It’s going to be a busy international break for our men’s players with no fewer than 25 involved in matches for their countries over the next ten days.
The action gets underway tonight when Evan Ferguson, fresh from his two goals in last Sunday’s FA Cup win over Grimsby Town, will make his full debut for the Republic of Ireland in their friendly against Latvia in Dublin.
The 18-year-old has already made two substitute appearances against Norway and Malta, but boss Stephen Kenny confirmed on Tuesday that Ferguson will start as Ireland prepare for their Euro 2024 qualifier at home to France on Sunday.
Kenny said, “Evan’s career is in its infancy. He's had a great start to his Premier League career and is scoring some goals in the Premier League, the FA Cup and League Cup.
“We have known about Evan for a few years now, coming through the system in Ireland with Bohemians and coming through the underage international teams. At 18 years of age now, he's showing he is ready to come into the team.”
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Another 18-year-old, Facundo Buonanotte, is hoping to get his first taste of senior action with world champions Argentina. The midfielder, along with Alexis Mac Allister, is in the World Cup winners’ squad for the first time for games against Panama and Curucao.
Our three Ecuadorians, Moises Caicedo, Pervis Estupinan and Jeremy Sarmiento, have made the long trip to Australia for two friendlies in Sydney and Melbourne while Kaoru Mitoma will be involved in two Japan games against Uruguay and Colombia in Tokyo and Osaka.
Rob Sanchez has linked up with Spain ahead of Euro 2024 qualifiers against Norway and Scotland at Hampden Park on Sunday, when Billy Gilmour will be hoping to line up for the hosts. The Scots start their qualifying campaign against Cyprus on Saturday, also in Glasgow.
✌🏻¡¡DOS MÁS!! @11BryanGil & Robert Sánchez.#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/80qAPMGC7R
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) March 20, 2023
Julio Enciso’s Paraguay play Chile in Santiago next Sunday while Michal Karbownik and Kacper Kozlowski have joined up with Poland for their Euro qualifiers away to Czech Republic and against Albania in Warsaw.
Goalkeeper Tom McGill has linked up with Canada for the first time at senior level for games against Curucao and Honduras in the CONCACAF Nations League qualifying process.
Several other Albion players are representing their countries at age group level: Levi Colwill, Carl Rushworth (England U21s); Yasin Ayari (Sweden U21s); James Beadle (England U19s); James Furlong, Andrew Moran (Ireland U21s); Jack Hinshelwood (England U18s); Casper Nilsson (Sweden U21s); Mark O’Mahony (Ireland U19s); Cam Peupion (Australia U21s); Ed Turns (Wales U21s); Jan Paul van Hecke (Netherlands U21s);