Club football may have taken a back seat for the time being, but there is plenty of action taking place over the coming days on the international stage.
While qualification for Euro 2016 reaches its halfway stage, many of the sports' biggest sides will also come up against each other in a string of high-profile meetings across the globe.
We are sure to see plenty of drama, and with that in mind Sports Mole picks out two players and one manager looking to make the headlines for all the right reasons this weekend.
1. Harry Kane
The now 21-year-old has come a long way since the days of being shipped out on loan to an array of different Football League clubs, and he is now very much the key man at Tottenham Hotspur. A season which began with him once more frustratingly watching on from the bench has proved to be a true breakthrough campaign, with 29 goals in 43 appearances highlighting just how impressive the Spurs academy man has been.
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Seeing the youngster's name on the 24-man squad list for England's games against Lithuania and Italy did not surprise many, not least Kane himself who has always had full confidence in his own personal ability. Much of the pre-match build-up prior to this evening's Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania has surrounded Roy Hodgson's attacking options, or more specifically, whether he will opt to field Kane alongside Wayne Rooney up top.
The Three Lions boss was caught out earlier this week when pictures emerged of him holding a sheet of paper which seemingly showed that he would indeed pair up the prolific duo, although he has since moved to play this down. Either way, as Hodgson himself admitted on Thursday afternoon, Kane will almost certainly be given a chance to impress this week, whether it be at a sold-out Wembley or in a tasty-looking friendly against Italy in Turin a few days later. One thing is for certain - if he is given the support, you can bet on the Premier League's joint-top scorer to make a big impression.
2. Joachim Low
Having guided Germany to World Cup success last summer, Joachim Low's job in charge of Die Mannschaft is near enough safe for life. However, four wins from their seven matches since that triumph in Brazil have seen the usually proficient Germans kick off their qualification campaign in a rather slow manner.
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A late Lukas Podolski goal was required to help the world champions rescue a 2-2 draw against Australia earlier this week, and while it may only have been a friendly, Low declared that his side simply have to improve their performance. When it comes to reaching major tournaments, the European giants are near enough certainties to not only make it to the finals, but to challenge in the latter stages every single time.
That is unlikely to change this time around, either, with the expanded European Championships next year ensuring that qualification is almost guaranteed for a team of Germany's ilk. Anything less than a comprehensive victory over Georgia this weekend, though, and Low will perhaps begin to look over his shoulder with a buoyant Republic of Ireland side, who themselves held the world's highest ranked team to a memorable 1-1 draw in Gelsenkirchen last October, joining Scotland and Poland in aiming to progress from a highly competitive Group D.
3. Gareth Bale
If Wales are to qualify for their first major tournament since 1958 this campaign, then the image of Gareth Bale wildly celebrating October's 2-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina could prove to be the defining image. Or indeed it could be the snap of Bale reeling away after scoring his second goal against Andorra in the Dragons' opening game, rescuing his side from a disaster in the Pyrenees mountains.
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Whichever way you look at it, Bale really is a key part of any hopes Wales have of finally ending their qualification hoodoo and making it all the way to France. Things could not be any different as far as his club career is concerned, however, as speculation linking him with a move back to the Premier League continues to gather momentum ahead of the summer transfer window.
Heavily criticised by Real Madrid supporters since the turn of the year, the 25-year-old now has a chance to put a smile back on his face - and indeed an entire nation's - when Wales take on Group B leaders Israel in Haifa on Saturday evening. The pressure on Bale's shoulders may become unbearable as this campaign draws on, but compared to that whichhe faces at the Bernabeu, this will feel like a mere walk in the park for the world's most expensive player.
Daniel Lewis
