In this first international break of the season, national sides are picking up where they left off five months ago in their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaigns.

So what exactly does this break have in store for us and what's the state of play across the groups?

World Cup 2022 qualifiers - all you need to know about September's games

Image source, Getty Images

Wales are third in their World Cup qualifying group but have played two games fewer than leaders Belgium and the Czech Republic in second.

Robert Page's side started their campaign with away defeat to Roberto Martinez's star-studded Belgium side before beating the Czech Republic in Cardiff.

Only the group winners qualify automatically for the World Cup - a competition last graced by Wales in 1958 - while the runners-up enter the play-offs.

Realistically, Wales need to beat Belarus today and Estonia at the Cardiff City Stadium on Wednesday to have any chance of topping their group.

Image source, BBC Sport

Iwan Roberts
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

I think it's a brave team, a brave and big call by Robert Page. He'd have thought about it for a long time, he's got every faith in these youngsters. I thought Brennan Johnson and Rubin Colwill were great against Finland.

Kevin Ratcliffe
Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Wales

I think he'll be starting with Johnson as a striker, it will be interesting to see how they play together.

Belarus make three changes from Thursday’s 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat away against the Czech Republic.

Ruslan Khadarkevich, Artem Bykov and Pavel Sedko replace Artem Rakhmanov, Nikita Korzun and Dmitri Antilevski.

Belarus: Chernik; Shvetsov, Khadarkevich, Sachivko, Zolotov; Begunov, Ebong, Bykov, Klimovich, Sedko; V Lisakovich,

Subs: Pavlyuchenko, Stepanov, Pechnenin, Shauchenka, Rakhmanov, Yuzepchuk, Grechikho, R Lisakovich, Kontsevoi, Skavysh, Podstrelov, Antilevski.

Image source, BBC Sport

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, BBC Sport

Having made 10 changes for Wednesday’s goalless friendly draw in Finland, Wales make eight changes this afternoon as manager Robert Page names as strong a side as he can with 13 players unavailable.

Captain Gareth Bale returns to the starting line-up and is joined by Daniel James, who missed the Finland game having been away from the squad to finalise his move from Manchester United to Leeds United.

Some of the other players restored to the team include Tottenham defender Ben Davies and Stoke midfielder Joe Allen.

There is also a first start for Cardiff City’s 19-year-old attacking midfielder Rubin Colwill, who looks like he may be starting up front - though it could be that fellow youngster Brennan Johnson gets that job.

Goalkeeper Danny Ward, defender James Lawrence and Brennan Johnson are the players retained from the draw in Helsinki.

Wales: Ward; Gunter, Mepham, J Lawrence, B Davies; Allen, Morrell; Johnson, Bale, James; Colwill.

Subs: Hennessey, King, Lockyer, Sheehan, J Williams, Norrington-Davies, Smith, Levitt, Harris, Woodburn.

Image source, FAW

Good afternoon or as they say in Belarus, добры дзень.

Of course, Wales aren't in Belarus, they are in Kazan, 4,000km from Cardiff, and once again it feels like travel scheduling has really gone against Robert Page's side.

Chris Gunter summed up Wales' feelings of frustration at all the miles they chalked up at Euro 2020 and things have not got easier as the focus returns to World Cup qualifying.

And if that wasn't bad enough, let's not forget, Wales are without an entire starting XI of talent tonight, due to a mixture of injury, illness, close-contact status and visa ineligibility.

Wales are up against it for sure, but let's not lose hope, especially after a good performance in Helsinki in midweek.

I've mentioned the injuries, but let's have a look at those teams, shall we?

Image source, FAW