International Match Day: Three Great Friendlies To Assuage The Absence Of USMNT

With reason, the United States Men's national team is not in action today, though almost of the the rest of the world plays on. With their trip to Cairo canceled amidst unrest in Egypt, those who would have been called into Bob Bradley's side become just like us. No, I don't mean relegated to cubicles, watching illicit streams ESPN3 and FoxSoccer.tv at lunch. Like us, the USMNT will be on the periphery.

Hopefully, the likes of Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan enjoy the break, with three headlining match-ups providing reason to forget the long plane trips to Egypt. Though matches are already underway, the first eye-catcher is at 1:45 p.m. Eastern, when Germany and Italy - two of the most successful national teams in world football history - meet in Dortmund. Fifteen minutes later, the day's two other giant match-ups kick-off, with France welcoming Brazil to Paris while Argentina meets Portugal in Switzerland.