International wrap

WARREN ZAÏRE-EMERY / BRADLEY BARCOLA / OUSMANE DEMBÉLÉ / RANDAL KOLO MUANI - FRANCE

Warren Zaïre-Emery, Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé and Randal Kolo Muani's France had two away matches in the UEFA Nations League group stage on their schedule, and came away with two wins. Les Bleus kicked off their international week with a 4-1 win over Israel on Thursday at the Bozsik Arena in Budapest, Hungary, with the last two named in the starting eleven, while the first two came on. Kolo Muani provided the assist for the opening goal, while Barcola scored the final goal. The capital club's No.23, once again starting alongside Dembélé and Barcola, made the difference again four days later at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, in the Tricolores' 2-1 win over Belgium, scoring both of France's goals. These further six points keep Didier Deschamps and his players in second place in League A's Group A2, with a total of nine points after four rounds.

GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA - ITALY

The programme ws the same for Les Rouge et Bleu goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma‘s Italy, who are in the same group as France. The Squadra Azzurra first drew 2-2 with the Belgians at Rome's Stadio Olimpico on Thursday, then won 4-1 against the Israelis four days later at Udine's Dacia Arena. Wearing the captain's armband, the Parisian custodian played the entirety of the first match. Luciano Spalletti's men remain top of the group, one point ahead of Les Bleus and four ahead of the Red Devils.

NUNO MENDES / JOÃO NEVES / VITINHA - PORTUGAL

Nuno Mendes, João Neves and Vitinha of Paris Saint-Germain also won and drew in Portugal this week. The Equipa das Quinas began with a 3-1 win over Poland at Warsaw's PGE Narodowy on Saturday, a match in which Mendes played the entire match and scored his side's third goal. The Rouge et Bleu No.25 also played the entire match against Scotland at Hampden Park three days later, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Vitinha started but gave up his place at the very end of the match. With four wins from as many matches, Roberto Martinez's side, who top Group A1 with a three-point lead over Croatia, a six-point lead over the Poles and a nine-point lead over the Scots, are close to booking their place in the quarter-finals of the competition.

FABIAN RUIZ - SPAIN

Parisian midfielder Fabian Ruiz ‘s Spain secured their place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals with two further wins during the international break. La Roja won 1-0 against Denmark at the Estadio Enrique Roca in Murcia on Saturday, then 3-0 against Serbia three days later at the Estadio Nuevo Arcangel in Cordoba. The Rouge et Bleu No.8 started both games, and in the second he provided the assist for his side's second goal. With ten points from four matches, a three-point lead over the Danes and a six-point lead over the Serbs (whom they have already played on two occasions), Luis de la Fuente's men are assured of one of the top two places in group A4, which will qualify them for the quarter-finals of the competition. The draw will take place on Friday 22 November, with the matches to be played between Thursday 20 and Tuesday 25 March 2025.

MILAN SKRINIAR - SLOVAKIA

Les Rouge et Bleu defender Milan Skriniar‘s Slovakia also had two Nations League fixtures on the cards. The Sokoli drew 2-2 with Sweden at Bratislava's Narodny Futbalovy Stadion on Friday before beating Azerbaijan 3-1 three days later at Baku's Tofiq Bähramov Adina Respublika Stadionu. The Paris No.37, captain on both occasions, played the entirety of both matches. As a result, Francesco Calzona and his players are still in second place in Ligue C's Group C1 with ten points on the board, ahead of the Swedes on goal difference.

ACHRAF HAKIMI - MOROCCO

An AFCON 2025 qualifying double-header with the Central African Republic at Oujda's Stade d'Honneur was on the menu for Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi ‘s Morocco during this international week. The Atlas Lions picked up two big wins, 5-0 on Saturday and 4-0 three days later. The capital club's No.2 played in both matches, scoring his tenth international goal in the first. Walid Regragui's men are already assured of qualification for the final phase of the competition as hosts, but they are still top of Group B after four wins from as many games, five ahead of Gabon and nine ahead of the Central Africans.

LUCAS BERALDO / MARQUINHOS - BRAZIL

The qualifying phase for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was on the agenda for Paris Saint-Germain's Brazil defenders Lucas Beraldo and Marquinhos, and they emerged with two wins to their name. The Seleção won 2-1 against Chile at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos de Ñuñoa on Thursday, then 4-0 against Peru five days later at the Arena BRB Mané Garrincha in Brasilia. Marqui played the entirety of both matches, wearing the captain's armband in the second. Following the positive results, Dorival Junior and his players climbed to fourth place in the CONMEBOL Zone standings, with 16 points from ten games, six points behind Argentina, three behind Colombia and ahead of Uruguay on goal difference.

WILLIAN PACHO - ECUADOR

Ecuador, led by Paris defender Willian Pacho, who also took part in two World Cup qualifiers during the international week, complete the top five, three points behind the Brazilians. La Tri recorded two draws, 0-0 with Paraguay at the Estadio de Liga Deportiva Universitaria in Quito on Thursday and another 0-0 with Uruguay five days later at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. Both matches were played in their entirety by the Rouge et Bleu No.51.

LEE KANG-IN - SOUTH KOREA

The international break was no different for South Korea, with the capital club's midfielder Lee Kang In picking up two wins in the AFC Zone. The Taegeuk Warriors won 2-0 against Jordan at the Amman International Stadium on Thursday and 3-1 against Iraq five days later at the Yongin Mireu-Stadium in Cheoin-Gu. The Paris No.19 started both matches, but was substituted late on. Hong Myung-Bo's men now lead Group B of the third round with ten points from four matches, taking a three-point lead over Iraq and Jordan.

SENNY MAYULU - FRANCE U20

A friendly double-header with Morocco at the CNF Clairefontaine was on the menu for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Senny Mayulu‘s France U20 team. Bernard Diomède's side won twice against the Atlas Cubs (for whom the capital club's U19 defender Naoufel El Hannach featured) 4-3 on Friday and 5-4 three days later. The Rouge et Bleu No.24 started both matches, giving up his place at the end of each match.

YORAM ZAGUE - FRANCE U19

Paris defender Yoram Zague ‘s France U19 team played three friendly matches at the Marbella Football Center in San Pedro Alcantara, Spain, during the international week. Jean-Luc Vannuchi and his men began with a 1-1 draw with Denmark on Wednesday, before following up with a 3-2 win over Belgium on Saturday and a 4-2 defeat to England on Tuesday. Paris Saint-Germain's No.42 started the first and third games, coming on at half-time in the second.

IBRAHIM MBAYE - FRANCE U17

Two friendly matches in Portugal were on the programme for the France U17 team of Rouge et Bleu striker Ibrahim Mbaye during the international week, accompanied by the capital club's two U19 team players Emmanuel Mbemba and Elijah Ly. The latter and Mbaye were in the starting line-up for Lionel Rouxel's side's 3-2 win over Wales at the Estadio Municipal Joaquim Maria Batista in Alcanena on Friday, with Mbemba coming on as a late substitute. Mbemba was part of Les Bleuets' starting line-up for the 2-0 defeat by Equipa das Quinas three days later at the Cidade do Futebol in Cruz Quebrada, with Mbaye and Ly coming on at half-time and on the hour mark respectively.