With qualification for Euro 2024 hotting up, a host of our men’s first-team have been selected for their nations during the current international window as they attempt to book their spots in Germany next summer.
There are some massive matches in Group A, involving David Raya’s Spain and Martin Odegaard’s Norway who will face each other in Oslo next week.
Before then, the Spanish will be looking to cut Scotland’s six-point lead at the top of the group when the Tartan Army head to Seville, while Martin will be hopeful that his nation can beat Cyprus to stay within touching distance of the two-time Euro winners before their meeting. Should they fail to win in Larnaca, then the Scots - without the injured Kieran Tierney - will be through.
England host current European champions Italy at Wembley looking to take a huge step towards sealing qualification, and will warm up for that game with a friendly against Australia the previous Friday. That means there are chances for Declan Rice and Aaron Ramsdale to add to their cap tallies, while Eddie Nketiah could make his full Three Lions bow.
Hoping that Italy slip up are Ukraine, who will once again be skippered by Oleksandr Zinchenko as they face North Macedonia in a huge game, as both and the Italians are all level on seven points. Ukraine then travel to Malta, hoping to stay in contention going into the final set of qualifiers in November.
Jakub Kiwior’s Poland will look to boost their chances of qualifying by taking maximum points from a trip to the Faroe Islands and a home game against Moldova as they look to overhaul surprise leaders Albania at the top of an incredibly tight group, where four points separate four of the five teams.
Karl Hein’s Estonia are out of contention for a qualifying spot, and they’ll be looking to clinch a first win since January when they take on Azerbaijan in a qualifier before hosting Thailand in a friendly in Tallinn.
One player who knows their nation will definitely be at the tournament is Kai Havertz as Germany will be hosts, and they’ll aim to find some form under new boss Julian Nagelsmann as they head Stateside for friendlies against the USA and Mexico. Also taking on the same opponents are Ghana, for whom Thomas Partey returns for.
In South America, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel will be aiming to maintain Brazil’s 100 per cent start to World Cup 2024 qualifying when they tackle Uruguay, which they’ll warm up for with a friendly against Venezuela five days earlier.
Meanwhile Takehiro Tomiyasu heads back to his homeland for a pair of friendlies against Canada and Tunisia, and Mohamed Elneny is back in the Egypt squad for their meetings with Zambia and Algeria staged in the United Arab Emirates as he aims to add to his 93-cap haul.
Having been initially called up for their international sides, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard (both slight hamstrings) and William Saliba (slight toe issue) have withdrawn and will work with our medical team to try and be ready for the return of domestic football against Chelsea on Saturday, October 21.
Where and when our internationals are playing
all times BST
Thursday, October 12
Egypt (Elneny) v Zambia
Friendly | Abu Dhabi, UAE | 5pm
Cyprus v Norway (Odegaard)
Euro 2024 qualifier | Larnaca | 7.45pm
Spain (Raya) v Scotland
Euro 2024 qualifier | Seville | 7.45pm
Faroe Islands v Poland (Kiwior)
Euro 2024 qualifier | Torshavn | 7.45pm
Friday, October 13
Brazil (Gabriel, Jesus) v Venezuela
Friendly | Cuiaba | 1.30am
Japan (Tomiyasu) v Canada
Friendly | Niigata | 11.35am
Estonia (Hein) v Azerbaijan
Euro 2024 qualifier | Tallinn | 5pm
England (Nketiah, Ramsdale, Rice) v Australia
Friendly | London | 7.45pm
Saturday, October 14
Ukraine (Zinchenko) v North Macedonia
Euro 2024 qualifier | Prague | 2pm
USA v Germany (Havertz)
Friendly | East Hartford | 8pm
Sunday, October 15
Mexico v Ghana (Partey)
Friendly | Charlotte, USA | 2am
Norway (Odegaard) v Spain (Raya)
Euro 2024 qualifier | Oslo | 7.45pm
Poland (Kiwior) v Moldova
Euro 2024 qualifier | Warsaw | 7.45pm
Monday, October 16
Algeria v Egypt (Elneny)
Friendly | Abu Dhabi, UAE | 5pm
Tuesday, October 17
Japan (Tomiyasu) v Tunisia
Friendly | Kobe | 11.10am
Estonia (Hein) v Thailand
Friendly | Tallinn | 5pm
Malta v Ukraine (Zinchenko)
Euro 2024 qualifier | Ta' Qali | 7.45pm
England (Nketiah, Ramsdale, Rice) v Italy
Euro 2024 qualifier | London | 7.45pm
Wednesday, October 18
Uruguay v Brazil (Gabriel, Jesus)
Friendly | Montevideo | 1am
Germany (Havertz) v Mexico
Friendly | Philadelphia, USA | 1am
USA v Ghana (Partey)
Friendly | Nashville | 1.30am
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