International round-up: McConville makes debut

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Charlie Hanson

2024-11-20T13:00+00:00

Ruairi McConville made his Northern Ireland debut. 📷 by Northern Ireland.

Ruairi McConville made his full senior debut for Northern Ireland during the November international break, while there were also debuts at youth level for a number of Albion players.

Senior call-ups

Simon Adingra – Ivory Coast

Simon Adingra played the opening 45 minutes of Ivory Coast’s 1-0 defeat to Zambia, before scoring a sublime goal in his country’s 4-0 thrashing of Chad. The victory confirmed Ivory Coast’s place at the African Cup of Nations in 2025.

Yasin Ayari - Sweden

Sweden won both of their Nations League Group 1 matches, beating Slovakia 2-1, before putting six past Azerbaijan without response. Yasin started both games to take his tally of Sweden senior caps up to eight.

Julio Enciso – Paraguay

Julio Enciso helped Paraguay take a huge step towards qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Having played 82 minutes in their 2-1 win over Argentina, Julio was introduced at half-time against Bolivia. An assist for Miguel Almiron and a stunning strike in stoppage time ensured Paraguay came away with a point from a 2-2 draw.

Pervis Estupinan, Jeremy Sarmiento – Ecuador

A comfortable 4-0 win against Bolivia – in which Pervis played the full 90 minutes and Jeremy came on for the final 25 minutes – was followed up with a 1-0 victory over Colombia, with Pervis substituted late in second-half injury time. The two results put Ecuador in a strong position to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Evan Ferguson, Andrew Moran – Republic of Ireland

Andrew Moran made his competitive debut for the Republic of Ireland in their defeat to England. 📷 by FAI.

Evan Ferguson scored his country’s goal in their 1-0 win over Finland with an excellent header, although the Republic of Ireland’s 5-0 loss to England was one to forget . The game at Wembley however did mark Andrew Moran’s competitive debut for Ireland, having played in a friendly last year.

Ruairi McConville – Northern Ireland

Ruairi McConville made his full debut in a 2-2 draw with Luxembourg in the Nations League on Monday. 📷 by Northern Ireland FA.

One of the standout moments of the international break was men’s under-21 defender Ruairi McConville making his senior Northern Ireland debut as a late substitute in his country’s 2-0 win over Belarus, before making his first start in a 2-2 draw with Luxembourg.

Yankuba Minteh – The Gambia

The Gambia suffered a disappointing defeat to Comoros, which cost them a place at the African Cup of Nations, before beating already qualified Tunisia in their final match. Yankuba was a second-half substitute in the defeat to Comoros, before playing 65 minutes against Tunisia.

Kaoru Mitoma – Japan

Kaoru Mitoma's Japan have qualified for the 2026 World Cup. 📷 by Nigel Keene.

Japan confirmed their place at the 2026 World Cup with a comfortable 4-0 win over Indonesia – in which Kaoru got an assist – before they beat China 3-1. Mitoma came on for the final 25 minutes in the latter victory.

Jakub Moder – Poland

Poland’s winless streak in the Nations League was extended to five games as they were beaten 5-1 by Portugal, before suffering a 2-1 defeat to Scotland. Jakub played for 45 minutes in the defeat to the Scots.

Jan Paul van Hecke, Bart Verbruggen, Mats Wieffer – the Netherlands

Jan Paul and Bart enjoyed a clean sheet as they defeated Hungary 4-0 in Amsterdam, with Mats coming on for the final ten minutes. Ronald Koeman rang the changes for the following game with Mats the only Albion player to start, as the Dutch drew 1-1 with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Youth call-ups

James Beadle – England Under-21s

James started both of England’s friendlies during the November break, keeping a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw with Spain, before drawing 1-1 with the Netherlands.

Brajan Gruda – Germany Under-21s

Germany enjoyed a 3-0 win over Denmark during which Brajan played 65 minutes, before he came on for the last 35 minutes of his country’s 2-2 draw with France.

Harry Mills – Cyprus Under-21s

Harry Mills made his Cyprus under-21s debut during the break, although it would end with a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Hungary. The full-back came on for the final 30 minutes of the game.

Jamie Mullins, Mark O’Mahony, Jacob Slater – Republic of Ireland Under-21s

Mark O'Mahony scored for the Republic of Ireland Under-21s against Sweden. 📷 by FAI.

Ireland lost the first of their double header against Sweden 2-0, with O’Mahony starting for his country and Mullins coming on for the final 25 minutes. All three Albion players did start in the 3-2 win over the Swedes and they played a major part in the victory.

Mullins put Ireland in front thanks to an O’Mahony assist, before Mullins teed up his country’s second. Jacob Slater, who was making his full debut, then set up O’Mahony for the third.

Freddie Simmonds England Under-17s

Having captained England during their 1-1 draw with Belgium in the first of a double header in Brussels, Freddie was brought on for the final 30 minutes of the subsequent 2-1 defeat.