A Summer Of International Action For City’s Stars
- As many as 14 Leicester City players could be in international action this summer
- Youri Tielemans, Timothy Castagne and Dennis Praet have all been selected by Belgium for the 2020 UEFA European Championships
- Kasper Schmeichel, Danny Ward and Çağlar Söyüncü have also been called up for the tournament
- Thanawat Suengchitthawon could make his competitive debut for Thailand
From the 2020 UEFA European Championships to Marbella training camps, City’s stars will look to add to their international caps tally across several different continents in the coming weeks.
Following international friendlies against Greece and Croatia, Leicester trio Youri Tielemans, Timothy Castagne and Dennis Praet will aim to help Belgium progress from Group B of the European Championships.
They will first face Russia in St. Petersburg on Saturday 12 June before taking on Denmark in Copenhagen on Thursday 17 June and Finland back in St. Petersburg four days later.
Tielemans, Castagne and Praet could well come up against fellow Fox Kasper Schmeichel in their second Group B fixture, as the Leicester stopper targets further progression in a major tournament with his nation.
Schmeichel starred at the 2018 FIFA World Cup for the Danes, and will hope to transform his fine City form onto the international stage when Denmark head to Copenhagen - his place of birth – on Saturday 12 June after friendly fixtures versus Germany and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Then follows a clash with Belgium five days later, before an encounter with Russia, again in Copenhagen, on Monday 21 June.
Centre-back Çağlar Söyüncü, capped 34 times by his nation, could well be kicking off this summer’s flagship tournament when Turkey tackle Italy in Rome on Friday 11 June in their Group A opener following friendlies against Azerbaijan and Northern Ireland.
Then, on Wednesday 16 June, the Crescent-Stars tackle Wales in Baku for their second fixture, while they round off their group action with an encounter with Switzerland on Saturday 20 June in the same city.
Söyüncü may have the opportunity to line up against Foxes team-mate Danny Ward, who has been included as one of three goalkeepers in Wales’ squad for their three Group A games.
The shot-stopper’s nation face friendlies against France and Albania in preparation for the European Championships, where they take on Switzerland on Saturday 12 June and Turkey on Wednesday 16 June – both in Baku – and then Italy, in Rome, on Sunday 20 June.
With six Foxes potentially in European Championships action, several others could notch up more international minutes, while there may also be a competitive debut for Thanawat Suengchitthawon, who made his maiden appearance in a 2-2 draw with Tajikistan on Saturday after coming off the bench.
After receiving his first call-up for Thailand, the talented attacking midfielder could make his debut against Indonesia on Thursday 3 June in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying, while further matches against the United Arab Emirates on Monday 7 June and Malaysia on Tuesday 15 June follow, with all three games taking place in Dubai.
Nigerian duo Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi, meanwhile, could represent the Super Eagles on two occasions when they contest a brace of international friendlies over in Austria.
Nigeria first take on Cameroon on Friday 4 June, with Iheanacho aiming to add to his nine goals in 31 appearances for his nation, while Ndidi has been capped 38 times to date.
Having made his senior debut for Senegal in March, midfielder Papy Mendy has again been included in the Lions of Teranga’s squad for two upcoming friendly matches.
Mendy’s nation tackle Zambia on Saturday 5 June in Senegal, where they also face Cape Verde three days later as part of their summer schedule.
Both Daniel Amartey and Kamal Sowah – the latter spending 2020/21 on loan at OH Leuven – have been selected by Ghana for their international friendly encounters with Morocco and Ivory Coast.
The Black Stars head to Morocco on Tuesday 8 June and then entertain Ivory Coast in Ghana four days later, with Sowah in line for his maiden international appearance for the four-time Africa Cup of Nations winners.
Development Squad Player of the Season Shane Flynn will aim to build on his international experience with Republic of Ireland Under-21s during three friendlies as part of their Marbella summer camp.
After coming off the bench in a 2-0 loss to Switzerland on Sunday, Flynn’s nation next face encounters with Australia on Wednesday 2 June and Denmark on Saturday 5 June.
Another City youngster away with their national team is goalkeeper Chituru Odunze, who has linked up with USA’s senior squad for several international games.
Odunze did not appear in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat by Switzerland – a game the USA used to prepare for their CONCACAF Nations League Semi-Final encounter with Honduras in Colorado on Friday 4 June.
Should the USA progress, they will encounter either Mexico or Costa Rica in the final three days later, while they are also scheduled to host Costa Rica in Utah in an international friendly on Thursday 10 June.
His inclusion means that as many as 14 Foxes could be in international action in the coming weeks, so stay tuned to LCFC.com across the summer for updates on their progress.