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| Source: ESPN |
The Premier League has finally kicked off and we have experienced four game weeks pass by. Manchester United have had a relatively slow and bad start based on the competition in the league, winning two and losing two. But, the fans have been given some positive news regarding Jose’s adoption of attacking football and his love for the fans. Attacking mentality may not have been fully established under Mourinho but, the signs are positive.
With the completion of 4 game weeks, it is time for the International break where the reds will go on abroad to represent their national sides right after the World Cup in Russia. This time instead of playing in dull meaningless international friendlies many reds will feature in the newly created UEFA Nations League, an international competition where all 55 UEFA member nations will be drawn into leagues as per their official rankings. They will then be drawn into groups in which they will internally compete and try to reach the knock-out rounds. Don’t think it as another time killing competition, the results of the Nations League will have a direct impact on the qualifications for Euro 2020.
Let’s look at the various reds who have been called up for international duty and when are their fixtures.
England:
Phil Jones has been omitted from the squad and so has Ashley Young. Both of them were in the World Cup squad. Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard retain their spots in Gareth Southgate’s team. Luke Shaw has caught the eye of Southgate and has replaced fellow team mate Young on both club and international level. It is a great chance for Shaw to impress right after splendid performances for United and also winning the player of the month award. England take on Spain on 9th September in the Nations League and then take on Switzerland in a friendly on the 12th.
France:
Paul Pogba has been retained in the French national team. The World Cup winners take on Germany in the Nations League on 7th September followed by hosting Netherlands on 10th of September. Anthony Martial misses out on the squad once again.
Belgium:
Romelu Lukaku and Marouane Fellaini retain their place in Roberto Martinez’s Belgium squad. Belgium take on Iceland on 12thSeptember after a trip to Scotland on the 8th.
Brazil:
New signing Fred, has been retained into the Brazil squad to face USA on 8th September in an international friendly followed by a match against El Salvador on the 12th. Andreas Pereira is expected to make his international debut for Brazil after selecting Brazil as his national team instead of Belgium.
| Source: Metro |
Spain:
David De Gea is retained in Spain’s national side to face England in a crunch Nations League fixture on 9th September followed by one more tough fixture against Croatia on the 12th. Herrera and Mata miss out.
Sweden:
Victor Lindelof is selected to represent Sweden in the Nations League fixture against Turkey on the 9th of September and a trip to Austria before that.
Serbia:
Nemanja Matic is retained in the Serbian national side in the Nations League against Lithuania on 8th of September followed by a fixture against Romania on the 11th.
Scotland:
Scott McTominay is selected by the Scottish FA to play in the Nations League against Albania on 11th September after an international friendly against Belgium on the 8th.
Notable Absentee’s:
Alexis Sanchez was selected for the Chilean national team but the player requested that his name be removed as he wants to stay back in Manchester and improve his game. Sergio Romero and Marcos Rojo haven’t been selected for Argentina due to injury. Antonio Valencia also hasn’t been risked by Ecuador. Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Ashley Young miss out on the England squad. Anthony Martial is also ignored in the French national side. Ander Herrera and Juan Mata haven’t been selected for Spain. Matteo Darmian has been excluded from the Italian national team and Eric Bailly hasn’t got any fixtures with Ivory Coast, so he stays in Manchester.
