under new manager Giampiero Ventura. Both teams showed a lot of promise in the European championship this year, so the expectations for the next World Cup is palpable.
The neighbors haven’t met since the French claimed a 2-1 victory back in 2012, but the excitement ahead of their latest encounter remains the same.
Venue: Stadio San Nicola, Bari, Italy
Date and Time: 12:30AM (IST), Friday, 2nd September 2016
#3 Switzerland vs Portugal
Following the historic triumph in Paris last month, newly crowned European champions Portugal, begin their quest for the Russian World Cup with a difficult away trip to Switzerland, sans their skipper Cristiano Ronaldo, who is still recovering from the injury he sustained in the finals.
The Seleccao are to be felicitated prior to their friendly against Gibraltar midweek, following which they travel north to take on the Swiss for the opening fixture of the World Cup qualifiers.
All eyes will be on the reigning champions as they play their first official game since the Euro triumph, and with Ronaldo on the sidelines, they have their task cut-out.
Venue: St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland
Date and Time: 12:15AM (IST), Wednesday, 7th September 2016
#4 Argentina vs Uruguay
With Lionel Messi announcing his return to the team, do you need any better reason to watch this game? The Barcelona ace reversed his decision of international retirement, following the Copa America defeat to Chile in June, much to the euphoria of the Argentinians fans.
For the first time since that fateful day in New Jersey, Messi will be donning the sky blue and white of the Albiceleste.
Whilst the home side will be yearning for their returning hero, Luis Suarez, at other end, can play the role of party-pooper. The Uruguayan legend returns to the fold, having sat out his side’s disastrous exit at the Copa Centenario.
With 4 goals in as many appearances in the new season already, is raring to re-open his account for La Celeste.
Venue: Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza, Argentina
Date and Time: 05:00AM (IST), Friday, 2nd September 2016
#5 Brazil vs Colombia
The nation of Brazil erupted into wild celebrations when their football team, led by Neymar, struck gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics, beating Germany, as they gained some measure of revenge for their humiliating 7-1 loss at the hands of Mannschaft in the World Cup two years ago.
However, the Seleccao have little time to revel in the glory as they now turn their attention towards the qualifiers.
Following a facile trip to Ecuador, Tite’s men welcome Colombia in Manaus, a team against whom Neymar has had some really terrible moments in the recent past.
At the quarter-finals of the FIFA 2014 World Cup, the Barcelona maestro suffered a knock on his back that ruled him out for the rest of Brazil’s campaign, and the following year in the Copa America, he was sent off after a heated quarrel in the end that saw him headbutting a player.
The match against Los Cafeteros has spelt bad omen for Brazil’s talisman, but after leading them to their first-ever gold medal at the Olympic games this month, he will the confidence to carry his team to further heights and exorcise the demons of the past.
Venue: Arena de Amazonia, Manaus, Brazil
Date and Time: 06:15AM (IST), Wednesday, 7th September 2016
