Nations League & AFCON Qualifiers To Headline International Action
- Thirteen Foxes are in line to feature for their countries during this latest international break
- Wout Faes, Caleb Okoli, Kasey McAteer, Danny Ward, Victor Kristiansen, Jannik Vestergaard and Mads Hermansen could all play in the UEFA Nations League
- Facundo Buonanotte is in the Argentina squad for FIFA World Cup qualifying action
- Jordan Ayew, Abdul Fatawu, Wilfred Ndidi and Bilal El Khannouss may feature in CAF AFCON qualifiers
Okoli has been included in the senior Italy squad for the second time in succession and will be hoping to make his senior international debut as Azzurri host Belgium at Stadio Olimpico (7:45pm kick-off).
Top of League A Group 2, Italy have two wins from two and meet Israel in Udine in their next fixture on Monday night, while Faes’ Red Devils also play again that night, tackling France at King Baudouin Stadium (both 7:45pm kick-offs).
Republic of Ireland are also in Nations League action on Thursday, offering Kasey McAteer a potential third cap for his country against Finland – a 7:45pm kick-off at Helsinki Olympic Stadium.
Both sides are without a point in League B Group 2 after two matchdays. Three days later, Ireland travel across to Piraeus for a meeting with Greece at Georgios Karaiskakis Football Stadium, also a 7:45pm kick-off).
Goalkeeper Danny Ward’s involvement in Wales’ Nations League campaign continues on Friday; the Dragons travelling to Iceland’s Laugardalsvöllur in Reykjavík before hosting Montenegro at Cardiff City Stadium next Monday (both 7:45pm kick-offs). Craig Bellamy’s side have collected four points from their opening two matches in League B Group 4.
Mads Hermansen, Jannik Vestergaard and Victor Kristiansen are all in Denmark’s squad for away fixtures against Spain (Saturday) and Switzerland (Tuesday) in the same competition (both 7:45pm kick-offs). Top of the standings in League A Group 4, the Danes will be looking to maintain their 100 per cent record.
Fresh from scoring the winner for City in Saturday's 1-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth, Facundo Buonanotte has also been called up for Argentina. The on-loan Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder has already featured twice for the world champions and Copa América winners, and is set for action against Venezuela (Thu, 10pm kick-off) and Bolivia (next Wed, 1am kick-off).
Foxes duo Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu are in line for minutes during Ghana’s Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign, continuing with back-to-back matches against Sudan on Thursday (5pm) and then Monday (2pm). The Black Stars are searching for their first win having picked up one point from their opening two games.
Wilfred Ndidi could represent Nigeria twice more, starting with Friday’s encounter against Libya (5pm kick-off) at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, leading into the reverse fixture at Benina Martyrs Stadium four days later (8pm kick-off).
Morocco have two wins from two and sit top of Group B ahead of taking on Central African Republic twice in quick succession. Bilal El Khannouss could add to his 15 international caps in Saturday’s home game, which is followed by Tuesday’s clash, both 8pm kick-offs at Honneur Stadium.
There’s two more chances for Bobby De Cordova-Reid to earn Jamaica caps in the CONCACAF Nations League this week. It starts on Friday, facing Nicaragua at 3am in a battle of the two top in League A Group B, before hosting Honduras at Independence Park next Tuesday (2am kick-off).
All times BST.