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 12th
September 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.
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.
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