International football friendlies: Belgium, Netherlands set for good preparation
European teams will warm up for their Nations League campaigns. Get the full schedule, India start times and watch the international friendlies live.
The second international break of the 2020-21 season begins this week, but the Indian football team will not be seen in action as yet.
The Sunil Chhetri-led team were scheduled to travel to Bangladesh and face Afghanistan at home in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. However, those have now been pushed to 2021 in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead, Indian football stars are now at camps preparing for the start of the Indian Super League (ISL), the country’s premier domestic competition, on November 20.
Warm-up friendlies
However, football fans in India will still have a lot of action to look forward to this week as several European teams play friendlies to warm up for another round of the UEFA Nations League.
Portugal play Andorra but could be without captain Cristiano Ronaldo after the five-time Ballon d’Or winner hobbled off with an injury in Juventus’ 1-1 draw with Lazio on Sunday.
Top-ranked Belgium take on a formidable opponent in Switzerland. The FIFA World Cup semi-finalists will likely play without talisman Eden Hazard, who is carrying a minor injury though he has been included in the squad.
Belgium coach Roberto Martinez though did sound confident about the availability of record striker Romelu Lukaku, who has missed the last two matches for his club Inter.
In a blockbuster friendly clash this week, the Netherlands welcome Spain at home. The Dutch are without star centre-back Virgil Van Dijk as he recovers from knee surgery.
Spain, meanwhile, has called up Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin after four years, and Real Madrid attacker Marco Asensio. The latter replaces Barcelona youngster Ansu Fati, who is out with a knee injury while Bellerin comes in as a replacement for Jesus Navas.
International friendlies: Fixtures, schedule and times for India
All times are in Indian Standard Time (IST)
Wednesday, November 11
Georgia vs Cyprus, 8.15 PM IST
Lithuania vs Faroe Islands, 10.30 PM IST
Malta vs Liechtenstein, 10.30 PM IST
Montenegro vs Kazakhstan, 10.30 PM IST
Norway vs Israel, 10.30 PM IST
Romania vs Belarus, 10.30 PM IST
San Marino vs Latvia, 10.30 PM IST
Bulgaria vs Gibraltar, 11 PM IST
Turkey vs Croatia, 11.15 PM IST
Thursday, November 12
Denmark vs Sweden, 12 AM IST
Albania vs Kosovo, 12.30 AM IST
Luxembourg vs Austria, 1 AM IST
Belgium vs Switzerland, 1.15 AM IST
Germany vs Czech Republic, 1.15 AM IST
Italy vs Estonia, 1.15 AM IST
The Netherlands vs Spain, 1.15 AM IST
Poland vs Ukraine, 1.15 AM IST
Portugal vs Andorra, 1.15 AM IST
Slovenia vs Azerbaijan, 1.15 AM IST
France vs Israel, 1.40 AM IST
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Iran, 4.30 PM IST
Friday, November 13
Wales vs USA, 1.15 AM IST
England vs Ireland, 1.30 AM IST
Japan vs Panama, 7.45 PM IST
Saturday, November 14
Qatar vs Costa Rica, 12.30 AM IST
Sunday, November 15
Mexico vs South Korea, 1.30 AM IST
Guatemala vs Honduras, 10.30 PM IST
Tuesday, November 17
USA vs Panama, 1.15 AM IST
Qatar vs South Korea, 6.30 PM IST
Wednesday, November 18
Japan vs Mexico, 1.30 AM IST
Where to watch international friendlies live in India
Select matches of the international friendlies will be broadcast live on the Sony TEN 1, Sony TEN 2, Sony TEN 3, Sony SIX, and their respective HD TV channels in India.
Live streaming of international friendlies in India will be on Sony LIV.