With the Copa America starting this week – adding to a busy summer of international football alongside the Women’s World Cup, Nations League and Africa Cup of Nations – we’ve benchmarked this year’s teams against each other to see who might have the edge in Brazil.
Northern Ireland have picked up maximum points from their first three Euro 2020 qualifiers but may have to settle for a draw in Belarus on Tuesday. Michael O’Neill’s men needed an 87th-minute decider to beat the same opponents 2-1 in Belfast back in March and face a tricky test at Borisov Arena.
Spain look a class apart in Euro 2020 qualifying Group F and can kick off with a smooth success against Norway at the Mestalla in Valencia. The Scandinavian side have not reached a major tournament since 2000 and still appear short of star quality heading into this campaign.
Portugal have been handed what looks a pretty straightforward start to the defence of their European Championship crown when entertaining Ukraine. The visitors, now coached by Andriy Shevchenko, are no mugs but they have always tended to struggle up front when coming up against elite-level nations.
With the UEFA Nations League now on hold until the summer, the England national team can turn its attention to the qualifying campaign for Euro 2020. Ahead of the first matches kicking off later this week, we’ve analysed data on every qualifying campaign since Euro 96 to see what might be in store for Gareth Southgate’s young side.
Austria and Poland both go into Euro 2020 qualifying with very experienced squads and are hard to split ahead of Thursday’s Group G opener in Vienna. With Israel, Slovenia, Latvia and Macedonia the other teams in this section, each manager may well be satisfied with a share of the spoils to start out.
Qatar have been a revelation at the 2019 Asian Cup but Japan have the pedigree to ensure their fairytale run to the final does not have a happy ending. The Samurai Blue have lifted this trophy four times in the last seven renewals, coming out on top each time they have reached the decider.
Brazil have rattled off five straight international friendly wins since the World Cup and are expected to extend that sequence by beating Cameroon in Milton Keynes. The Selecao did not concede a goal in any of those victories and another clean-sheet triumph looks on the cards.
Brazil have secured four straight friendly victories since the World Cup and are fancied to extend that winning sequence when taking on Uruguay at Emirates Stadium. La Albiceleste seem less determined to do well in such matches, having lost 2-1 in South Korea and 4-3 in Japan last month.
Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland have both been struggling to sparkle of late and we’re expecting a tense tussle when they meet in Dublin on Thursday. Each team is facing relegation in the newly-formed Nations League and scoring goals has been a real problem for these Emerald Isle rivals.
Scotland were booed off by their own fans following Thursday’s 2-1 loss in Israel and face another tough test when hosting Portugal in Sunday’s international friendly. The visitors are missing Cristiano Ronaldo but continued a good run of form when prevailing 3-2 in Poland without their talisman.
Wales face a daunting task when taking on Spain and it is hard to see the hosts getting anything out of Thursday night’s international friendly in Cardiff. Luis Enrique has made a flying start to his reign as La Roja boss, beating England and Croatia in the Nations League.
Martin O’Neill will take a depleted Republic of Ireland squad to Poland for Tuesday’s international friendly and we fear more misery for the men in green. Robert Lewandowski is poised to celebrate his 100th international cap for the hosts, who will be keen to make the occasion even more memorable with a win.
Michael O’Neill called Northern Ireland’s Nations League defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina “a sore one” and Israel may feel the backlash at Windsor Park. The hosts are 66 places above their opponents in the FIFA rankings and are traditionally strong when playing in front of their own fans.