Top 5 international fixtures to watch this week
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