International Friendlies: 5 Questions for Biggest Games This Weekend

This weekend's international friendlies are ultimately meaningless, but they don't have to be pointless.

International football teams will face off in friendly matches around the globe this weekend, and while the matches won't have any bearing on any major tournaments, several could prove instructive for fans, players and media.

Here are five such games and the important questions to bring into each.

Whatcha Got, Roy?

Roy Hodgson was a somewhat surprising choice as England's new manager, but the former West Bromwich Albion boss brings loads of experience to his new post.

Before taking the reins for his native England, Hodgson managed Switzerland at the 1994 World Cup, where the Swiss finished second in their group and lost to Spain in the Round of 16.

Hodgson also has international experience with the United Arab Emirates and Finland, but his new post represents an entirely new challenge.

The England job has chewed up and spat out native sons for decades, and in recent years, big-name foreigners like Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello have given their best shot.

Now it's Roy's turn.

Hodgson took a conservative approach to selecting his first squad, but he has also shown glimpses of a willingness to do things his own way.

Now he faces his first match in charge. The opponent will be Norway away.

How will England play?

Who's the Favorite in the Group of Death?

Every major tournament features a Group of Death, and Euro 2012's deathly quartet is hardly difficult to spot.

Group B boasts three of the top five teams in the most recent FIFA World Rankings, and the fourth team, Denmark, is ranked 10th.

Leaving Denmark aside for a moment (more on them later), let's focus on the three favorites.

Germany, currently ranked second behind only Spain, are widely expected to challenge for the Euro 2012 title. Die Mannschaft impressed at World Cup 2010 two years ago with a young but talented squad, a group that now looks seasoned and poised for glory.

Holland, currently ranked fourth, reached the World Cup final two years ago. Their squad features world-class talents like Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Robin van Persie.

But Portugal, currently ranked fifth, might hold the trump card: Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured). At least, Dutch legend Ruud Gullit seems to think so:

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"While there are many stars determined to leave a mark in Poland and Ukraine, I will be keenly following the performance of a select few in the tournament, those whose quality should determine how their respective teams perform in the competition," Gullit wrote in a column for The Times of India. 

"One of them would be Cristiano Ronaldo. He has come into his own under Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid and will be keen to replicate that form in the national colours. If he does so, that will make him a very dangerous customer. He is fleet-footed and has the ability to score from any position."

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All three teams play winnable friendlies this weekend. The Germans visit neighbors Switzerland on Saturday, while the Dutch host Bulgaria and Portugal host Macedonia.

All three matches are meaningless, but they could show us which team or teams are finding their form at the right time.

In a group this tight, something as intangible and ephemeral as momentum could be decisive.

What About Denmark?

Lost in the hype surrounding Germany, Holland and Portugal is Group B's "other" team, Denmark.

The Danes are clearly rank outsiders in the group, but on the other hand, they currently sit 10th in FIFA's World Rankings.

So, can Denmark make an impression this summer at Euro 2012? Saturday's match against Brazil might give us a clue or two.

The Danes are listed as the home team, but the game is being played in Hamburg's Volksparkstadion. That's close to home, but it's still not a home game.

And anyway, the opponents hail from Brazil.

Playing Brazil at any time—whether it's in the knockout stages of the World Cup or a meaningless international friendly such as this—is always a stiff test for any team. But even with three blank names, Denmark's squad features some exciting names like Ajax's Christian Eriksen.

If Denmark pass this test, it might be time to start taking them a bit more seriously.

What Is Spain Up To?

Spain won Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010, so they enter Euro 2012 as an obvious favorite.

No team, however, has ever won any combination of three straight titles in those two competitions.

Spain's squad is strong enough to change that. Iker Casillas remains at or near the top of the list among world-class goalkeepers, and the midfield—led by Xavi and Andres Iniesta—is historically excellent.

But the bulk of Spain's roster is made up of players from Real Madrid and Barcelona. While both teams played impressive football this season, both were eliminated in the semifinals of the Champions League.

In fact, Barcelona's slick passing game was stopped in its tracks by Chelsea's all-out defensive tactics—derogatorily dubbed "parking the bus."

Spain's engine room is powered by Barcelona-style passing. So an obvious question heading into Euro 2012 is how Spain will deal with the potential threat of more teams parking the bus.

Does manager Vicente del Bosque have a Plan B?

Saturday's friendly against Serbia in Switzerland might give us an answer. Then again, if Serbia attack, we might have to wait until Euro 2012 begins.

Wie Geht's, Jurgen?

Outside the United States, Team USA's Saturday night friendly match against Scotland probably isn't generating much interest.

Stateside, however, the game will be must-see TV.

That's not just because Clint Dempsey was one of the English Premier League's top players this past season. He was, of course, but the cause for excitement is the changing focus of manager Jurgen Klinsmann and the team.

When Klinsmann, a World Cup winner, took over from Bob Bradley last year, he indicated that his focus was evaluating players and refining the United States' style of play.

Now he says it's all about results.

February's victory over Italy in Italy was a fantastic result.

What's next for Jurgen and the Yanks?

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