Today is the 22nd day 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...

Who'll be the Real rulers?

Both teams are at home, and a win is the most likely outcome at the Bernabeu and the Anoeta, as Bilbao visit Madrid and the leader's local rivals, Athletico, would probably prefer to see the title follow them north to San Sebastian.

But Madrid must win, knowing that if the teams do finish level at the top, Sociedad will be crowned champions for the first time in 20 years, owing to their better head-to-head record this season. 

It all starts at 9pm (8pm BST), and if you can't get to Spain, you can catch the action live on Sky Sports.

On paper it looks a formality for France to round-off their Confederations Cup Group A campaign tonight on top of the table with maximum points. Les Bleus have already secured a place in the semi-finals and take on bottom placed New Zealand, who are yet to get a single point, at the Stade de France in the Paris suburb of St Denis.

At the same time, in St Etienne, the other Group A game between Japan and Colombia is played. With both teams sitting on three points, it's a straight play-off for the other semi-final berth, though, with a slightly better goal difference, the draw would favour Japan. The action in France kicks off at 9pm local time.

June 2003

1st Sunday

Australia NSL Grand Final; Germany v Canada

2nd Monday

England U21 v Serb & Mont; FA Cup Final Video launch

3rd Tuesday

England v Serb & Mont - International Friendly

4th Wednesday

Small-Sided Football

5th Thursday

England U18s v Sweden

6th Friday

England U18s v Portugal; International friendlies

7th Saturday

England v Argentina - the repeat; Euro 2004 qualifiers

8th Sunday

England U18s v Spain; International friendlies

9th Monday

Videos and DVDs; U21 Tickets

 

10th Tuesday

Under-21s in Sunderland

11th Wednesday

Seniors in Middlesbrough; Under-20s in Toulon; Copa Libertadores

12th Thursday

A day in the history; Toulon games 

13th Friday

England v Argentina in Toulon

14th Saturday

Masters Football; SA v T&T

15th Sunday

England v Turkey in Toulon; Spanish Football

16th Monday

Books and Toulon

17th Tuesday

Pre-season preparation

18th Wednesday

Confederations Cup; Copa Libertadores

19th Thursday

England v Japan in Toulon; Confederation Cup; Copa Libertadores

20th Friday

Confederations Cup

21st Saturday

WC Anniversary; Confederations Cup; Toulon

22nd Sunday

 

23rd Monday

 

24th Tuesday

 

25th Wednesday

 

26th Thursday

 

27th Friday

 

28th Saturday

 

29th Sunday

 

30th Monday