Germany v Brazil, England v Italy: Five reasons to be cheerful this international break

It’s the Netherlands against the Euro 2016 champions. Portugal, who beat Egypt 2-1 on Friday after a Cristiano Ronaldo brace, face an out-of-sorts Oranje, who lost 1-0 to England on Friday, in Switzerland. Yes, Switzerland – or the Stade de Genève to be precise.

Ronaldo has been in irresistible form of late.

Now this is one worth getting very excited for. The first meeting since Germany humiliated Brazil 7-1 on home soil in the 2014 World Cup semi-final. With a certain Neymar absent once more, don’t expect to see the shirts with his name on rolled out on this occasion. It may be a friendly, but this one in Berlin has an added edge.

Another occasion which sees England take on a fallen giant. Can the Three Lions build on the goodwill of Friday's 1-0 win against the Netherlands. If Gareth Southgate's men make it two wins from two victories, the country will be booking July 16 off work. You know, just in case…

Another mouth-watering clash. After breezing through qualifying, Spain clearly want to be tested before they head to Russia. This encounter sees the fourth-favourites host the fifth-favourites. Germany, Brazil and France stand ahead of them with the bookies, but both could shorten their odds with a convincing performance. Equally, both could drift if it all falls apart.

The hipster’s choice. Ahead of Iceland’s first-ever World Cup, and Peru’s first since 1982, the duo go head to head in the early hours next Wednesday. As appears to be the trend this month, it’s being played at a neutral venue – the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey. Coaches, players and fans of Argentina (in Iceland’s WC group) and France (in Peru’s WC group) will be watching this one closely, or a more ideally-timed replay at the very least.