Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo returns headline 2019's first round of internationals

Aditya Devavrat 16:55 20/03/2019
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  • Messi and Ronaldo make their international returns.

    And pause. After a dramatic month of club football that has seen some thrilling action across Europe’s top five leagues as well as the Champions League, it’s time to take a break as players go out on international duty.

    In Europe, qualifying for Euro 2020 begins this weekend, while there are a slate of friendlies all across the world as South American and African teams prepare for this summer’s Copa America and Africa Cup of Nations.

    Here’s a look at five of the must-watch games coming up this weekend.

    Argentina v Venezuela, Friday March 22 (GST: 00:00 +1), friendly

    Lionel Messi is back. After a self-imposed exile following Argentina’s disappointing last-16 exit from last year’s World Cup, the Barcelona star is back with his national team for their friendly against Venezuela at Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium as La Albiceleste begin their preparations for this summer’s Copa America.

    That tournament in Brazil will be the latest chance for Messi to end his long trophy drought in national team colours, though in all likelihood he will be around for the 2022 World Cup and spearhead possibly his last chance to win football’s biggest prize. But though criticisms about his inability to lead Argentina to glory have dogged him throughout his career, a harsher spotlight has begun to shine on his team-mates. The worry for Argentina is whether they may end up wasting the talents of arguably the greatest player in football history by never figuring out how to win with him.

    He’s in superlative form for Barcelona and heads into this game on the back of a stunning hat-trick last weekend. Venezuela beware.

    Netherlands v Germany, Sunday March 24 (GST: 23:45), Euro 2020 qualifier 

    Netherlands v Germany is always a big game given the historic rivalry between the two sides, and recent events have only served to increase the magnitude of the upcoming clash.

    The Dutch rebounded from failing to qualify for the World Cup by storming through to the UEFA Nations League semi-finals, with the highlight of their group stage campaign a 3-0 win against Germany, the first time the Netherlands had ever beaten Die Mannschaft by three goals.

    For Germany, the shock of the group stage exit at the World Cup lingered into that Nations League campaign, and manager Joachim Low finally decided enough is enough, announcing last week that veteran trio Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, and Thomas Muller, all stars of the 2014 World Cup triumph and, just as crucially in terms of the politics surrounding German football, all three from Bayern Munich, would no longer be considered for national team selection.

    Was it necessary ruthlessness, or knee-jerk harshness from the German manager? Only time will tell, but there is a sense that Sunday’s game against their old foes is the start of a new era. No better way to make a statement than by winning in Amsterdam.

    Italy vs Finland, Saturday March 23 (GST: 23:45), Euro 2020 qualifier 

    Italy didn’t have the best UEFA Nations League campaign, winning only one of their four games and scoring only twice, though at least the defensive resilience traditionally associated with the Azzurri seemed to be back.

    Their opening qualifier against Finland is where Roberto Mancini’s work really begins, as he bids to ensure that a qualification campaign doesn’t end with a major tournament being missed out on for the second straight time.

    There is a young look to Italy’s squad, with 14 players under the age of 25 and young stars like 19-year-old Moise Kean and 21-year-old Federico Chiesa all making the cut, though the biggest talking point is the recall of 36-year-old Fabio Quagliarella, currently the leading scorer in Serie A.

    It’s a squad full of promise – not to mention, full of style, as they showed in an official team photo only Italy could pull off, with every player wearing Armani suits. Now they have to show up on the pitch on Saturday.

    Portugal v Ukraine, Friday March 22 (GST: 23:45), Euro 2020 qualifier

    Speaking of returning greats, Cristiano Ronaldo, like Messi fresh off an incredible hat-trick as he led Juventus into Champions League quarter-finals, is back with Portugal having missed their UEFA Nations League campaign – though the Euro 2016 champions qualified for the semi-finals without him, testament to the depth of talent emerging in Ronaldo’s home country.

    It may sadly have come too late for Ronaldo to make a serious bid at winning the World Cup, something Portugal have never done before, as he’ll be 37 by the time the Qatar tournament in 2022 rolls around. But as defending champions at the Euros, Portugal enter these qualifiers with a target on their backs. Friday’s clash against Ukraine is where it all kicks off.

    Japan v Colombia, Friday March 22 (GST: 14:20), friendly

    These two sides have met at each of the last two World Cups, with Colombia prevailing 4-1 in 2014 but Japan getting a measure of revenge last summer with a 2-1 win that helped them qualify from the group stages.

    This time around, the stakes are nowhere near as high for both teams, though newly-appointed Colombia manager Carlos Queiroz will want to make a good star to his tenure after his impressive reign as Iran boss.

    All eyes, as always, will be on James Rodriguez, set to be the biggest star on show at the Yokohama Stadium, ensuring that at least one Bayern Munich player will be the centre of attention for actually being on the pitch this weekend. Expect an intense, enjoyable game.

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