11 Paris Saint-Germain players are currently with their respective national teams at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Let’s take a look back at their first week and look ahead to their second week there (all times given in CET).
KYLIAN MBAPPÉ - FRANCE
It's been a successful start to the tournament for Kylian Mbappé's France, who ran out 4-1 winners over Australia last Tuesday at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah before beating Denmark 2-1 four days later at Stadium 974 in Doha – two wins that make them the first team through to the tournament's last 16.
The capital club's no. 7 shone in both encounters, scoring and getting an assist in the first game before bagging a brace in the second, on top of being named as the Player of the Match both times. His three goals have put him joint-top of the tournament's goalscoring charts as well as level with Zinédine Zidane as the seventh-highest scorer for France with 31 goals. Incidentally, with 56 caps for his country whilst playing for Les Rouge et Bleu, the 2018 World Cup winner has become the most-capped Paris Saint-Germain player for France, with one cap more than the club's former midfielder Blaise Matuidi.
Les Bleus' next aim will be to take top spot in Group D in their third and final group game, in which Didier Deschamps's men will face Tunisia at 18:00 on Wednesday 30th November at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan. If they do indeed finish top of their group, they will come up against the Group C runners-up in the next round at 16:00 on Sunday 4th December at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha. If they finish second, they will take on the winners of that same group a day earlier, at 20:00 at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan.
NUNO MENDES / DANILO PEREIRA / VITINHA - PORTUGAL
The Portugal side featuring Nuno Mendes, Danilo Pereira and Vitinha also got their campaign off to a winning start by beating Ghana 3-2 at Stadium 974, with the second of the three Paris Saint-Germain players mentioned above playing the full game. The second and third assignments for the Equipa das Quinas in Group H are against Uruguay at 20:00 this evening at Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail and then against South Korea four days later, at 18:00 at Education City Stadium. The capital club's no. 15 isn't expected to play in either game due to a knock to the ribs.
CARLOS SOLER / PABLO SARABIA - SPAIN
Carlos Soler's and Pablo Sarabia's Spain enjoyed a spectacular start to their World Cup by thrashing Costa Rica 7-0 at Al Thumama Stadium on Wednesday, with the former of the two players coming into the game on the hour mark and finding the back of the net. Four days later, La Roja drew 1-1 with Germany at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. The final test for Luis Enrique's men in Group E is against Japan at 20:00 on Thursday 1st December at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.
KEYLOR NAVAS - COSTA RICA
After suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of Spain in Doha on Wednesday, Keylor Navas's Costa Rica managed to pick themselves up again to beat Japan 1-0 on Sunday at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, with the capital club's no. 1 playing the entirety of both games. The final match for Luis Fernando Suárez's men in Group E is against Germany at 20:00 on Thursday 1st December at Al Bayt Stadium.
LIONEL MESSI - ARGENTINa
Lionel Messi's Argentina have been on an emotional rollercoaster in their first week at this year's World Cup. Despite their captain opening the scoring from the spot at Lusail Iconic Stadium on Tuesday, La Albiceleste fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Saudi Arabia. Lionel Scaloni's men managed to bounce back four days later, though, as they beat Mexico 2-0, with the capital club's no. 30 again opening the scoring and this time being named as the Player of the Match. Argentina's final game in Group C is against Poland at 20:00 on Wednesday 30th November at Stadium 974. If they were to go through, they may well cross paths with France in the last 16...
MARQUINHOS / NEYMAR JR - BRAZIL
Marquinhos's and Neymar Jr's Brazil made a solid start to their tournament by running out 2-0 winners over Serbia at Lusail Iconic Stadium on Thursday. The Auriverde pair started the game, with the latter of the two coming off with an ankle knock late on. The second and third opponents for A Seleção in Group G are Switzerland at 17:00 today at Stadium 974 and then Cameroon four days later, at 20:00 in Lusail.
ACHRAF HAKIMI - MOROCCO
Achraf Hakimi's Morocco got their World Cup underway by drawing 0-0 with Croatia at Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday, with the capital club's no. 2 playing the full fixture. The defender was also in the Atlas Lions' starting XI for their 2-0 win over Belgium four days later at Al Thumama Stadium. The third and final outing for Walid Regragui's players in Group F is against Canada at 16:00 on Thursday 1st December, again at Al Thumama Stadium.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FIFA WORLD CUP Qatar 2022