Close Season Encounters - Day 18

Today is day 18 of the Close Season...

Throughout the month of June players in England are given a break away from the game and only international, small-side, armed forces and scout matches are permitted.

Without any football for a whole month, TheFA.com is here to help you through every day in June with our guide, Close Season Encounters, pointing you in the direction of your daily dose of the Beautiful Game...

Confederations what you need

In the Parisian suberb of St. Denis this afternoon, FIFA's Confederations Cup begins.

At 6pm local time, New Zealand contest the opening game - the first ever Confederations Cup match in Europe - with Japan, who are now coached by Zico. The former Brazilian international was on the bench during the last FIFA competition match in the Stade de France five years ago.  He was among the Samba Boys' coaching staff when they lost the 1998 World Cup Final to the French 3-0.

The French themselves also play their opening Group A game following the New Zealand/Japan match. Lyon hosts Les Bleus v Colombia at 9pm (8pm BST) and Jacques Santini will have a whole host of stars to choose from. Well known Premiership faces, William Gallas, Olivier Dacourt, Robert Pires, Marcel Desailly, Sylvain Wiltord, Thierry Henry, Mikael Silvestre, Fabien Barthez and Steve Marlet are in the squad along with Liverpool target Djibril Cisse. David Beckham's future team-mates, Claude Makelele and Zinedine Zidane are still in league action with Madrid so are not included.

Back in Colombia, Independiente Medellín welcome Brazilian club Santos to their Atanasio Girardot Stadium for the Copa Libertadores Semi-Final second-leg at 7.40pm local time. Pele's former club currently lead 1-0.