World Cup Qualifiers: What are the permutations for United’s players?
- James Browning
- @JamesBrowning96
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The international break is perhaps more dreaded than the summer transfer window in the minds of most football fans — especially in England. It means a week without club action, an empty weekend and in most cases, the international football on display is dull when it comes to the Three Lions.
However, this break is a rare occasion in which there could be some excitement, if you’re into your international football; this week is make or break for many countries as they vie for a place at World Cup 2018 in Russia next summer.
In the slideshow below, we take you through the United players on international duty, country by country, and give you a break down of their country’s qualification status, what they need to do and who and when they could play (if selected by their respective managers).
Fingers crossed none of the lads get injured, with a massive game at Anfield up next for Mourinho and his side…
All times are BST
Argentina
Sergio Romero
United’s second choice ‘keeper is likely to start for Argentina during this international break, as they look to emerge from a tightly contested pack to qualify for the World Cup.
06/10/17: Argentina vs Peru, 00:30
11/10/17: Ecuador vs Argentina, 00:30
Romero and Argentina need to come in the top four in South American qualifying to guarantee a place at the World Cup — they are currently fifth, and if they stay there they’ll need to play a winner-takes-all qualification tie.
They could still finish anywhere from 2nd to 8th, so definitely need to grab at least four points in their two games
Armenia
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
The attacking midfielder is the first name on the team sheet for Armenia and will be looking to help his side to some redemption in this international break, even though World Cup qualification is now impossible for them.
05/10/17: Armenia vs Poland, 17:00
08/10/17: Kazakhstan vs Armenia, 17:00
Qualification may be out of reach but Armenia could still have a big say in their group; Poland are only top by three points and a loss could yet see them miss out on a place in Russia, if Montenegro and Denmark pick up some points.
Belgium
Romelu Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini
Belgium are already qualified for next summer’s World Cup and are the only European team (besides hosts Russia) to have secured their spot already.
07/10/17: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Belgium, 17:00
10/10/17: Belgium vs Cyprus, 19:45
Like Armenia, Belgium can still have a big say in their group despite their own fate already being secured. Bosnia-Herzegovina are second in the group but can only guarantee their place with two wins, else they are hoping for Greece to slip up.
Cyprus can also catch them, so Belgium’s performances will go a long way to deciding who joins them at the World Cup next summer.
Ecuador
Antonio Valencia
Valencia is the Ecuador captain and his side could still qualify for the World Cup, but their chances are slim following some disappointing recent results.
06/10/17: Chile vs Ecuador, 00:30
11/10/17: Ecuador vs Argentina, 00:30
Ecuador are in eighth place but could still qualify if the teams above them slip up — they’ll realistically need to win both of their games to have any chance of progression, though.
England
Chris Smalling, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford
Phil Jones pulled out of the squad with an injury or United would have had four players vying for starting spots as England look for the one win they need to secure their place in Russia next summer.
05/10/17: England vs Slovenia, 19:45
08/10/17: Lithaunia vs England, 17:00
England are top of their qualifying group and could go through top with just one point in their two games, which would secure them at least a playoff spot — but any stress can be disregarded if they pick up a win against Slovenia in their first game, which will see their place at the World Cup cemented.
Italy
Matteo Darmian
The United full-back may not get a lot of game time at Old Trafford but he is a regular for the Azzurri and will be hopeful of helping his national team secure their place at the World Cup.
06/10/17: Italy vs FYR Macedonia, 19:45
09/10/17: Albania vs Italy, 19:45
Italy are second in their qualifying group and will be hoping to pick up six points and pile the pressure on Spain, who are three points ahead of them in the automatic berth.
If they do finish behind Spain, they are looking likely to go through to the playoffs as one of the eight best runners up — where four teams will then go to the World Cup if they win their ties. All Italy have to do to secure second place is avoid defeat in either game, as Albania are currently six points behind them.
Ivory Coast
Eric Bailly
Bailly is an easy pick for both United and the Ivory Coast, and should certainly be starting again during this international break.
The Ivory Coast are currently top of their group, so just need to stay there to take a step closer to Russia — their qualification games don’t end in this break, though.
06/10/17: Mali vs Ivory Coast, 20:00
Bailly’s Ivory Coast are one point ahead of Morocco in Group B in the African qualification rankings, and will be expecting to win on Friday against the side who are bottom of the group.
They play Morocco in November in their final qualification game, which could make or break their hopes of World Cup participation, depending on results this month.
Netherlands
Daley Blind
The Dutchman will be hoping to help his side to better performances than they have produced in the last year, as the Netherlands still have a chance of making the World Cup despite a number of slip-ups.
07/10/17: Belarus vs Netherlands, 19:45
10/10/17: Netherlands vs Sweden, 19:45
The Netherlands are third in their group, four points behind leaders Spain and three behind Sweden, who they play during this international break.
To come top, they’d have to beat Belarus and Sweden by a combined goal difference of +5 (or more) and hope that France draw or lose both of their games, and that Sweden fail to beat Luxembourg, which is unlikely.
Alternatively, they can come second by beating Sweden and getting at least a point against Belarus, as long as Bulgaria don’t get maximum points from their two games. This would likely see Blind and his teammates through to the playoffs as a runner-up.
Serbia
Nemanja Matic
Matic will be hoping that Serbia can continue their good performances to book their place in Russia in comfort, as they are top of their group by four points going into their final two games.
06/10/17: Austria vs Serbia, 19:45
09/10/17: Serbia vs Georgia, 19:45
Serbia are four points ahead of Wales, five points ahead of the Republic of Ireland and eleven ahead of fourth placed Austria going into their final qualifiers.
A win against Austria on Friday would secure their place, whilst they will just about be able to get away with two losses if everything goes wrong, as Wales and Ireland play each other, so only one can pick up maximum points.
Spain
David de Gea
David de Gea will be hoping to steer Spain through their final two games and into the World Cup — in the knowledge that United team mates Juan Mata and Ander Herrera could join him in Russia next summer if all three continue to impress in the Premier League between now and the end of the season.
06/10/17: Spain vs Albania, 19:45
09/10/17: Israel vs Spain, 19:45
Spain are three points ahead of Italy in their qualification group, so a win against Albania would seal their place in Russia — they’ll be certain to go through to the playoffs as a best runner up if it all goes pear shaped though, as Albania are too far behind to beat them to second place if Italy do end up finishing top of the pile.
Sweden
Victor Lindelof
Sweden are in a precarious position going into their final two group games, but their qualification hopes rest firmly in their own hands, so Victor Lindelof will be looking to continue his recent good international form to help his side through to Russia.
07/10/17: Sweden vs Luxembourg, 17:00
10/10/17: Netherlands vs Sweden, 19:45
Lindelof and Sweden are just one point behind group leaders France going into their final game, and a win against Luxembourg will guarantee a top three finish in their group — but we all know third place isn’t good enough for a spot in Russia.
If France slip up, Sweden could top the group and qualify for the World Cup automatically; alternatively, Lindelof could be involved in a crunch match against club team mate Daley Blind — a win against both Luxembourg and the Netherlands would guarantee Sweden at least a playoff place, whilst condemning Blind and the Netherlands to a summer without World Cup football.