International wrap-up | Bissouma, Kulusevski & Sonny star

A busy first international break of the 2024/2025 season saw plenty of action for many of our players over the last 10 days.

Yves Bissouma scored twice in as many games as Mali got their Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign off to a solid start with four points from their opening two games. Having not scored an international goal in over seven years, he bagged two across the international break, firstly in a 1-1 draw against Mozambique and then he struck the only goal in a 1-0 win over Eswatini.

Meanwhile, Dejan Kulusevski wore the captain’s armband for the first time for Sweden as his side breezed past Azerbaijan with a 3-1 win last Thursday.

Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson then named Deki as captain again on Sunday as he picked up an assist in a 3-0 win against Estonia.

Lucas Bergvall made substitute appearances in both fixtures for his second and third caps respectively to see Sweden sit atop their Nations League group ahead of Slovakia on goal difference.

Heung-Min Son made his 128^th appearance for South Korea in a 0-0 draw with Palestine in Seoul last Thursday to take his cap tally past our former player Lee Young-Pyo.

He then starred on Tuesday in Korea’s third round qualifying match against Oman, picking up a goal and two assists in a 3-1 win as recent signing Yang Min-Hyeok made his nation’s senior matchday squad for the first time.

Cristian Romero started in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Chile last Friday. It was La Albiceleste’s first game at home since winning the 2024 Copa America, which saw Cuti take part in a lap of appreciation with the trophy following the full-time whistle.

He also started in a 3-1 defeat to Colombia on Tuesday. Despite the defeat, Argentina remain top of the FIFA World Cup qualifying group having won six of their eight games so far.

Radu Dragusin was ever present for Romania as they started their UEFA Nations League campaign with a perfect record after two games. Enjoying a 3-0 away win against Kosovo last Friday on matchday one, Radu's nation then claimed a 3-1 victory over Lithuania on Monday.

In Group B, League 4, Ben Davies and Brennan Johnson both played the full 90 for Wales in their opening Nations League game as they earned a 0-0 draw with Turkey in Cardiff.

Ben then started in the 2-1 win over Montenegro, captaining the side, whilst Johnson won his 30^th cap when he came off the bench just before half time in Niksic. The results leave Wales second in their UEFA Nations League group on goal difference.

Pape Matar Sarr played both games as Senegal started their AFCON qualification campaign. Playing the full 90 in a 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso, he then came on as a second-half substitute in a 1-0 win over Burundi.

Back in Europe, Destiny Udogie picked up an assist for Italy’s final goal in a 3-1 win over France last Friday, before edging team-mate Manor Solomon as the Azzurri won 2-1 against Israel in Budapest on Monday. Guglielmo Vicario was an unused substitute in both games. Manor had captained his nation in a 3-1 defeat to Belgium last Friday.

Rounding up the younger age groups, Wilson Odobert was a late substitute for France’s Under-21s in a 1-1 draw with Slovenia. He then went on to start in a 2-0 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina on Tuesday evening.

Archie Gray played the full 90 for England's Under-21s in a goalless draw with Northern Ireland before coming on in the 72^ndminute in a 4-1 win over Austria at Kenilworth Road on Monday night.

In the Men’s Elite League Squad (formerly the Under-20s), Dane Scarlett started and Ashley Phillips completed the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Turkey last Friday.

Dane was then named captain on Monday night and grabbed a goal in a 2-0 win over Romania. Ash was an unused substitute as was goalkeeper Luca Gunter for both fixtures.

Leo Black and Mikey Moore came off the bench in England’s Under-19s’ clash with Italy, with the former scoring a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw last Wednesday.

They both then started in a 1-1 draw with Croatia with Mikey picking up 68 minutes and Luca 78 in Koprivnica.

The boys also started the third friendly, a 3-2 defeat to Germany on Tuesday, with Mikey completing the 90, whilst Luca was substituted in the 75^th minute.

Ju’nai Byfield, Malachi Hardy and Luca Williams-Barnett all helped England’s Under-17s to a 5-0 win over Mexico, with Ju’nai and Malachi starting whilst Luca came off the bench in the second half.

They were in action again three days later in a 0-0 draw against Israel albeit the roles reversed with Luca starting whilst Malachi and Ju’nai came on as substitutes in the second period.

The boys rounded off their trio of fixtures with a 3-1 win over Germany as Malachi completed the 90, Ju’nai coming off in the 72^nd minute and Luca coming on in the 65^th minute.

Finally, Josh Keeley played every minute as the Republic of Ireland Under-21s beat Turkey 1-0 and drew 2-2 with Latvia as part of their Under-21 European Championship qualification campaign.