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Salah v Mane II Fri 22:30
Liverpool club mates Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are set to do battle against each other once again when Egypt face Senegal with a spot at the World Cup on the line. The first leg of their qualifying play-off will take place in Cairo on March 25. After that, there is just a four-day gap between the second leg, which is set to be held on March 29 in Senegal. Between that fateful period, one of these nations will be heading to Qatar, and the other will be consumed by disappointment. Last time out, it was Mane who enjoyed the last laugh. He scored the decisive penalty to help Senegal beat Salah and Co in the Africa Cup of Nations final. The clash finished goalless at the end of the extra-time, before the tense shootout. A close encounter has been predicted between these two heavyweights once again. The Pharoahs are hell-bent on reaching a fourth World Cup, while their opponents this month are bidding for a third appearance on the biggest stage of them all. Both sides went to the World Cup in Russia in 2018, but crashed out in the group stage. In their bid to remain on the road to Qatar, they will first have to triumph in their own star-studded showdown, in which Salah and Mane will take the spotlight.
Italy and Portugal's World Cup showdown (Italy vs North Macedonia, Portugal vs Turkey) thur 22:45
It's been a testing season for Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United, and it could yet get even worse for him. That is because, sensationally, Portugal are at real risk of failing to qualify for the World Cup - a previously unthinkable prospect. The suspense can be traced all the way back to Aleksandar Mitrovic's last-gasp winner for Serbia against Ronaldo and Co. His goal helped his team qualify for Qatar and, in the same swoop, condemned Portugal to the play-off route. That also meant that one of Italy and Portugal, both giants of the globe, would not make the finals, given they were drawn on the same qualification pathway. Italy and Portugal make up part of the 10 second-placed finishers from their groups, and they find themselves on the same route as North Macedonia and Turkey. The former will take on North Macedonia, while Portugal were drawn with the latter. Euro 2020 winners Italy could miss out on their second consecutive World Cup, while Portugal have reached the prestigious tournament every time since 2002.
England debutants hope to shine (Eng vs Swiz friendly sato 26th 20:30)
Crystal Palace, take a bow. Under Patrick Vieira, they have enjoyed some swashbuckling moments this season, with a youthful and eager team stepping up to the fore and delivering the thrilling football their supporters have cried out for. Now, they have been rewarded by two of their players being named in the England squad for the first time in 30 years. Defender Marc Guehi and Conor Gallagher, the creative midfielder on loan from Chelsea, caught the eye of Gareth Southgate. For Guehi, he may make this senior debut. He has captained the Under-21 side during his meteoric career, and has been handed a promotion by the senior boss after impressing this campaign with a series of formidable displays at the back. As for the wily Gallagher, he is in line for his second England appearance. His debut came as a half-time substitute against San Marino in World Cup qualifying last November, and he has since done more than enough to remain in the reckoning. Another notable name to have received a call-up to the big time is Tyrick Mitchell, again of Palace. As Sportsmail reported, the 22-year-old full back has been firmly on the radar of Southgate, and has stepped in after a handful of recent drop-outs.
Wales' play-off semi-final showdown (Wales vs Austria Thur 22:45)
This truly is a make-or-break international break for a host of countries, with Wales included in this. They face Austria in their World Cup play-off semi-final, and are hoping that talisman Gareth Bale will be fit for the clash after his injury woes. Indeed, Bale missed out on Real Madrid's thumping El Clasico defeat because he 'didn't feel well', according to Carlo Ancelotti, with reports in Spain claiming that the forward, the captain of his country, was suffering from back pain. The winner of Wales and Austria's showdown will take on the winner of Scotland's tie with Ukraine, a game that has understandably been postponed as a result of Russia's invasion. That match may take place in the Nations League window in June. After that, the play-off final will follow in the same month.
Liverpool club mates Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are set to do battle against each other once again when Egypt face Senegal with a spot at the World Cup on the line. The first leg of their qualifying play-off will take place in Cairo on March 25. After that, there is just a four-day gap between the second leg, which is set to be held on March 29 in Senegal. Between that fateful period, one of these nations will be heading to Qatar, and the other will be consumed by disappointment. Last time out, it was Mane who enjoyed the last laugh. He scored the decisive penalty to help Senegal beat Salah and Co in the Africa Cup of Nations final. The clash finished goalless at the end of the extra-time, before the tense shootout. A close encounter has been predicted between these two heavyweights once again. The Pharoahs are hell-bent on reaching a fourth World Cup, while their opponents this month are bidding for a third appearance on the biggest stage of them all. Both sides went to the World Cup in Russia in 2018, but crashed out in the group stage. In their bid to remain on the road to Qatar, they will first have to triumph in their own star-studded showdown, in which Salah and Mane will take the spotlight.
Italy and Portugal's World Cup showdown (Italy vs North Macedonia, Portugal vs Turkey) thur 22:45
It's been a testing season for Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United, and it could yet get even worse for him. That is because, sensationally, Portugal are at real risk of failing to qualify for the World Cup - a previously unthinkable prospect. The suspense can be traced all the way back to Aleksandar Mitrovic's last-gasp winner for Serbia against Ronaldo and Co. His goal helped his team qualify for Qatar and, in the same swoop, condemned Portugal to the play-off route. That also meant that one of Italy and Portugal, both giants of the globe, would not make the finals, given they were drawn on the same qualification pathway. Italy and Portugal make up part of the 10 second-placed finishers from their groups, and they find themselves on the same route as North Macedonia and Turkey. The former will take on North Macedonia, while Portugal were drawn with the latter. Euro 2020 winners Italy could miss out on their second consecutive World Cup, while Portugal have reached the prestigious tournament every time since 2002.
England debutants hope to shine (Eng vs Swiz friendly sato 26th 20:30)
Crystal Palace, take a bow. Under Patrick Vieira, they have enjoyed some swashbuckling moments this season, with a youthful and eager team stepping up to the fore and delivering the thrilling football their supporters have cried out for. Now, they have been rewarded by two of their players being named in the England squad for the first time in 30 years. Defender Marc Guehi and Conor Gallagher, the creative midfielder on loan from Chelsea, caught the eye of Gareth Southgate. For Guehi, he may make this senior debut. He has captained the Under-21 side during his meteoric career, and has been handed a promotion by the senior boss after impressing this campaign with a series of formidable displays at the back. As for the wily Gallagher, he is in line for his second England appearance. His debut came as a half-time substitute against San Marino in World Cup qualifying last November, and he has since done more than enough to remain in the reckoning. Another notable name to have received a call-up to the big time is Tyrick Mitchell, again of Palace. As Sportsmail reported, the 22-year-old full back has been firmly on the radar of Southgate, and has stepped in after a handful of recent drop-outs.
Wales' play-off semi-final showdown (Wales vs Austria Thur 22:45)
This truly is a make-or-break international break for a host of countries, with Wales included in this. They face Austria in their World Cup play-off semi-final, and are hoping that talisman Gareth Bale will be fit for the clash after his injury woes. Indeed, Bale missed out on Real Madrid's thumping El Clasico defeat because he 'didn't feel well', according to Carlo Ancelotti, with reports in Spain claiming that the forward, the captain of his country, was suffering from back pain. The winner of Wales and Austria's showdown will take on the winner of Scotland's tie with Ukraine, a game that has understandably been postponed as a result of Russia's invasion. That match may take place in the Nations League window in June. After that, the play-off final will follow in the same month.