12 Manchester City players selected for international duty before FIFA Club World Cup | OneFootball

There is no time to rest for several members of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City squad as high-profile international contests get underway across the next two weeks.

Just days after the conclusion of yet another long and challenging season for Manchester City, competitive action is not due to ease up with international action followed by a summer tournament for Guardiola and his players.

The next fortnight will see international contests in FIFA World Cup Qualification, the UEFA Nations League semi-final and final stages, as well as international friendlies over in the United States.

With just days then separating the conclusion of those matches, Manchester City are due to reconvene at the City Football Academy to prepare for the start of the brand new, revamped, rebranded, and expanded version of the FIFA Club World Cup.

City will begin the competition as holders following their triumph in the last edition of the old format in Saudi Arabia back in 2023, and take on Italy’s Juventus, Morocco’s Wydad AC, and the United Arab Emirates’ Al Ain in the group stage.

But before then, and ahead of the final international break linked to the 2024/25 season, here is a comprehensive round-up of the Manchester City players selected to feature for their respective national teams throughout the opening weeks of June!

Belgium

Call-ups: Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku

North Macedonia vs Belgium, 06/06 @ 19:45 (UK) – FIFA World Cup Qualification, UEFA, Group J

Belgium vs Wales, 09/06 @ 19:45 (UK) – FIFA World Cup Qualification, UEFA, Group J

Croatia

Call-ups: Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic

Gibraltar vs Croatia, 06/06 @ 19:45 (UK) – FIFA World Cup Qualification, UEFA, Group L

Croatia vs Czech Republic, 09/06 @ 19:45 (UK) – FIFA World Cup Qualification, UEFA, Group L

England

Call-ups: Kyle Walker

Andorra vs England, 07/06 @ 17:00 (UK) – FIFA World Cup Qualification, UEFA, Group K

England vs Senegal, 10/06 @ 19:45 (UK) – International Friendly

Netherlands

Call-ups: Nathan Ake

Finland vs Netherlands, 07/06 @ 19:45 (UK) – FIFA World Cup Qualification, UEFA, Group G

Netherlands vs Malta, 10/06 @ 19:45 (UK) – FIFA World Cup Qualification, UEFA, Group G

Norway

Call-ups: Oscar Bobb, Erling Haaland

Norway vs Italy, 06/06 @ 19:45 (UK) – FIFA World Cup Qualification, UEFA, Group I

Estonia vs Norway, 09/06 @ 19:45 (UK) – FIFA World Cup Qualification, UEFA, Group I

Portugal

Call-ups: Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva

Germany vs Portugal, 04/06 @ 20:00 (UK) – UEFA Nations League, Semi-Final

Switzerland

Call-ups: Manuel Akanji

Mexico vs Switzerland, 07/06 @ 21:00 (UK) – International Friendly

Uzbekistan

Call-ups: Abdukodir Khusanov

UAE vs Uzbekistan, 05/06 @ 17:00 (UK) – FIFA World Cup Qualification, AFC, Round 3, Group A

Uzbekistan vs Qatar, 10/06 @ 14:45 (UK) – FIFA World Cup Qualification, AFC, Round 3, Group A

What about the rest of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City squad?

A total of 11 Manchester City first-team players have not been selected to represent their respective nations at senior international level this break, with goalkeeping contingent Ederson (Brazil) and Stefan Ortega Moreno (Germany) absent.

Heading into the defensive stars of the Etihad Stadium and Vitor Reis has not been selected for Brazil’s national team roster despite hopes of a senior debut in the months after his arrival at City, while there is no place for Matheus Nunes at Portugal and Nico O’Reilly with England.

Midfielders Claudio Echeverri (Argentina), Nico Gonzalez (Spain), and Rodri (Spain) also have no place with their national sides, while Phil Foden’s request to England boss Thomas Tuchel for a break with his mental and physical interests in mind has been approved.

Among the attackers, Savinho has not been selected for Brazil while there is no place for Jack Grealish with the England squad.

On the subject of England and their Under-21 set-up ahead of this summer’s European Championships, clarity is still being awaited concerning Rico Lewis and James McAtee – both of whom are eligible for selection but may be needed at the FIFA Club World Cup.

As for Omar Marmoush, there are no fixtures for Egypt in the coming weeks, thus allowing him some well-earned rest. John Stones (England) remains injured while Scott Carson (England) and Ilkay Gundogan (Germany) have both retired from international action.