The international break is entering it’s final few days with a number of sides already having finished their schedules. Fourteen Manchester United players were on duty for their countries but one man has stolen the headlines once again.
England is the highest represented nation by Manchester United players during this international break with six Red Devils donning the Three Lions’ jersey.
It was the youngsters who got the ball rolling on Thursday evening too with Angel Gomes and Brandon Williams both starting for England’s under-20s against the Netherlands in the U20 Elite League.
The match ended in a 0-0 draw, however, they were back in action on Monday evening against Switzerland. Williams started the match once again and played just over an hour, whereas Gomes started this one on the bench but was introduced with 15 minutes to play. The Young Lions were victorious, leaving it late to net the winner, Tottenham and Leeds wide man Jack Clarke scored to seal a 1-0 win.
Mason Greenwood had been called up to the England under-21s squad for the first time in his career this week in hope of making his debut in either of their two UEFA Euro under-21 qualifiers.
Against Turkey on Friday, Greenwood was introduced with 30 minutes to play and his side trailing 2-1. However, Aidy Boothroyd’s side managed to turn it around and clinch a 3-2 victory.
Similarly, Greenwood was brought onto the pitch on Monday with 30 minutes left in the game, but in different circumstances, as they cruised to a 2-0 win over Kosovo.
Moving onto the senior England side and Jesse Lingard had to pull out of the squad prior to the team’s UEFA Euro qualifier against Bulgaria on Saturday due to illness, however, both Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford both played the full 90 minutes.
A hat-trick from Harry Kane, which involved two penalties, one which was won by the trickery of Rashford, and a goal from Raheem Sterling secured a comfortable 4-0 win. Gareth Southgate’s side are next in action today (Tuesday) against Kosovo in another Euro 2020 qualifier.
More United Brits in action
Scott McTominay, Daniel James and Dylan Levitt had also been picked to represent their nations for the international break. The former faced two tricky matches against Russia and Belgium in Euro qualifying and unfortunately lost both.
The victory comes after Gareth Bale’s late winner on Friday night secured three big points for Ryan Giggs’ side against Azerbaijan in Euro 2020 qualifying.
United youngster Levitt was not in the squad for Friday’s contest, however, he did make the bench for Friday’s encounter.
Best of the rest
David de Gea kept a clean sheet for Spain on Sunday evening in their 4-0 win over the Faroe Islands – Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga started between the sticks in Thursday’s qualifier against Romania.
De Gea was not the only United player to be involved in a 4-0 victory over the Faroe Islands as Victor Lindelof helped his Sweden side to the same result on Thursday evening. The United centre-half also managed to get on the scoresheet in the win.
Sweden couldn’t make it two from two, drawing 1-1 with Norway on Sunday. Lindelof did play the full 90 minutes, though.
Marcos Rojo and Nemanja Matic were also in action on Friday and Saturday respectively. The Argentine was an unused substitute in a 0-0 draw with Chile whereas Matic played the full 90 minutes against Portugal but lost 4-2.