Top 7 games to watch during the upcoming international break

Some really tasty fixtures on offer!

After a few manic weeks in club football, it’s time for the players to resume international duties once again as we have a whole host of matches coming up over the next 12 days.

The international break kicks off with several friendlies and will be followed by competitive games, as Europe resumes its Nations League commitments while the 2022 World Cup qualifiers begin in many other parts of the world.

If you’re unsure about the fixtures and hence don’t know what to look forward to, worry not, we have curated a list of the seven best games you can binge upon:

#7 England vs Wales (International friendly, 8th Oct)

The neighboring British sides have seldom met since the last few decades, whilst their latest clash also marks the first duel between them since the historic Euro 2016 clash in France. However, given the Nations League double-header right after this, both England and Wales might opt to play much weaker teams for the Wembley showpiece. Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate is even said to name a bigger squad, meaning several new players will have the chance to cut teeth.

#6 Portugal vs Spain (International friendly, 7th Oct)

Another potentially cracking affair which might instead be a damp squib, Portugal and Spain will resume hostilities, in the first Iberian derby since the 3-3 thriller at the World Cup, two years ago. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick that night but may have to sit out of this clash, like several other first-teamers, given the Seleccao play France and Sweden in the Nations League soon after.

#5 Uruguay vs Chile (World Cup qualifier, 8th Oct)

Over in South America, teams resume international duties for the first time in almost a year as the 2022 World Cup qualifiers for the CONMEBOL zone kick-off this month. Our pick of the first round is the match between Uruguay and Chile, who last played each other in the 2019 Copa America where Edinson Cavani struck late to hand Celeste the win. The home comfort this time around tilts the balance in their favor once again, but the Reds, who had failed to qualify for the Russian showpiece, will be hoping to get off to a resounding start this time around.

#4 Argentina vs Ecuador (World Cup qualifier, 13th Oct)

Argentina launches its World Cup qualifying campaign against Ecuador, who’s proved to be a thorn in its flesh in the recent times. La Tri also won the same fixture five years ago, though the Albiceleste will be bolstered by the return of skipper Lionel Messi, scorer of an amazing hat-trick in his last appearance against them which put his side on the plane to Russia.

#3 Italy vs Netherlands (Nations League, 14th Oct)

The Netherlands, runners-up in the competition last year, is currently trailing Italy in Group A1 after going down 1-0 at home to the Azzurri last month. They’ll obviously be aiming to bounce back, and even have all the major stars available for the clash, but the problem is, Italy hasn’t lost a competitive game at home in over a decade! A neck-to-neck encounter is on the cards.

#2 England vs Belgium (Nations League, 11th Oct)

Given the sheer number of attacking talents in both camps, England versus Belgium promises to be a cracker. They last met during the World Cup in 2018, in the group stage, and then in the third-place play-offs, with the Red Devils coming out on top on each occasion. Roberto Martinez’s side has also got off to a strong start in the Nations League this season, so the Three Lions can expect another hard-fought contest as they did in Russia.

#1 France vs Portugal (Nations League, 11th Oct)

For the first time since the Euro 2016 final, France and Portugal meet in a competitive match and interestingly enough, at the same venue where the latter clinched the Henry Delaunay trophy for its first piece of silverware. Even though both are heavy favorites to finish atop Group A3, only one of them can secure the passage to the semi-finals, so the winner of this match will gain an upper hand in that regard.