Several stars will hope to make their first senior appearances for their countries this week as international football returns.
While most European nations will prepare for their final Nations League matches with friendlies in the coming days, South America is straight back into competitive action with the latest rounds of 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
A host of players are celebrating call-ups and will be doing their utmost to win their first caps, particularly with less than a year to run until the delayed Euro 2020 and Copa America finals.
We ve picked out six of the biggest names hoping to make an impact on their debut this week
ENGLAND: JUDE BELLINGHAM
Borussia Dortmund s Jude Bellingham was called up by England boss Gareth Southgat…
Goalkeeper Kevin Trapp has returned to Eintracht Frankfurt from Paris Saint-Germain following a successful loan spell at the German club.
The Germany international has signed a five-year contract with Frankfurt, whom he helped reach the Europa League semi-finals after joining them for the 2018-19 season.
The French side signed Trapp from Eintracht in 2015 and he won a string of trophies during his time with the capital club, including two Ligue 1 titles.
I made it clear in the spring that I feel very comfortable in Frankfurt with Eintracht, said Trapp.
The time in Paris was very exciting, successful and a great experience for me. Now I m coming home completely and I want to achieve a lot here.
Eintracht have re-signed goalkeeper Kevin on …
Boos are an established part of the Champions League matchday experience at the Etihad Stadium, as the reception granted to the tournament anthem – as frosty as the March wind whipping through the ground during Manchester City s 7-0 demolition of Schalke – once again demonstrated.
For City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, it became the early soundtrack to a stellar night s work. Being born in Gelsenkirchen, only to turn out for Schalke s sworn enemies Borussia Dortmund and win the Bundesliga is not an act to be swiftly forgotten.
Gundogan s duties on wide set-pieces meant he fell into the away fans casting of pantomime villain. If the Germany international s current contract impasse rumbles on, he might one day experience similar catcalls from a presently appreciative Ea…
Luciano Spalletti was delighted to have quietened Napoli s critics after Fabian Ruiz s 94th-minute strike saw off Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico and propelled the visitors to the Serie A summit.
After Lorenzo Insigne had opened the scoring, Pedro s superb late volley looked to have denied Napoli a crucial victory, only for Fabian to curl in a brilliant last-gasp winner to put Spalletti s men ahead in an enthralling title race.
Napoli s return of 18 points from their eight league matches in 2022 is the best in Serie A, as they bid for a first Scudetto since the Diego Maradona era, while the late goal condemned Lazio to just their second home defeat of the league campaign.
Spalletti, who joined in with his players wild celebrations after the goal, said after the co…
Manchester United star Paul Pogba has denied claims that he snubbed his manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following Sunday’s 5-0 hammering at the hands of Liverpool at Old Trafford.
It was a day that went from bad to worse for the Frenchman after being left out of the starting line-up for a second game running, only to see his team-mates fall four goals behind by the break, which led to his introduction in the second half.
Pogba lasted only 15 minutes as he was sent off by referee Anthony Taylor following a VAR review following a heavy challenge on Naby Keita.
The former Juventus man has experienced highs and lows since coming back to United from Italy in 2016, and rumours about his future persist as he gets closer to the end of his deal in Manchester, which exp…
Harry Redknapp is confident nephew Frank Lampard will be appointed Chelsea s new head coach, despite Derby County s attempt to tie him down to a new deal.
Lampard is the frontrunner to succeed Maurizio Sarri in the Stamford Bridge dugout following the Italian s switch to Serie A champions Juventus.
But Derby are reluctant to let the legendary Chelsea midfielder return to his former club in a coaching capacity just a year into his three-year contract at Pride Park.
The Championship side, who suffered defeat to Aston Villa in this past season s play-off final, are reportedly in discussions with Lampard over extending his deal and chairman Mel Morris said on Monday no approach has yet been made by Chelsea.
On this day in 2001
Frank Lampard became a…
Josh Brownhill struck a dramatic 98th-minute winner as 10-man Bristol City beat Charlton Athletic 2-1 on Wednesday and moved to fourth in the Championship table.
Bristol City are now within three points of Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion after the late show.
Fulham, Hull City and Derby County also won on Wednesday, while Huddersfield Town and Middlesbrough played out a goalless draw.
TENSE AFFAIR AT ASHTON GATE GOES TO THE WIRE
Lee Bowyer s Charlton took a 65th-minute lead at Bristol City through Macauley Bonne but the hosts levelled proceedings thanks to substitute Famara Diedhiou s close-range header.
Diedhiou was then shown a straight red card for violent conduct with just four minutes of normal time remaining after he appeared…
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is open to remaining at Stamford Bridge despite being strongly linked with a move.
Courtois, 26, is reportedly a target for LaLiga giants Real Madrid with only a year remaining on his contract with the Premier League side.
But Courtois, who helped Belgium secure third place at the World Cup Saturday, said he may yet remain at Chelsea.
Now I m going to talk to my agent to see what the possibilities are. All options are open for me. I may also stay at Chelsea, he said, via Marca.
People always complain that players don t comply with their contracts, but maybe they do.
I don t think they will keep someone with my qualities on the bench, even if I don t sign [a new contract]. But maybe [staying] is possible, bec…
It has been a difficult period for AC Milan but club icon Kaka is confident the underachieving Italian giants will return to the top of world football.
Kaka enjoyed his best football in Milan, leading the way as the club won Serie A, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup glory in his first spell at San Siro from 2003 to 2009.
The World Cup winner who returned to Milan in 2013-14 after a four-year stint with Real Madrid also claimed the 2007 Ballon d Or thanks to his exploits with the 18-time Italian champions.
However, Milan have declined badly since winning the Scudetto in 2011, having gone from runners-up in 2012, to third, eighth, 10th and seventh last season.
It is a situation that hurts Kaka but the 34-year-old now captain of MLS outfit…
Juan Mata believes he made the right decision to join Manchester United almost six years ago and insists the club are getting closer to recapturing former glories.
Mata, 31, swapped Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford in January 2014 after falling out of favour under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.
The pair were reunited when Mourinho took charge of United but attacking midfielder Mata has been unable to add a league title to the FA Cup, EFL Cup and Europa League trophies he has won in five and a half seasons with the Red Devils.
That wait is almost certain to continue this term but the experienced former Valencia playmaker claims he would not have been able to forgive himself had he passed on the opportunity to join the 13-time Premier League champions.
Some pe…