Sixteen madridistas called up by their national teams

Sixteen members of the Real Madrid squad have been called up by their national teams, with Marco Asensio, Dani Carvajal, Isco, Nacho, Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Keylor Navas, Gareth Bale, Casemiro, Marcelo, Toni Kroos and Achraf all set to feature in qualifying fixtures for the 2018 Russia World Cup. 

Meanwhile, Borja Mayoral and Dani Ceballos are poised to play a part for Spain Under-21s in their two games. 

Spain v Italy (Saturday 2 September; 8:45pm CEST)

Liechtenstein v Spain (Tuesday 5 September; 8:45pm CEST)

Spain face two key fixtures in their bid to secure a place at the 2018 Russia World Cup. Asensio, Carvajal, Isco, Nacho and Ramos have been named in the squad which will do battle with Italy for top spot in Group G at the Bernabéu, before three days later travelling to face the team currently propping up the standings at Vaduz's Rheinpark Stadion. 

Croatia v Kosovo (Saturday 2 September; 8:45pm CEST)

Turkey v Croatia (Tuesday 5 September; 8:45pm CEST)

A Croatia side featuring Modric and Kovacic are preparing for two vital games as they go head-to-head with Iceland in the battle to claim top spot in Group I. The first of their fixtures comes at Zagreb's Stadion Maksimir against rock-bottom Kosovo. The Croats are set to come in for a sterner test in their second outing, which sees them pit their wits against third-placed Turkey at the New Eskişehir Stadium.  

Brazil v Ecuador (Friday 1 September 2:45am CEST)

Colombia v Brazil (Tuesday 5 September; 10:30pm CEST)

This Brazil side, boasting Casemiro and Marcelo in their ranks, are the runaway leaders of their group, with a nine-point buffer on their nearest pursuers, Colombia, who represent the Brazilians' second opponents in this international break. The top two will face off at Barranquilla's Estadio Roberto Meléndez. Brazil's first game will be played at Porto Alegre's Arena do Grêmio.

USA v Costa Rica (Saturday 2 September; 2:55am CEST)

Costa Rica v Mexico (Wednesday 6 September; 4:05am CEST)

Keylor Navas's Costa Rica, who currently occupy second spot in their group, will test their credentials against two high-profile opponents. First up for Costa Rica it's the USA, who sit just one place behind them in the group, at Harrison's Red Bull Arena. Group leaders Mexico, who hold a three-point advantage over Navas's team, are the next opponents in a game to be staged at the National Stadium of Costa Rica in San José.

Portugal v Faroe Isles (Thursday 31 August; 8:45pm CEST)

Hungary v Portugal (Sunday 3 September; 8:45pm CEST)

Portugal simply have to take all six available points here if they're to prevent Switzerland from running away with the group. 

The Portuguese, spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo, face the two teams directly below them in the table. The side's first encounter comes at Porto's Estádio do Bessa XXI, before they travel to Budapest's Groupama Arena for their second fixture.

Wales v Austria (Saturday 2 September; 8:45pm CEST)

Moldova v Wales (Tuesday 5 September; 8:45pm CEST)

Wales and Austria are level on points and lie four adrift of top spot in Group D. 

The Welsh, led by the talismanic Bale, have a golden opportunity to steal a march on the Austrians when the sides face off at Cardiff's City Stadium. The team's second fixture sees them do battle with bottom-of-the-group Moldova at Chișinău's Zimbru Stadium.

Czech Republic v Germany (Friday 1 September; 8:45pm CEST)

Germany v Norway (Monday 4 September; 8:45pm CEST)

Germany have a firm grip at the summit of Group C, where they hold a six-point lead on second-placed Northern Ireland. The Germans, with Kroos in their squad, are looking to continue their clean sweep of wins as they come up against Czech Republic at Prague's Eden Arena before hosting Norway at Stuttgart's Mercedes-Benz Arena

Morocco v Mali (Friday 1 September 10pm CEST)

Mali v Morocco (Tuesday 5 September; 9pm CEST)

Achraf's Morocco face a double-header against Mali in Group C of the Confederation of African Football section. 

These meetings represent the first of the team's remaining four games in their bid to wrestle top spot from Ivory Costa, who lead the way with a two-point advantage. The sides' first bout will be held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium (Rabat) and the teams will renew acquaintances a few days later at the National Stadium in Bamako. 

Spain U21s v Italy U21s (Friday 1 September, 7:30pm CEST)

Estonia U21s v Spain U21s (Tuesday 5 September; 7:15pm CEST)

Spain U21s face two fixtures, the first of which is a friendly and the second a European Championship qualifier, with Ceballos and Mayoral included in the squad for these two tests. 

First up, Spain lock horns with Italy at Toledo's Estadio Salto del Caballo, whilst the team will open their European Championship qualifying campaign in Group 2 against Estonia, who have already played two games, at Tallinn's A. Le Coq Arena.