International break round-up: October 2021
See how the Parisians got on with their countries during the October international break.
PRESNEL KIMPEMBE / KYLIAN MBAPPÉ - FRANCE
France won the Nations League after two incredible games. Kylian Mbappé and Presnel Kimpembe first came back from 2-0 down to beat Belgium 3-2 with Mbappé levelling the scores from the penalty spot. Three days later, there was another come-from-behind victory with a 2-1 triumph over Spain in Milan with the Parisian number 7 netting the decisive goal.
GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA / MARCO VERRATTI - ITALY
The European champions were beaten in their Nations League semi-final by Spain, but overcame Belgium in the third-placed play-off. Donnarumma played both games, while Verratti came off just before the hour-mark against Spain and didn't play the following match.
THILO KEHRER - GERMANY
Thilo Kehrer helped Germany to a brace of wins over Romania (2-1) and in North Macedonia (0-4). The 25-year-old Paris defender played both games as his nation became the first other than hosts Qatar to qualify for the 2022 final tournament.
GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM - NETHERLANDS
The Parisian number 8 didn't feature in the 1-0 win over Latvia but was on the pitch for the 6-0 defeat of Gibraltar in Rotterdam.
NUNO MENDES / DANILO PEREIRA - PORTUGAL
Portugal will also go to Qatar following their 5-0 win over Luxembourg. A few days earlier, Danilo and Nuno Mendes helped their country to a 3-0 victory in a friendly against the 2022 tournament hosts.
ANGEL DI MARIA / LEANDRO PAREDES / LIONEL MESSI - ARGENTINA
Three games for our Argentines: 0-0 vs. Paraguay, a 3-0 win against Uruguay with Leo Messi getting on the scoresheet, before a 1-0 defeat of Peru.
MARQUINHOS / NEYMAR JR - BRAZIL
Marquinhos was on the scoresheet as Brazil beat Venezuela 3-1 before a 0-0 draw in Colombia three days later. They wrapped up with Neymar Jr helping inspire a 4-1 win against Uruguay with the Parisian number 10 scoring one and setting up two.
KEYLOR NAVAS - COSTA RICA
Navas helped his nation to a goalless draw with Honduras in the first of three qualifiers. Los Ticos then defeated El Salvador 2-1 before losing 2-1 to the USA in a game in which the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper was taken off at half-time.
ABDOU DIALLO / IDRISSA GUEYE - SENEGAL
Gueye and Diallo helped their nation to a 4-1 win over Namibia with the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder scoring, and they then defeated the same opponents 3-1 to leave Senegal top of their group with 12 points, well ahead of Togo and Namibia on four.
ACHRAF HAKIMI - MOROCCO
There were also two wins for Achraf Hakimi: 3-0 vs. Guinea-Bissau and 4-1 against Guinea to secure their place in the 2022 final tournament.