Stuart Pearce takes charge of England's Under-21s in Denmark
The football season is over, isn't it? No! There may be no World Cup or Euros this year, but there is plenty of top quality football to keep you entertained before your club's pre-season friendlies come around. Whether it's Stuart Pearce's England U-21 side at the European Championships or the Brazilians at the Copa America, talkSPORT have it covered so you need not worry…
1. CONCACAF GOLD CUP: 6 JUNE - 25 JUNE
Man United star Javier Hernandez has already bagged a hat-trick in Central America's equivalent to Euro 2012, which kicked off on June 6th, with the final taking place on June 25th. The tournament features 12 nations and runs every two years - the last four of which have been won by the USA (2005 and 2007) and Mexico (2003 and 2009). So you wouldn't bet against either nation lifting the trophy again this time round. Mexico opened the tournament in style with a 5-0 win over El Salvador while the USA, fresh from a 4-0 friendly drubbing at the hands of World Champions Spain, begin against Canada at 01:00 GMT on Wednesday. The States have held home advantage for the last four championships and boast Everton's Tim Howard and Fulham's Clint Dempsey in their ranks, while Javier Hernandez is favourite to finish as top goal scorer for Mexico.
PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYERS INVOLVED:
MEXICO
Carlos Salcido - Fulham
Giovani dos Santos -Spurs
Javier Hernandez - Man United
USA
Tim Howard - Everton
Clint Dempsey - Fulham
Eric Lichaj - Aston Villa
CANADA
Simeon Jackson - Norwich
HONDURAS
Wilson Palacios - Spurs
Hendry Thomas - Wigan
2. UEFA EURO U-21 CHAMPIONSHIPS: 11 JUNE - 26 JUNE
England fans take note - when Italy's U-21 side won this competition in 2004 they went on to claim the 2006 World Cup and the Netherlands, victors in 2006 and 2007, along with Germany (2009 champs) both performed well in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Preparations could have been better - Andy Carroll and Jack Wilshere are both unavailable - but Stuart Pearce will be desperate to take England all the way, following a 4-0 defeat to Germany in the 2009 final and a semi-final exit on penalties in 2007. This year Denmark play host and the Germans haven't even qualified, but England will still need to come through a tough group including Spain, the much-fancied Czech Republic and Ukraine - starting with the Spaniards in Herning on June 12th.
PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYERS INVOLVED:
ENGLAND
Ryan Bertrand - Chelsea
Chris Smalling - Man United
Phil Jones - Blackburn Rovers
Kyle Walker - Spurs
Fabrice Muamba - Bolton
Danny Rose - Spurs
Jack Rodwell - Everton
Tom Cleverly - Man United
Jack Cork - Chelsea
Marc Albrighton - Aston Villa
Henri Lansbury - Arsenal
Scott Sinclair - Swansea City
Daniel Sturridge - Chelsea
Danny Welbeck - Man United
Nathan Delfouneso - Aston Villa
3. FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP MEXICO 2011: 18 JUNE - 10 JULY
If you're disillusioned with Fabio Capello's senior side and fancy looking to the future then keep an eye on England's U-17 boys in Mexico this summer. Brazil and Nigeria have been the most successful nations at this age group since the tournament's inception in 1985 - winning the competition three times each - but John Peacock's English youngsters travel to Mexico with renewed hope, having won the European equivalent in 2010 with a 2-1 final win over Spain. England begin the 24-team tournament against Rwanda on June 19th and will also face Canada and Uruguay in Group C.
PLAYERS FROM PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS INVOLVED:
ENGLAND
Nathaniel Chalobah - Chelsea
Hallam Hope - Everton
John Lundstram - Everton
Jordan Pickford - Sunderland
George Evans - Man City
Alex Henshall - Man City
Nathan Redmond - Birmingham City
Tyrell Belford - Liverpool
Matthe Regan - Liverpool
Brad Smith - Liverpool
Raheem Sterling - Liverpool
Jack Dunn - Liverpool
Adam Morgan - Liverpool
4. FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP GERMANY 2011: 26 JUNE - 17 JULY
Germany and the USA have dominated the five female World Cups since 1991, winning two each with Germany losing out to Norway in the 1995 final. The Germans will start as favourites having won the last two tournaments and are hosting it this time round. England – whose best World Cup outing ended at the quarter-final stage last time round – will be disappointed if they don't match their achivements in China in 2007. The English girls begin their campaign against Mexico on June 27th and will also play New Zealand and Japan in Group B.
5. COPA AMERICA 2011 ARGENTINA: 1 JULY - 24 JULY
The most exciting summer spectacle in the men's game takes place in Argentina, where 12 South American nations do battle over 24 days. The hosts and Uruguay have won the competition 14 times each while Brazil hold eight titles, but have dominated the modern era, winning four of the last five. Brazil have defeated rivals Argentina in the last two finals, 2004 and 2007, and will be hoping to make it a hat-trick in Buenos Aires on July 24th. Can Messi transfer his club form to the international stage?
PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYERS INVOLVED:
ARGENTINA
Pablo Zabaleta - Man City
Carlos Tevez - Man City
BRAZIL
David Luiz - Chelsea
Lucas Leiva - Liverpool
Ramires - Chelsea
Anderson - Man United
Sandro - Spurs
CHILE
Jean Beausejour - Birmingham
COLOMBIA
Hugo Rodallega - Wigan
ECUADOR
Antonio Valencia - Man United
MEXICO
Carlos Salcido - Fulham
Giovani dos Santos - Spurs
Javier Hernandez - Man United
PARAGUAY
Antolin Alcaraz - Wigan
Cristian Riveros - Sunderland
Roque Santa Cruz - Blackburn
URUGUAY
Luis Suarez - Liverpool
6. FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP COLOMBIA 2011: 29 JULY - 20 AUGUST
24 nations will travel to Colombia in late July to compete in the U-20 World Cup - a competition Argentina have won five times out of eight since 1995. The other three tournaments were won by Spain in 1999, Brazil in 2003 and Ghana in 2009, who are the holders after beating Brazil on penalties in Egypt. England's U-20 side have never tasted success in a major competition and face a tough task to get out of Group F, which contains Argentina, Mexico and North Korea. The English will kick off against North Korea on July 29th - a game they will need to win should they have any hope of progressing to the second round.
PLAYERS FROM PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS INVOLVED:
Jake Kean - Blackburn
Josh Morris - Blackburn
Jason Lowe - Blackburn
Reece Brown - Man United
Reece Wabara - Man City
Dean Parrett - Spurs
Steven Caulker - Spurs
Nile Ranger - Newcastle
Jordon Mutch - Birmingham
Sanchez Watt - Arsenal
Nathan Baker - Aston Villa