England
Phil Jones
Jones played a solid game against poor Lithuania before he was tested as centre-midfielder in Turin against Italy. He was probably the main factor in England’s poor first half performance, but did the job in the second, after he was moved back to centre-back position.
Chris Smalling
After Jones (unexpectedly) got the nod to play the Euro qualifying match, Smalling put a decent and composed display in the first half of the Italy game, but he had to be carried off the pitch just before the half-way mark. However, United’s best defender in the last period, merely ”felt unwell” so fear of losing another player to injury seems to be premature.
Michael Carrick
The revelation of England’s international break. After dictating the play at Wembley against Lithuania, Carrick was introduced as a sub for injured Smalling against Italy and performed magnificently in the second half. Carrick’s England (and United) future is bright, in light of his recent games and despite his age.
Wayne Rooney
England’s captain could’ve become all-time top-scorer in these two games, having scored one and hiting the woodwork on three separate occasions. His overall performances were constant and sharp, but he also missed at least three very good chances and will need to work on his finishing as the end of the season comes.
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Spain
David De Gea
After Casillas was the prefered choice for Vicente del Bosque in a narrow home win against Ukraine in the Euro qualifying match, United’s best player this season got a chance to impress in a friendly against the Netherlands. Although he conceded two goals, de Gea wasn’t to blame on those occasions, and he was probably one of the better Spain players with some decent saves after Klaassen and Depay shots.
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Argentina
Marcos Rojo
Rojo was left on the bench in Argentina’s victory against El Salvador, but got his 90 minutes in the 2-1 win against Ecuador. United’s centre-back, who missed last couple of games through injury, played on the left-back position and had a solid defensive game, with moments of attacking threats.
Angel Di Maria
The most expensive signing in British football got 73 and 79 minutes, in friendlies against El Salvador and Ecuador respectively. Di Maria won’t be too happy with his personal performances with some mixed moments on the ball. His lack of confidence and poor club form were replicated, having played on both wings during his time on the pitch. Nevertheless, he assisted Aguero with his cross from a corner-kick for the first goal against Ecuador.
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Northern Ireland
Jonny Evans
Evans played 81 minutes in Northern Ireland’s defeat in Glasgow (Scotland’s winning goal came after Evans got subbed), in his first match after the Cisse incident. He also played a vital role in a 2-1 win against Finland, in a crucial game in the qualifiers for EURO 2016. These two games will certainly boost Evans after major disappointment and the FA ban.
Paddy McNair
United’s youngster made his international debut at the right-back position at Hampden Park and had a quiet game. He didn’t feature in the clash against Finland, but he will relish his first inclusion in the Northern Ireland senior team.
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Colombia
Radamel Falcao
Falcao was back to his goal scoring on his international break after some tough time in the United shirt. Although the quality of the opponent wasn’t the best, Falcao will be satisfied with his two top finishes and assist in 70 minutes against Bahrain and emphatic penalty in 3-1 victory against Kuwait and will return to England with a smile on his face.
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The Netherlands
Daley Blind
Blind didn’t have the best of games in a disappointing home draw against Turkey in Group A, having played at left-back, his latest position at United, but he stepped up in a replay of the last World Cup’s classic against Spain, where he controlled the midfield from the deep-lying playmaker position.
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Ecuador
Antonio Valencia
Very disappointing break for Tony V, as he played a woeful game in his prefered right midfielder position, against United loanee Hernandez’s Mexico. Valencia, Ecuador captain in Brazil 2014, is falling down the pecking order in his national team’s hierarchy and didn’t get a minute of playing time in Ecuador’s Argentina defeat.
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The standout hero of the International Hero…
Marouane Fellaini (Belgium)
Big Belgian is the real hero of the international break. He scored 3 of 6 goals in two Belgium qualifiers against Cyprus and Israel, including a vital winner away from home in Tel Aviv. Two goals in the home thrashing of Cyprus were executed with measured left-footed finishes, of which second was a real beauty. Fellaini continued his great club form and he will definitely be big part of United’s charge for 2nd place.
