Euro 2016 qualifying gets underway

Xabi Alonso has retired from international football

Euro 2016 will happen in the summer of 2016 with no fewer than 24 countries set to be represented at the finals. Qualifying started yesterday and continues tonight.

With qualifying for the 2016 Euros set to begin, European nations got up to speed with their first friendlies of the season in midweek.

For those involved in the World Cup, it was the first time they returned to action since Brazil as they look to re-group from their summer's exploits and get ready to go again in qualifying for France.

It was only just over 50 days since Germany and Argentina met in the World Cup final, but the two teams clashed again in Dusseldorf in the most high-profile friendly of the week. It was the Germans who famously came out on top in Brazil but Argentina did manage to get some modicum of revenge as they won this battle 4-2. Obviously an international friendly doesn't garner the same excitement or prestige as a World Cup final and it was a much-changed Germany, with only four of the team which started at the Maracana named in the line-up.

It might have been a young and inexperienced German side, but in truth they were dominated by Argentina as goals from Sergio Aguero, Erik Lamela, Federico Fernandez and Angel Di Maria gave them a much-deserved 4-2 win. In reality they dominated so much that the score line didn't give really reflect how on top Argentina were. Whether this loss really has a big effect on Germany's qualifying - starting against Scotland - remains in doubt. The big names will come back in and Joachim Low will have learnt a lot by how his second-string fell apart against the stars of Argentina.

England had their first game since a dismal World Cup, in which they failed to win a game and finished bottom of their group, when they took on Norway. It was a fairly miserable contest, most remembered by the fact that only just over 40,000 fans turned out to make it a new record-low attendance at the new Wembley for an England game. Roy Hodgson gave youth a chance but it was the new captain Wayne Rooney who ultimately got the winning goal as England ran out 1-0 winners.

Those fans that could be bothered weren't given much reason to cheer. The performance of Raheem Sterling was the highlight for England, who needed to be thankful to Joe Hart for keeping out Norway forward Joshua King with two top-class stops. In the end it was Sterling's pace that won England what turned out to be the decisive penalty in the second half, which Rooney smashed in to rise to fourth in England's all-time scoring list. England must do better when they get their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign underway against Switzerland in Basel.

There was a clash of two European heavyweights in Paris as France took on Spain. It was the home side who won this battle, with substitute Loic Remy scoring the only goal after 72 minutes. It was more misery for Spain, who are trying to recover from a disastrous World Cup campaign in which the defending champions were knocked out in limp fashion in the group stage. In truth the Spanish lacked any creativity and never really looked like threating France - they didn't manage a single shot on target throughout the entire game.

It is a real rebuilding job for Vincente del Bosque as he does without the retired trio of Xavi, Xabi Alonso and David Villa, and they start qualifying with a game against Macedonia. France looked dangerous and were ultimately worthy winners on the night. The World Cup quarter-finalists dominated and looked particularly dangerous on the counter. When Remy came off the bench to smash a shot past David de Gea, it earned France a well-deserved victory.

It was a clash between two new managers as Italy took on Holland. A 2-0 victory ensured Antonio Conte had a winning start and Guus Hiddink's second reign in charge of Holland started in defeat. Italy are another side who are rebuilding after a disappointing World Cup. They failed to make it past the group stage in Brazil but made a fast start to this friendly as goals in the first 10 minutes from Ciro Immobile and a Daniele De Rossi penalty handed them the momentum.

When Bruno Martins Indi was shown a harsh red card for bringing down debutant forward Simone Zaza for the penalty De Rossi converted, then the game was essentially over as a contest with 10 minutes on the clock. Conte's side start qualifying against Norway and they will be invigorated heading into that, while Holland need to recover as they travel to the Czech Republic.

The Republic of Ireland prepared for their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a rather routine win over Oman in Dublin. The Irish tried an experimental line-up in front of what was a largely empty stadium, but at least Ireland ended a six-game winless streak to boost confidence ahead of the qualifiers. Goals from Kevin Doyle and Alex Pearce secured the 2-0 win, but this game was more about experimentation for Martin O'Neil.

He handed Shay Given a first start after coming out of international retirement and tried a 4-4-1-1 system, but it wasn't until later on that Ireland really got on top of Oman. Ireland will undoubtedly face much sterner tests in qualifying, which starts a trip to Georgia, but they will that bit fitter and that bit more buoyant after this victory.

Elsewhere, World Cup quarter-finalists Belgium beat Australia 2-0 in Liege thanks to goals from Dries Mertens and Axel Witsel. Russia bounced back from a poor summer in Brazil with a convincing 4-0 victory over Azerbaijan and there were also good wins for Sweden, Croatia, and Bosnia. Turkey came out on top 2-1 winners over Denmark thanks to a stoppage time goal from teenage defender Ozan Tufan in Odense, while Slovakia and Ukraine scraped one-goal wins over Malta and Moldova respectively.