The World Cup may still be fresh in the memory but the attention of many international players must now turn to major continental tournaments, with qualification beginning for Euro 2016 and the group stage of qualifying for the next Africa Cup of Nations commencing.

Several countries are in warm-up game action as early as tonight (Wednesday), including England.

Gary Cahill is our sole representative in Roy Hodgson’s squad to face Norway at Wembley in a friendly, before heading to Basel to play the manager’s former employers Switzerland in the opening Euro 2016 qualifier next Monday.

Germany play their first matches since winning the World Cup in July. First tonight they play a friendly against Argentina in a rapid repeat of the final in Brazil, before taking on Scotland in a Euro 2016 qualifier on Sunday in Dortmund. Unsurprisingly, having made such an impression during their triumphant World Cup campaign, Andre Schurrle is part of the squad.

Petr Cech has been named in the Czech Republic squad as they face two of the sides who impressed at the World Cup, USA and Netherlands. Both matches take place in Prague, the first a friendly today, with the game against the Dutch a qualifier. That is on Tuesday.

Brazil are back in action for the first time since losing the third-place play off at the World Cup, playing two friendlies in the USA. Colombia are their opponents on Friday in Miami, with a game against Ecuador in New Jersey to follow next Tuesday. Ramires, Oscar and Willian, who were involved at the World Cup, have all been named in new manager Dunga’s squad, while there is also a call-up for Filipe Luis, his first since the 2013 Confederations Cup.

In Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, holders Nigeria, for whom John Mikel Obi and Kenneth Omeruo are part of the squad, face matches against Congo on Saturday and South Africa next Wednesday. Victor Moses is not selected.