Theo Walcott playing for England place? Aritz Aduriz to stake Spain claim?
Thursday 24 March 2016 06:24, UK
With most international teams taking part in two friendlies over the coming week as preparations for Euro 2016 intensify, there are plenty of questions to be answered.
Some teams will be planning for the tournament in France, which is less than 100 days away, while others, such as Scotland, are looking further ahead.
We take a look at some of the key questions for the week ahead...
Crunch time for Walcott?
Given his recent form for Arsenal, it was not a certainty that Theo Walcott would be called up for England's friendlies against Germany and the Netherlands. The 27-year-old has made just three starts in the last 13 games for the Gunners and appears to have fallen behind academy graduate Alex Iwobi in the pecking order.
With Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck showing encouraging signs recently and Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Wayne Rooney looking lock-ins as long as they are fit, it's Walcott's place that could be most under threat.
"There are question marks," said Matt Le Tissier on Sky Sports News HQ. "Roy has put him in the squad and he will need to use that well if he is going to cement his place in the squad over the summer.
"The one thing we have learnt about Roy Hodgson is that he is very loyal to his players, if players have done well he will stick by them for as long as he can. That seems to be the case with Theo, even though he hasn't been in the greatest of form."
Hodgson's loyalty could be put to the test if Walcott's form does not improve.
How will Wales cope without Bale?
With seven goals in qualifying, Gareth Bale played a huge role in getting Wales to Euro 2016. He is also likely to be their main man in France as they look to emerge from a group containing England, Russia and Slovakia.
However, Wales will be without him for their friendlies with Northern Ireland and Ukraine following talks between the national team management and Real Madrid.
Aaron Ramsey will also be missing due to injury as will James Collins and Andy King, giving Chris Coleman a chance to rotate his squad and test out a few fringe players.
"You don't replace Aaron and Gareth, but that's not to say that we haven't got strength in depth," said Coleman. "This gives us a chance to look at one or two other guys and I see that as a positive, not a negative."
Can Scotland find future talent?
As the only home nation not to qualify for Euro 2016, Scotland are using the upcoming friendlies against Czech Republic and Denmark to look further ahead, with Gordon Strachan naming two squads of 19 players.
Among them are eight uncapped players, including Birmingham defender Paul Caddis, Nottingham Forest midfielder Oliver Burke, Brighton's Jamie Murphy and Leeds defender Liam Cooper.
The squad selection has been met with a mixed reaction. Mark Warburton said he was "surprised" that none of his Rangers players were included while Celtic boss Ronny Deila is pleased with the longer-term thinking.
"If nobody gets a chance and can't make mistakes, how can you get them up? There's no chance," he said. "To think more long term is important."
Judging by his squad selection, Strachan has one eye on the World Cup qualifier with Malta on September and beyond.
Can anyone catch Martin O'Neill's eye?
Like a few other nations, Republic of Ireland look as though they could hand out some first-time caps for their friendlies with Switzerland and Slovakia.
But, unlike some of the other nations heading to Euro 2016, Ireland have just one more friendly scheduled after this double header: a meeting with the Netherlands in late May.
While they could still add another, these two matches provide a prime opportunity for fringe players to stake their claim.
"There are one or two players there who have shown their worth in the qualification games and barring injury, there's a really great chance of them going, obviously," said manager Martin O'Neill.
"But there are other places up for grabs. I want to see a couple of the lads, the Euros are just around the corner."
Among those potentially looking to make an impact are Wolves defender Matt Doherty, Bournemouth midfielder Eunan O'Kane, Birmingham's Stephen Gleeson and Brentford midfielder Alan Judge.
Who will lead Spain's line?
They have one of the best goalkeepers in the world, one of the best defences in qualifying and a midfield stacked full of talent, but Spain have a slight problem when it comes to strikers.
With Diego Costa not included in the squad for the friendlies against Italy and Romania due to fitness issues, the five forwards chosen by Vicente del Bosque are: Pedro, Alvaro Morata, Aritz Aduriz, Paco Alcacer and Nolito.
Of those five, only the 35-year-old Aduriz has any kind of form in recent months.
Morata has dropped to the bench at Juventus, Alcacer has struggled for goals lately at Valencia, Nolito's form has dipped since his dazzling start to the season for Celta Vigo and Pedro has struggled to impress at Chelsea.
Aduriz, meanwhile, has 31 goals in all competitions this season and is fully deserving of his return to the squad, six years after his only other cap. Considering his age, he is probably not the long-term solution for Spain, but will he get his chance at France?
In a recent poll by Spanish newspaper Marca, which had nearly 20,000 votes, 62 per cent said Aduriz should start for Spain at Euro 2016 while 14 per cent went for Morata and eight per cent for Alcacer. Only seven per cent voted for Costa.
Will Lafferty look rusty?
If Walcott's England place is in doubt due to his club form, what does that mean for Kyle Lafferty?
Northern Ireland's leading scorer in qualifying with seven goals, he has played just 45 minutes in three substitute appearances for Norwich this season. No surprise, then, that he is keen to get a move ahead of Euro 2016, with a loan deal to Sheffield Wednesday reportedly on the cards.
Given his track record, Lafferty is likely to start in France whatever his form at club level. However, Michael O'Neill has added another striker to his squad for the games against Wales and Slovenia in the shape of Conor Washington.
The QPR forward has never set foot in Northern Ireland but qualifies through the grandparent rule and could now make his debut in Cardiff, the city he used to call home when playing for Newport.
Security situation
After the terrorist attacks in Brussels on Tuesday, security is likely to be heightened at most international fixtures over the coming week.
Belgium's game against Portugal next Tuesday was cancelled and then moved to Leiria while France's friendly against the Netherlands on Friday is scheduled to go ahead as planned.
"We have a game to play and life continues," said France defender Laurent Koscielny. "It's difficult when barbarous acts occur in France or Belgium but we must keep trying to give pleasure, smiles, to spectators and television viewers."
UEFA have said they are not planning to play any matches at Euro 2016 behind closed doors and, asked whether it was wise to host the event, given the level of threat of another terrorist attack, French prime minister Manuel Valls said not to do so would be "a victory for terrorists."
