10 Players to Watch in World Football This Weekend of March 27-31
Club football largely takes a back seat this time around, as it's an international week, so the focus of most of our players to watch for the weekend is naturally on those who are away with their countries.
We've got friendlies, Euro 2016 qualifiers and the ongoing MLS to take a look at, with a range of players both experienced and brand new to international football to check in on.
Here are our 10 players to watch over the coming days, taking in Friday to Tuesday as a result of the schedule.
Koke, Spain
1 of 10
Atletico Madrid's dynamo in midfield, whether playing centrally or from the left, Koke heads into this international break in tremendous form and will no doubt play a key role for Spain in their games against Ukraine, a qualifier, and the Netherlands, a friendly.
Koke will likely play as one of the two more offensive central midfielders for his nation in the first game, looking to link with the attack and break down the eastern European side, who currently stand level on points with Spain.
A win is vital with Spain being at home.
Memphis Depay, Netherlands
2 of 10
The Netherlands obviously face Spain in the friendly match next week, but before that, have a qualifier at home to Turkey to navigate.
Having had a woeful start to their qualification campaign, the Dutch are in need of positive results to ensure they get to Euro 2016. They are currently in third place, three points off the pace for the automatic spots.
Memphis Depay has been in awesome form for PSV of late and will likely play a critical role if the Netherlands are to open up Turkey, either playing from the left side or being given a more central roaming role. He can create and score, and his pace opens up gaps for others to exploit too.
Roberto Firmino, Brazil
3 of 10
Brazil face two friendly matches over the coming days, against France and Chile.
A few less celebrated names and faces in the latest squad were always probable, with Dunga still searching for his preferred front line in particular. Attacking midfielder Roberto Firmino has been handed another call-up as he looks to add to his two caps to date, with the Hoffenheim star certainly capable of stepping up and becoming a regular for his nation.
He'll need to not just perform well from a creative viewpoint, but also show he can link midfield to attack and get into dangerous areas himself. The scoring burden can't rest solely on Neymar's shoulders, and being a scoring presence from deeper will endear Firmino to his manager.
Harry Kane, England
4 of 10
England have called uncapped Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane into their squad for a qualifier against Lithuania and a friendly against Italy, with the in-form scorer expected to feature heavily during the two games.
He prepared for his maiden call-up by netting a hat-trick in his last league outing—so needless to say, expectations are already through the roof.
What Kane is capable of isn't yet clear; this is his first full season in the top flight. He has already exceeded most people's valuations of him and could simply be riding the crest of a wave—or paving the way toward a career near the top.
Marco Reus, Germany
5 of 10
Germany played out a 2-2 draw in a friendly with Australia on Wednesday. Jogi Low experimented with an altered tactical system that featured a two-man attack of Mario Gotze and Marco Reus.
The latter was the more effective and productive, scoring one and creating danger with his runs into the area—though he should have doubled his tally soon after scoring his first.
For the Euro 2016 qualifier against Georgia, Reus will be hoping to get the nod to lead the attack once more. He'll need to be clinical to breach a modest, yet deep and packed, defence that will not be as accommodating in breaking out of shape as Australia were.
Martin Odegaard, Norway
6 of 10
Real Madrid attacking midfielder Martin Odegaard continues to get headlines even though he has yet to make his senior debut for his new team. He has been named in Norway's full squad once more as they prepare for a qualifier in Croatia.
Having made a great start to qualifying, which has left them sitting in third place, Norway will be hopeful of taking a result from the group leaders and may look to use Odegaard as an impact sub.
The 16-year-old has three caps to his name already, has shown great technical ability and composure with his final ball and, when spaces eventually open up in what could be a very tight match, might just have the quality Norway need to open up the home defence.
Manolo Gabbiadini, Italy
7 of 10
Italy play Bulgaria in a Euro 2016 qualification match on Saturday before taking on England in a friendly shortly afterward.
With the Italians level on points with Croatia in Group H, second on goal difference, dropped points won't be expected. There are questions over who will lead the line and who could net the goals at present. The top scorer in international football in the current squad is centre-back Giorgio Chiellini, who has just six—none of the strikers selected have more than one.
As such, there's an opportunity for someone to make their case for regular inclusion, with Napoli's Manolo Gabbiadini perhaps best placed to do so. He has 10 goals in league play this term, mostly scored with Sampdoria in the first half of the campaign, and the 23-year-old will be looking to net his first for his nation.
Makoto Hasebe, Japan
8 of 10
Japan's fairly abysmal showing at the Asian Cup in January unsurprisingly led to the departure of coach Javier Aguirre. His replacement, Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic, is now set for his first matches in charge—friendlies against Tunisia and Uzbekistan.
While neither are heavyweights of world football, both will provide a reasonable test for Japan and give Halilhodzic a chance to get a good look at the players he has selected, both new faces and experienced ones.
Changes are inevitable, so a keen eye will be focused on the performance (and selection) of national captain Makoto Hasebe. The midfielder can control games, help win back the ball and is tactically reliable. At 31, he still has mobility to go with his experience, assuming the new boss still places his faith in him.
Michy Batshuayi, Belgium
9 of 10
Belgium face games against Cyprus and Israel this international break, both Euro 2016 qualification matches, so the pressure will be on to get maximum points and boost their stuttering campaign, which has left them lying fourth—outside the playoffs.
While it might be expected that Christian Benteke will lead the line, uncapped striker Michy Batshuayi has been called up as a result of some lightning form for Marseille over the past few weeks, both from the bench and as a starter.
He provides his nation with an in-form option to change things around and looks confident, capable and clinical.
Tesho Akindele, FC Dallas
10 of 10
Our sole club representative this weekend comes from Major League Soccer, which continues its 2015 season despite the departure of many players for international duty.
As such, it could be an opportunity for those on the fringes of the first team to stake their claim, with Tesho Akindele one such case. The FC Dallas attacker has been heavily involved from the flanks for his team in the opening three games of the season, all of which Dallas has won.
They play 2014 Western Conference finalists Seattle Sounders on Saturday, with Akindele perhaps likely to get a central starting role in the absence of Blas Perez. The Panamanian has three goals in as many games but is away with his nation, leaving a hole Akindele believes he is capable of filling—at least in terms of finding the net if not actually playing centrally.
