How our internationals fared

 

 

PRESNEL KIMPEMBE / KYLIAN MBAPPÉ - FRANCE

The France of Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappé played two friendly matches during the international week. Les Bleus first won 2-1 against Côte d'Ivoire at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille on Friday, before winning 5-0 against South Africa four days later at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille. Rested for the first match, the Parisian defender and striker played the entire game against Bafana Bafana. Mbappé opened the scoring open with a beautiful curled shot in the top corner, then obtained and converted a penalty to get his 25th and 26th goals for France.

 

GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM - NETHERLANDS

Georginio Wijnaldum's Netherlands also played two friendlies during the international break, both at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam. The Oranje first won 4-2 against Denmark on Saturday before drawing 1-1 with Germany three days later. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder came on as a substitute in both matches, playing the entire second half against the Germans.

 

 

THILO KEHRER / JULIAN DRAXLER - GERMANY

Thilo Kehrer and Julian Draxler's Germany also took part in two friendlies during the international break. Hansi Flick's players won 2-0 against Israel on Saturday at the PreZero Arena in Sinsheim, before drawing 1-1 with the Oranje in Amsterdam. The Rouge et Bleu defender was in the starting line-up for both games, while the capital club's number 23 played the entire match against the Israelis before coming on at the end of the game against the Dutch.

 

 

NUNO MENDES / DANILO PEREIRA - PORTUGAL

Nuno Mendes and Danilo Pereira's Portugal had the play-offs for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar on their agenda during the international break. The Equipa das Quinas managed to secure their ticket to the finals of the competition with a 3-1 win over Turkey in the semi-final on Thursday and a 2-0 win over Northern Macedonia in the final five days later, both times at the Estadio do Dragão in Porto. The Paris Saint-Germain defender came on as a late substitute against the Turks and played the entire final while his clubmate started twice and played all 90 minutes of both matches.

 

 

GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA / MARCO VERRATTI - ITALY

Gianluigi Donnarumma and Marco Verratti's Italy also contested the World Cup qualifying play-offs during the international week. In the other semi-final, the Azzurri lost 1-0 to North Macedonia on Thursday at the Stadio Renzo Barbera in Palermo, a defeat that prevented the Italians from going to Qatar, before recording a 3-2 victory over Turkey five days later in a friendly at the Konya Büyüksehir Belediye Stadyumu in Konya. The Parisian 'keeper played the entirety of these two games, while the number 6 took part in the 90 minutes of the game against the Macedonians.

 

 

ABDOU DIALLO / IDRISSA GUEYE - SENEGAL

The play-offs for the World Cup were also on the menu for Abdou Diallo and Idrissa Gueye's Senegal during this international break, with a double-header against Egypt on the programme. After a 1-0 defeat at the Cairo International Stadium on Friday, the Lions of Teranga won by the same scoreline four days later at the Stade Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio. The win sent the tie into extra-time and then a penalty shootout, with a 3-1 win for the side coached by former Paris Saint-Germain player Aliou Cisse. Diallo started the first leg but went off with an injury and was out for the return leg, while Gueye was part of the Senegalese starting line-up in both matches, giving up his place at the end of extra-time in the return leg.

 

 

ACHRAF HAKIMI - MOROCCO

Achraf Hakimi's Morocco also participated in the World Cup qualifying playoffs during the international break, with a double-header against the Democratic Republic of Congo on the menu. After a 1-1 draw on Friday at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa, the Atlas Lions won 4-1 four days later at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca to validate their ticket for Qatar. The Parisian defender, who played in both games, scored the fourth goal for former PSG player and coach Vahid Halilhodzic's side in the return match.

 

 

MARQUINHOS / NEYMAR JR - BRAZIL

Two World Cup qualifying matches were on the agenda for Marquinhos and Neymar Jr with Brazil during this international week. Already assured of a World Cup berth, the Seleção validated top spot in the CONMEBOL zone by winning 4-0 against Chile at the Estadio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, then with the same score against Bolivia at the Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz five days later. Marquinhos played all of both games while Neymar just played the first one, scoring from the penalty spot. Tite's players finish at the top of the South American zone ranking with 45 points from 17 games, remaining unbeaten (14 wins, three draws).

 

 

ANGEL DI MARIA / LEANDRO PAREDES / LIONEL MESSI - ARGENTINA

An Argentina squad featuring Angel Di Maria, Leandro Paredes and Lionel Messi - also already assured of going to Qatar - also played two World Cup qualifying matches during the international break. The Albilceleste won 3-0 against Venezuela at the Estadio Alberto J. Armando in Buenos Aires on Friday, before drawing 1-1 with Ecuador at the Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo in Guayaquil four days later. Paredes and Messi were in the starting lineup against the Venezuelans, and Messi scored before Di Maria came on and also found the back of the net. Against the Ecuadorians, Paris Saint-Germain's No. 8 and No. 30 players were again in the starting lineup. Lionel Scaloni's men finished second in the CONMEBOL standings, with 39 points from 17 games, and are also undefeated (11 wins, six draws).

 

 

KEYLOR NAVAS - COSTA RICA

Three matches for the third round of the World Cup qualification phase were on the menu for Keylor Navas' Costa Rica during this international break. With Navas a starter and captain each time, the Costa Ricans achieved a perfect record with a 1-0 win over Canada at the Estadio Nacional Olimpico in Costa Rica on Thursday, a 2-1 triumph against El Salvador at the Estadio Cuscatlan of San Salvador on Sunday and a 2-0 beating of the United States, again in San Jose, on Wednesday. The nine precious points won saw Luis Fernando Suarez's players finish fourth in the CONCACAF zone ranking with 25 points from 14 matches (seven wins, four draws, three defeats), which earned them a place in the qualification play-offs against New Zealand on Monday 13 or Tuesday 14 June.

 

 

DENIS FRANCHI - ITALY U20

Denis Franchi's Italy U20 team played their last two games of the 8 Nations Tournament during the international week. The Azzurrini first drew 1-1 with Germany at the Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca in Ascoli on Thursday, before beating Norway 5-0 in Sapsborg four days later. The young capital club goalkeeper remained on the bench during the first match, but came on at the end of the second one. With 12 points from seven games, the Italians are at the top of the table. Only England, on ten points but a game in hand, can still beat their lead.

ÉDOUARD MICHUT - FRANCE U19

The elite round of the UEFA Under-19 Championship Slovakia 2022 was on the agenda for Edouard Michut's France U19 team during this international break. After a 5-0 win against Sweden on Wednesday and a 2-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina at the André Darrigade Stadium in Dax on Tuesday - wins that bookended a 1-0 defeat against the Czech Republic at the Plaine des Sports in Saint-Paul-lès-Dax on Saturday - Les Bleuets finished top of Group 2. That validated their ticket for the Euro finals, which will take place from Saturday, 18 June to Friday, 1 July in Slovakia. The young Parisian midfielder came on as a substitute in each of the three matches.

XAVI SIMONS - PAYS-BAS U19

Xavi Simons' Dutch U19 team, which was originally also scheduled to participate in the elite round of the Euro during the international week, had the competition postponed due to the presence of Ukraine in Group 6. Instead, the Jong Oranje had a training camp that ended with a friendly match against NAC Breda on Friday. The elite round will finally take place at the beginning of June, with matches against Serbia on Wednesday, 1 June at 16:00 at the Yanmar Stadion in Almere, Norway on Saturday; 4 June at 16:00 at the Sportcomplex Varkenoord; and Ukraine on Tuesday, 7 June at 19:00, also in Rotterdam.

EL CHADAILLE BITSHIABU - FRANCE U17

The elite round of the UEFA Under-17 Championship Israel 2022 was on the menu of the France U17 side of El Chadaille Bitshiabu, accompanied by Paris Saint-Germain U19 player Warren Zaire-Emery, on the occasion of this international break. Playing at the Stade Alphonse Theis of Hesperange in Luxembourg, due to the suspension of Russia, which was supposed to be part of Group 5, Les Bleuets played only two games, with a 2-0 win against the host country on Wednesday and a 3-1 triumph over England on Saturday. This perfect record saw José Alcocer's players to finish at the top of the group and to qualify for the final phase of the Euro, which will take place from Monday, 16 May to Wednesday, 1 June in Israel.