Argentina vs Italy
When: 24 March, 1:15 am IST
Where: Sony Ten 1/Sony Ten 2 and Sony Ten 2 HD
Lionel Messi begins his road to World Cup redemption on 23 March as Argentina take on Italy in a glamour friendly, desperate to win a major international prize to crown his glorious career.
In Barcelona's colours, Messi has experienced nothing but success, winning eight La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns, while earning FIFA's Ballon d'Or award five times.
But pulling on Argentina's blue-and-white striped shirt has brought the forward some of the most painful moments of his career.
Nobody would dispute Messi's status as one of the all-time greats, but many in Argentina believe he cannot be considered on the same level as Diego Maradona until he wins a major honour with his country, as his compatriot did at the 1986 World Cup.
Germany vs Spain
When: 24 March, 1:15am IST
Where: Sony Ten 1/Sony Ten 2 and Sony Ten 2 HD
Germany forward Thomas Mueller expects revenge to be a factor when his side take on Brazil for the first time since humiliating the South Americans 7-1 in the 2014 World Cup semi-finals.
Joachim Loew's Germany start fine-tuning preparations for their World Cup defence in Russia with high-profile friendlies against Spain in Dusseldorf on 23 March and Brazil in Berlin on 27 March.
Spain, the 2010 World Cup winners, have the first chance to break Germany's 21-match unbeaten run, dating back to their Euro 2016 semi-final defeat by France.
However, the clash four days later at Berlin's Olympic Stadium offers Brazil a rare chance to beat Germany in their own backyard and avenge the hammering in Belo Horizonte almost four years ago.
Brazil vs Russia
When: 23 March, 9:30pm IST
Where: Sony Ten 1/Sony Ten 2 and Sony Ten 2 HD
Training on snow without Neymar, Brazil may be forgiven for feeling out of their element as they prepare to face hosts Russia in their penultimate World Cup warm-up.
The most expensive football player on the planet is back home, celebrating his sister's birthday with his right foot recovering from surgery in a protective boot.
But things are deadly serious in Moscow, where the Selecao play on Friday, 23 March at the Luzhniki Stadium in which they will hope to lift a record sixth World Cup trophy on 15 July.
Coach Tite will try to make sure his superstars have learned from the unmitigated disaster of their 7-1 drubbing by Germany, whom Brazil play on Tuesday, on home soil back in 2014.
England vs Netherlands
When: 23 March
Where: Sony Ten 1/Sony Ten 2 and Sony Ten 2 HD
England midfielder Jack Wilshere has played down World Cup expectations but believes the Russian showpiece could be a stepping stone towards a brighter future for Gareth Southgate's inexperienced team.
The Arsenal player is hoping to win his first cap in nearly two years in warm-up friendlies against the Netherlands and Italy after battling back to recover his place in Arsene Wenger's team this season.
The squad Wilshere has rejoined is a far cry from the one he first broke into as a highly promising 18-year-old in 2010.
Shorn of talismanic striker Harry Kane through injury, Southgate's 27-man group is desperately thin on players performing regularly at the highest level.
(This article has been edited for length.)
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