International football round up: Manchester United players star in UEFA Nations League and friendlies

Manchester United’s international stars have been in action over the past few days, some are yet to play for their country. I will be keeping you up-to-date with all the action for all your favourite Red Devils.

I’m not sure if the international break has come at the right time for Manchester United. I would probably say, yes. Despite the team and Jose Mourinho winning the last match convincingly against Burnley, perhaps it would have been the start of a tremendous run of form.

But given how the media have been circulating above Old Trafford like vultures this season, it will give mainly the manager time to have a break from the constant scrutiny he is under.

As for the players, they have to continue performing for their countries and here’s how they have been getting on.

South America

Goalkeeper Sergio Romero has been back playing for Manchester United’s under-23 side recently and the Argentine stopper made the bench for his countries 3-0 victory over Guatemala yesterday.

Brazilian’s Fred and newest squad member Andreas Pereira were both in the squad to face the USA last night. Fred started the friendly and was substituted on the hour but despite four youngsters making their debuts for Brazil, Pereira will have to wait.

Their next match is against another friendly against El Salvador on Tuesday night.

Europe

Paul Pogba was back in the France team for the first time since the World Champions lifted the famous trophy back in July. He started Thursday nights UEFA Nations League tie against their World Cup predecessors Germany but failed to influence proceedings in a drab 0-0.

Two Manchester United players were in squads for Scotland’s friendly against Belgium on Thursday evening. Romelu Lukaku started for the Red Devils and netted the opening goal in a 4-0 rout. Scott McTominay was an unused substitute.

Marouane Fellaini has withdrawn from Roberto Martinez squad due to a back injury.

Nemanja Matic captained his Serbia side to a 1-0 win over Lithuania in the UEFA National League, Dusan Tadic netting the 38th-minute penalty. And Victor Lindelof was rested in Sweden’s 2-0 defeat to Austria on Thursday.

England vs Spain

Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw will face up against David De Gea’s Spain as England host the 2010 World Champions at Wembley tonight.

All four players are expected to start to match, in what is both teams first UEFA Nations League fixture. England and Spain are also in a group with Croatia in League A4. The winners of the group will qualify to the Nations League Finals, alongside first placed sides in leagues A1, A2 and A3.

With both teams taking the competition seriously, England will name a similar side to the one which created history at the World Cup in Russia this Summer. New Spanish boss Luis Enrique may have some difficult decisions to make after they exited the tournament in the Last 16 stage.