For once, an upcoming slate of international games are not interrupting Manchester City’s form. However, this time they are preventing players from their well-deserved rest after a gruelling title defence. Here’s a roundup of all of the Blues’ status this go around:
Argentina: Julian Alvarez
Fresh off scoring six goals in the Copa Libertadores in the early hours of Thursday morning, the 22-year-old is hoping to feature in Argentina’s upcoming game. Argentina will face Italy in the 2022 Finalissima, a revived match featuring the winners of the Copa America and European Championship winners.
Fixture Details:
June 1 | Italy vs Argentina | 19:45 BST
Belgium: Kevin De Bruyne
After finishing the season in the best form of his career, Kevin De Bruyne is expected to feature heavily in a slew of Nations League games for the Belgian Red Devils.
Fixture Details:
June 3 | Belgium vs Netherlands | 19:45 BST
June 8 | Belgium vs Poland | 19:45 BST
June 11 | Wales vs Belgium | 19:45 BST
June 14 | Poland vs Belgium | 19:45 BST
Brazil: Ederson and Gabriel Jesus
After rekindling his goal scoring form at the tail end of the season, Gabriel Jesus has been recalled by Tite and Brazil, with Ederson also selected.
Fixture Details:
June 2 | South Korea vs Brazil | 12:00 BST
June 6 | Japan vs Brazil | 11:20 BST
England: John Stones, Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, & Raheem Sterling
Gareth Southgate has once again called up a battalion of City players for their upcoming Nations League fixtures. Kyle Walker returns to international duty after missing out in the spring.
Fixture Details:
June 4 | Hungary vs England | 17:00 BST
June 7 | Germany vs England | 19:45 BST
June 11 | England vs Italy | 19:45 BST
June 14 | England vs Hungary | 19:45 BST
Germany: Ilkay Gundogan
After securing his status as a hero for City this past week, Ilkay Gundogan will look to continue his good form with the German national team for their upcoming Nations League matches.
Fixture Details:
June 4 | Italy vs Germany | 19:45 BST
June 7 | Germany vs England | 19:45 BST
June 11 | Hungary vs Germany | 19:45 BST
June 14 | Germany vs Italy | 19:45 BST
Netherlands: Nathan Ake
After seamlessly stepping in for the injured John Stones and Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake will be representing his home country for some difficult games in the Nations League group stage.
Fixture Details:
June 3 | Belgium vs Netherlands | 19:45 BST
June 8 | Wales vs Netherlands | 19:45 BST
June 11 | Netherlands vs Poland | 19:45 BST
June 14 | Netherlands vs Wales | 19:45 BST
Norway: Erling Haaland
While he is yet to be officially unveiled as a City player when this story is published, the Premier League champions’ latest recruit has a tough road ahead in the Nations League group stage.
Fixture Details:
June 2 | Serbia vs Norway | 19:45 BST
June 5 | Sweden vs Norway | 19:45 BST
June 9 | Norway vs Slovenia | 19:45 BST
June 12 | Norway vs Sweden | 17:00 BST
Portugal: Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva
After narrowly securing their spot in this year’s World Cup, Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva are once again expected to play a lot of minutes for their home country as they take on club teammate, Rodri in their first game of the Nations League group stage.
Fixture Details:
June 2 | Spain vs Portugal | 19:45 BST
June 5 | Portugal vs Switzerland | 19:45 BST
June 9 | Portugal vs Czech Republic | 19:45 BST
June 12 | Switzerland vs Portugal | 19:45 BST
Spain: Rodri
After scoring the equaliser in dramatic fashion for last week’s title defence, Rodri is expected to feature heavily in Spain’s Nations League fixtures.
Fixture Details:
June 2 | Spain vs Portugal | 19:45 BST
June 5 | Czech Republic vs Spain | 19:45 BST
June 9 | Switzerland vs Spain | 19:45 BST
June 12 | Spain vs Czech Republic | 19:45 BST
Ukraine: Oleksandr Zinchenko
The Ukrainian national team will play for the first time since November, due to Russia’s invasion. Zinchenko gave an impassioned interview about the situation in his home country last week after securing the Premier League title. The 25-year-old will represent his country against Scotland in the World Cup semifinal playoff before a trio of Nations League games.
Fixture Details:
June 1 | Scotland vs Ukraine | 19:45 BST
June 5 | Wales vs Scotland/Ukraine | 17:00 BST
June 8 | Republic of Ireland vs Ukraine | 19:45 BST
June 11 | Ukraine vs Armenia | 14:00 BST
June 14 | Ukraine vs Republic of Ireland | 19:45 BST
NOT TRAVELLING
Aymeric Laporte will miss out on this international trip after revealing that he played through a knee injury sustained during the Wolves match at Molineux, fighting through the final games of the season to ensure the title defence.
Ruben Dias has yet to fully recover from a hamstring/muscular injury that caused him to barely feature for the final month of the season.
Zack Steffen has withdrawn from international duties due to family reasons. The 27-year-old has missed a myriad of games this year due to Covid and various injuries.
Riyad Mahrez won’t feature for Algeria in the coming weeks after City sent the Algerian FA his medical report deeming him not fit enough to participate. City’s top goalscorer will be getting a much-needed break after seeing his form dip during the final months of the season.
Written by: @IVIeehan
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