Another international break is upon us and no fewer than 11 FC Barcelona players have been called up to potentially represent their national sides.
Six are set to play the penultimate round of Euro 2024 qualification fixtures, two might feature in friendly matches, while two will hope to be action during 2026 World Cup qualifying matches in South America. One player has also been called up to the Spain U-21 squad. Here is a full list of the players:
Spain: Alejandro Balde, Ferran Torres and Gavi
Portugal: João Félix and João Cancelo
Germany: Marc-André Ter Stegen and İlkay Gündoğan
Denmark: Andreas Christensen
Uruguay: Ronald Araujo
Bolivia: Jaume Cuéllar (Barça Atlètic)
Spain U21: Fermín López
TUESDAY, 17 OCTOBER
Last round of international games for the blaugranas today with four fixtures on the menu (all times CEST):
San Marino 1 – 2 Denmark
Andreas Christensen sat out this Euro 24 Group H qualifier as his countrymen guided Denmark to a narrow win over bottom side San Marino to keep pace with leaders Slovenia on 19 points.
Kazakhstan 0-4 Spain
Earlier in the day, Fermín López started for Spain U-21s after the long trip to Kazakhstan, going on to score the first goal in a comfortable 0-4 win that sees the side leading 2025 U-21 EURO qualifying group B.
Paraguay 1-0 Bolivia
Jaume Cuellar was an unused substitute as Bolivia slumped to the four defeats in as many games.
Uruguay 2-0 Brazil
Los celeste have beaten Brazil for the first time in 22 years, with one goal in each half scored by Darwin Núñez and Nicolás de la Cruz. Ronald Araujo impressed throughout in defence, picking up an early yellow card in a game that saw former Barça man Neymar stretchered off with what looked like a nasty knee injury.
Mexico 2-2 Germany
Both Ter Stegen and Gündoğan played the full 90 minutes of Germany’s friendly with Mexico at the home of the Philadelphia Eagles. Germany scored first but Mexico went on to lead 2-1 before Niclas Füllkrug levelled things up at 2-2.
MONDAY, 16 OCTOBER
Bosnia & Herzegovina 0-5 Portugal
Joao Fèlix and Joao Cancelo just can’t stop being brilliant. Portugal might be already through to Euro 2024, but they still went full on to beat their Balkan hosts. Both players contributed goals to the 5-0 win, and Mr Félix also added an assist and was the provoker of the penalty that meant goal number five. Joan Cancelo played the whole game, while Joao Fèlix came off with 10 minutes to go.
SATURDAY, 14 OCTOBER
United States 1-3 Germany
Wearing the captain’s armband, İlkay Gündoğan left-footed home a rebound off the keeper to score Germany’s first goal in their friendly against the USMNT in East Hartford. That goal cancelled out the American’s opener and his team went on to win 3-1, with Ter Stegen also playing the full 90 minutes.
Denmark 3-1 Kazakhstan
Andreas Christensen played all 90 minutes of a crucial win for the Danes in Copenhagen. The three points have flown his team to the top og the group, tied on points with Slovenia, and they are now in a better position than ever for a place at Euro 24.
FRIDAY, 13 OCTOBER
Portugal 3-2 Slovakia
Roberto Martínez’s Portugal side took all three points in their Euro2024 qualifier at home to Slovakia despite a late comeback from the visitors. Barça duo João Cancelo and João Félix were both involved with the defender playing all 90 minutes and the striker coming on in the 65th minute to replace Rafael Leão. The win means that Portugal are through to the final stages of Euro2024.
THURSDAY, 12 OCTOBER
Spain 2-0 Scotland
Alejandro Balde, Ferran Torres and Gavi all started for Spain in Seville tonight, with La Roja winning 2-0 to edge closer to mathematical qualification for Euro 24. Balde was replaced at half-time, while the other two Barça representatives played the full match. Group leaders Scotland looked to have taken a 60-minute lead through Scott McTominay, but the goal was rather harshly ruled out. And then Álvaro Morata of Atlético and Oihan Sancet got the goals that earned the three points for the home side.
Elsewhere, Robert Lewandowski was out injured, but his Poland side picked up three much-needed points from a 2-0 win in the Faroe Islands.
Uruguay 2-2 Colombia
An injury time penalty nabbed a point for Uruguay in Colombia, with Ronald Araujo playing the full game alongside Sebastian Caceres in the centre of the visiting defence. The Barça player made an especially crucial challenge to deny Luis Diaz a goal in the first half, but his side were trailing at the break. Mathías Olivera equalised by Uruguay were back behind before the late twist from the penalty spot means the celeste have four points from a possible nine in Conmebol World Cup qualifying.
Bolivia 1-2 Ecuador
Jaume Cuéllar of Barça Atlétic did not feature as Bolivia’s problems increased with a 2-1 defeat at home to Ecuador, meaning they have now lost all three games played to date.
