5 big matches you must watch during the international break

After 90 days of electrifying action in club football, the leagues come to a temporary halt this week as international fixtures are set to resume and players are off to fulfill their national team commitments. The first international break of they year turns out to be a promising one with some really tantalizing fixtures lined up over the course of next week.Without any further ado, we take a look at the 5 most thrilling encounters to be played during this international break.

#1 France vs Brazil

Date: 26 March 2015

Venue: Stad de France, St.Denis, France.

Les Blues continue their preparations for Euro 2016 on home soil as they host old foes Brazil in their first competitive fixture of 2015. Didier Deschamps’ men are on a great run at home, unbeaten in their last eight home games and will look to extend their domestic dominance against a resurgent Brazil side who have bounced back remarkably from the World Cup debacle and have won all the six fixtures post the 2014 semi-final debacle.

The match also serves as a final chance for the Brazilian players to book a place in the upcoming Copa America squad as manager Dunga announces his final 23-man squad for the tournament to be held in June.

Hugo Lloris remains the only high profile French player to be off duty with an injury whereas Dunga has a full fledged squad to choose from with no injury layoffs plaguing his side.

#2 Netherlands vs Spain

Date: 31 March 2015

Venue: Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Having avenged their 2010 World Cup final heartbreak with a 5-1 demolition in the 2014 edition’s opener, the stuttering Dutchmen will look to get themselves back on track when they host an equally struggling Spanish side in Amsterdam, four days after their European commitments against Turkey in the same arena.

Guus Hiddink took over the mantle from the Manchester United bound Louis Van Gaal post the World Cup and now sees his job dangling by a thread after four defeats in six games since his appointment.

Their rivals from the South West, La Roja, endured a catastrophic time on Brazilian soil last summer and their adversities seems to have persisted post the event as they have lost three of their last six games and find themselves 3 points adrift of leaders Slovakia in their group in the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

Diego Costa will be the only notable absentee from Vicente Del Bosque's squad, who will be deputised by Malaga’s Juanmi whereas Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Ron Vlaar are the marquee absentees from the Dutch squad.

#3 Italy vs England

Date: 31 March 2015

Venue: Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy.

Another all European affair, Italy take on Roy Hodgson’s England in yet another exhilarating matchup lined up this week. The Azzurri have bounced back in a fine fettle after a dreadful World Cup and are unbeaten in all the 6 matches played since the World Cup. Antonio Conte of Juventus fame, succeeded Cesare Prandelli at the helm in September and seems to have resurrected an Italy squad that was at the crossroads after their impressive Euro 2012 assignment.

The Three Lions too, are enjoying a new lease of life, winning all six games since September and will also be gunning for a revenge for the 1-2 at the hands of the 2006 champions in the World Cup group game. However, they'll be without the services of Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana who are ruled out of the clash owing to the injuries they picked up during Liverpool’s game against Manchester United.

Conte will have to cope in the absence of the old guards Andrea Pirlo and Daniel De Rossi, both of whom are recuperating from injuries. Mirko Valdifiori, Eder and Franco Vazquez will be making their first ever appearance for Italy.

#4 Germany vs Australia

Date: 25 March 2015

Venue: Fritz-Walter Stadion, Kaiserslautern, Germany.

The World Champions have been jostling to emulate the World Cup heroics and head honcho Joachim Loew calls for “fire” in his squad when they entertain newly crowned Asian champions Australia and test their mettle prior to their trip to Georgia for the Euro qualifiers. The Socceroos, fresh from their Asia Cup success, will come all guns blazing and will aim to emulate their shock 2-1 triumph over the Germans in 2011.

Loew, who recently extended his contract, will be without Manuel Neuer, who has an infection in the meniscus in his knee but welcomes back captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and Holger Badstuber after long term injuries. And as for the visitors, they'll have to make do in the absence of the veterans Tim Cahill (achilles tendon) and defender Matthew Spiranovic (hamstring).

Midfielder Massimo Luongo and striker Tomi Juric are also under injury clouds.

#5 Brazil vs Chile

Date: 29 March 2015

Venue: Emirates Stadium, London, England.

After the French toast, Dunga and will his men will be up against familiar rivals Chile, in their second of four dress rehearsals prior to embarking on the Copa America quest in Chile from mid-June.

While the Alexis Sanchez led Chile will be gunning for revenge of their World Cup heartache at their hands, the Canarinhos will be buoyed by their impressive head-to-head record over their Latin-American counterparts: Won – 49, Drawn – 13 and Lost – 7.

What spices up the fixture is Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, where the game is going to be played out. So for all the anxious Arsenal fans, a priority period for the purchase of tickets have been allotted meaning Arsenal fans have been given the first rights for the purchase of tickets.

This will also be Brazil’s 7th trip to the Emirates, having played Scotland in 2011, Republic of Ireland in 2010, Italy in 2009, Sweden in 2008, Portugal in 2007 and Argentina in 2006.