We are almost four years from the next World Cup and there is still another 18 months to go before the forthcoming European Championships.
But if you are in sore need of an international football tournament, January 2015 should whet your appetite.
The African Nations Cup kicks off later this month, promising to irritate Premier League managers who have had to let players go.
But before that, the AFC Asian Cup gets underway this Friday. Hosted in Australia for the first time, it is well worth keeping an eye on as Asia's staging point to the next World Cup in Russia.
I will be keeping an eye on it here on Newstalk.com and with a little help from our Asia-based contributors from when we covered the World Cup on Team 33.
But first off, let me take you through the four groups on offer.
The rivalries are old & the battles will be fierce. Every battle needs a war cry. Here are the #AC2015 war cries! pic.twitter.com/FhIEv3mseP
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 6, 2015
Group A
Six months ago in Brazil, Australia lost every single game in their World Cup group. But that is a red herring when you look at the overall performance of an inexperienced side in the toughest group of them all.
The team definitely did not disgrace themselves and left with plenty of encouragement.
And as Backpage Football's Neil Sherwin told us on Team 33 after the World Cup exit, manager Ange Postecoglou had his eye on a first Asian Cup on home soil.
It is the final chance for Tim Cahill -whose volley against Netherlands we will never forget - to crown a stellar international career with a trophy. Along with Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak, he will be the leader of a young team that has the experience of a World Cup under their belt.
It will be interesting to see how youngsters like striker Matthew Leckie and goalkeeper Mathew Ryan fare over the next three weeks.
One area of concern is recent form since the World Cup, with the Socceroos losing three of their last five fixtures.
They are in a tricky group as Asian powerhouse South Korea vies for a spot at the top of the pool. They had a poor World Cup but still possess some of the continent's top talent in Ki Sung-yeung of Swansea and hugely talented wide forward Son Heung-min of Bayer Leverkusen.
The Taeguk Warriors have suffered a long Asian Cup drought since last winning the trophy in 1960 but have finished third in three of the last four editions.
However, before Australia and South Korea meet in the final group game, they will both be aiming to have secured qualification to the last-8 by beating Oman and Kuwait.
Oman have played Ireland twice in friendlies in recent years and should be somewhat familiar to us. They also thrashed Kuwait 5-0 at the 2014 Gulf Cup.
This would have been a great chance to see how Australia would have dealt with hosting an international football tournament, but alas the 2022 World Cup went elsewhere.
Group B
China, North Korea, Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia make up one of the more open groups.
It goes without saying that China punches well below its weight at international football level given its vast population.
But there have been some encouraging signs on the club scene with Guangzhou Evergrande winning the AFC Champions League in 2013. Seven members of that club are in the squad and Celtic and Charlton Athletic fans will recognise national team captain Zheng Zhi.
North Korea had to switch coach before the Asian Cup because previous incumbent Yun Jong Su incurred a stadium ban for lashing out at referees after a defeat to South Korea in an U-23 final.
Saudi Arabia used to qualify regularly for World Cups, but those days are long gone and the three-time Asian champions will want to do better than in 2011 when they exited at the group stage.
Uzbekistan finished fourth at that last tournament and have won four and drawn two of their last six games. The Central Asian nation were only pipped to automatic 2014 World Cup qualification on goal difference by South Korea.
Group C
Iran had a solid World Cup, almost drawing with Argentina but for some late Lionel Messi magic. They are still managed by former Manchester United assistant coach Carlos Quieroz which means they will be organised and will set themselves out to be hard to break down.
They do have some talented attacking players in former Wolfsburg and Fulham winger Ashkan Dejagah and Russia-based striker Sardar Azmoun who has scored the winners in their last two friendlies. The latter has been linked with a move west and scouts will be keeping a keen eye on his progress.
Team Melli should get out of a group they share with gulf states UAE, Bahrain and 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar.
Group D
Reigning champions Japan will be one of the main favourites for the competition and bring experienced talent in the shape of Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda among others.
Under the management of former Atletico Madrid and Espanyol coach Javier Aguirre since group stage elimination at the World Cup, the Blue Samurai have won three of their last six friendlies with defeats against Brazil and Colombia.
They should go far and should have too much for Jordan (managed by former Chelsea assistant Ray Wilkins), first time attendees Palestine and 2007 champions Iraq, who will be favourites to follow Japan into the knockout rounds.
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