International football returns across Europe this week, less than eight weeks after Spain edged out England in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin.
AFP Sport picks out five storylines to follow around the continent ahead of two rounds of fixtures over six days starting Thursday:
Will Spain pick up where they left off?Spain are on a high after their magnificent triumph at the Euros and their gold medal success at the Olympics.
Luis de la Fuentes side are quickly back in action and have another title to defend, having won the last edition of the Nations League. La Roja are in Group 4 of League A and begin with an awkward double-header, a trip to Serbia being followed by a meeting with Switzerland in Geneva. Denmark complete the group.
Their squad does not feature the injured Alvaro Morata, Unai Simon or Mikel Merino, who all played in the Euros final, but wing stars Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are involved. There are also new faces in Oscar Mingueza, the ex-Barcelona right-back now at Celta Vigo, and Valencia midfielder Pepelu.
