Five international debuts to look out for this month | OneFootball

There’s plenty of international action on the horizon this week with the Nations League semi-finals and World Cup qualifiers.

Several fresh faces have been called up to represent their countries for the first time and we’ve picked out five potential debutants to keep an eye on.

Five international debuts to look out for this month

Nick Woltemade (Germany)

With Niclas Fullkrug having endured an injury-hit season and Kai Havertz not risked, Germany have opted to call up another big man for their first Nations League finals campaign.

However, Nick Woltemade is not your usual towering target-man. The 6ft 6in forward combines his tall frame with nimble footwork and ranked in the top four percent of forward across Europe for successful take-ons per 90 last season.

The 23-year-old has earned his maiden call-up after a breakout season with Stuttgart, in which he scored 17 goals in all competitions. Woltemade was the leading scorer in the DFB-Pokal as Stuttgart won the German Cup for the first time in 28 years.

He arrives in the senior set-up with an impressive goal record at u-21 level. He’s netted seven times in 12 appearances for the u-21 side, including a hat-trick against Spain in March.

Rodrigo Mora (Portugal)

Rodrigo Mora’s exciting emergence at Porto has been recognised with a first call-up to the Portuguese national team.

The 18-year-old built on an impressive 2023/324 that saw him finish as the top scorer in the UEFA Youth League and u-17 European Championship to break into the Porto side last season. Mora scored 10 goals from just 16 starts in the Primeira Liga, adding four assists.

The attacking midfielder is regarded as one of Europe’s most exciting talents and will hope to debut when Portugal face Germany in the Nations League semi-finals on Wednesday. Mora was not even born when teammate Cristiano Ronaldo made his Portugal bow.

Rayan Cherki (France)

Didier Deschamps has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal with France, with Rayan Cherki and Desire Doue adding to a selection headache.

The duo joins the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Marcus Thuram, Bradley Barcola and Randal Kolo Muani in the most talent-stacked forward line in international football.

Cherki’s maiden call-up comes after a coming-of-age campaign at Lyon. The 21-year-old debuted for Lyon way back in 2019 but this has been the season he’s elevated himself to top-class status. Cherki scored 12 goals and created 19 more in all competitions, leading Ligue 1 and the Europa League for assists.

Manchester City fans will be keeping a close eye on his performances, with a move to the Premier League side edging closer.

Trevoh Chalobah (England)

It’s been a whirlwind 12 months for Trevoh Chalobah. Last summer he was deemed surplus to requirements at Chelsea and informed he would not be travelling on the club’s pre-season tour.

A loan move to Crystal Palace followed, only for Chelsea to hastily recall the defender in January after a string of impressive performances.

Chalobah ended the 2024/25 campaign clutching a European trophy after Conference League success and has earned a first inclusion with England.

Thomas Tuchel knows the player well from his time at Chelsea and could run the rule over Chalobah when the Three Lions take on Andorra and Senegal this month.

Franco Mastantuono (Argentina)

Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are currently in a transfer tug-of-war for Franco Mastantuono, a player some are projecting will be one of his generation’s best number tens.

The 17-year-old has been called up by world champions Argentina this month after an eye-catching start to the season at River Plate.

He’s scored seven times in 20 games, including a fabulous free-kick in the Superclasico against Boca Juniors. Mastantuono could become just the fifth player to debut for La Albiceleste before turning 18.

Read – Remembering when Eden Hazard ruled the Premier League in 2014/15

See more – Germany vs Portugal: Can Portugal end 25-year winless run?

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