The best matches to watch during the international period

Whether it is finding out which three nations will progress through the playoffs to Euro 2024, seeing how two African giants shape up in their first post-AFCON fixture, or even watching several heavyweights slug it out in 'friendly' action, there will be plenty of entertainment to get stuck into.

Here, Sports Mole runs an eye over which games fans can expect to provide thrills and spills in the brief absence of club football.

Israel vs Iceland

With the draw long since concluded, three remaining slots in this summer's European Championship lineup will finally be filled over the coming days, as an intense series of playoffs take place around the continent.

A trio of finals are to be held on Tuesday March 26, the winners of which will complete a 24-team slate for the finals in Germany, but first, the semis are sure to offer plenty of drama.

Held in Hungary due to security issues caused by the ongoing war in Gaza, one tie pits together Iceland and 'hosts' Israel, with the Nordic nation openly expressing regret at having to play their opponents, both for political and humanitarian reasons: the teams meet in Budapest, not long after a group of 12 football associations called on FIFA to ban Israel from global participation.

Alon Hazan's squad, though, are only concerned with reaching the Euros, having come so close to automatic qualification when they finished just two points behind Switzerland in Group I.

Proving their potential, Israel's youngsters came third in last year's Under-20 World Cup, while the senior side have earned promotion to League A of the next UEFA Nations League.

Euro 2016 quarter-finalists Iceland held them to a pair of 2-2 draws during the last Nations League, so another close contest is expected on Thursday, when they will aim to beat Israel for the first time in six attempts.

The winner advances to a playoff final five days later, away to either Bosnia-Herzegovina or Ukraine.

Ghana vs Nigeria

West African powerhouses Ghana and Nigeria meet this month, with Marrakech playing host to a high-profile clash on Friday.

Not only will the 'friendly' fixture have some significance as both teams' first international fixture since the African Cup of Nations concluded in February, but they are also preparing for World Cup qualifiers with new managers in charge.

Of course, Ghana came out on top via the now-abolished away goals rule when the two nations last met, in the qualifying playoffs for Qatar 2022. Following a 1-1 aggregate draw, it was the Black Stars that progressed to the global finals, leaving Nigeria heartbroken - just as they were when losing the recent AFCON final to Ivory Coast in dramatic circumstances.

The Super Eagles are without a permanent head coach following Jose Peseiro's departure, so former Ajax winger Finidi George has temporarily stepped up from his assistant role - Finidi also led Enyimba to the NPFL title last season.

Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund development coach Otto Addo has taken over Ghana's national team, after Chris Hughton was axed during the Black Stars' group-stage exit in Ivory Coast.

Five of Addo's 26-man squad are fresh faces, but Ghana are still headlined by West Ham star Mohammed Kudus, who has been directly involved in 20 goals for the London club this season.

Nigeria may be without AFCON 'Most Valuable Player' William Troost-Ekong due to injury, but Bayer Leverkusen's Nathan Tella is among those called up for the latest meeting of two age-old rivals.

France vs Germany / Germany vs Netherlands

Ahead of an upcoming home finals, Germany's national team is far from its peak, and fears of another dismal exit are outweighing hopes of a glorious conclusion for the Euro 2024 hosts on July 14.

If Die Nationalmannschaft are to be present at Berlin's Olympiastadion for the Euros final, they have plenty of remedial work to do under young coach Julian Nagelsmann, who has made some typically radical changes since taking over from Hansi Flick last year.

After setbacks against Colombia, Japan, Turkey and Austria, now Germany will put themselves to perhaps the ultimate test in Paris, where neighbours France reign supreme - and the Netherlands should provide a thorough examination in Frankfurt three days later.

Nagelsmann has the chance to consider who might make the cut for his finals squad, with the returning Toni Kroos back on international duty following a two-year retirement; after injury, veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is also available this week.

Only world champions Argentina sit above France in the latest FIFA rankings, and despite the absence of Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman, Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps has a plethora of attacking talent to choose from.

France lost the nations' most recent friendly meeting 2-1 last September, when an Antoine Griezmann strike followed goals from Thomas Muller and Leroy Sane, but they will be characteristically confident of reversing that result on Saturday.

Then, next week, the Germans reconvene with their Dutch foes, as the pair resume a longstanding rivalry that truly kicked off in 1974, when the Netherlands agonisingly lost the World Cup final to West Germany.

They will meet again in next season's Nations League, so this game also serves as a precursor to upcoming contests in September and October.

Spain vs Brazil / England vs Brazil

Like their German counterparts, Brazil have endured some woes in the coaching department of late, so the Selecao will aim to get back on track under new boss Dorival Junior this week.

Losses to Uruguay, Colombia, and - worst of all - loathed rivals Argentina, saw Fernando Diniz end his strange stop-gap arrangement with the CBF, and rather than keeping the seat warm for preferred candidate Carlo Ancelotti, who has decided to stay in Madrid, 61-year-old Junior has taken the reins ahead of two glamorous games in Europe.

Brazil are set to take on Spain at Estadio Bernabeu, before following up with another evocative fixture at Wembley Stadium, where England will await.

Trying to get his squad in shape for this summer's Copa America - and the task of reversing their slow start to World Cup 2026 qualification - ex-Sao Paulo coach Junior is without injured quartet Casemiro, Ederson, Marquinhos and Gabriel Martinelli, plus long-term absentee Neymar.

Spain, meanwhile, have called up 17-year-old prodigy Pau Cubarsi following a series of outstanding displays in Barcelona's defence, and La Furia Roja can also turn to Cubarsi's fellow teenager Lamine Yamal for inspiration on Tuesday evening.

The Iberian nation will first kick off their Euro 2024 preparations with another attractive friendly against Colombia in London, but Brazil at the Bernabeu promises to be a particularly special occasion.

Joining Spain among the favourites to be crowned European champions later this year, England are sure to provide a stern test for the Brazilians on Saturday, when the five-time world champions make the pilgrimage to Wembley.

Unbeaten since the World Cup, the Three Lions were off-colour in the final rounds of Euros qualification - only beating Malta 2-0 and drawing in North Macedonia - but boss Gareth Southgate oversees a squad boasting Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, so will be expected to succeed in Germany.