This marks the final occasion when national teams will lace up their boots for matches in August. The FIFA date at the beginning of the European championships, which had faced substantial criticism, has been recently removed by the global governing body. In the interim, there are some intriguing encounters on the horizon for this last…
In Europe, football match enthusiasts can anticipate some high-stakes clashes akin to World Cup or Euro finals. An enticing Italy-England match is on the cards, although the Squadra Azzura will be without Mario Balotelli, and England will miss their goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Spain embarks on a lengthy journey to South America to take on Puerto Rico, and Germany plays host to Lionel Messi’s Argentina. Fresh from their Olympic vice-champion title in London, Brazil squares off against Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Sweden. Fans will closely watch matches like France-Uruguay, which marks Didier Deschamps’ debut as the head of the French national team.
Mexico, having secured the Olympic title in London, faces the United States, and Eden Hazard’s Belgium confronts the Netherlands led by Wesley Sneijder and their new coach, Louis van Gaal. Ukraine, now without the presence of Andriy Shevchenko, goes up against the Czech Republic, a team that impressed during the recent Euro.
