How Tottenham's 12 International Stars Fared in the November Break

Five months of freedom, people. Savour it. No more international football until March, bloody March!

The Premier League returns for a lengthy, non-disrupted spell at the weekend with an intriguing bunch of fixtures heading our way. The most exciting of which surely has to be Tottenham's clash with Manchester City on Saturday evening and another instalment of the dwindling Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola rivalry.

The Portuguese boss will be pleased to know that, barring Matt Doherty's positive coronavirus test, his Tottenham boys got through the oh-so-unnecessary November international break unscathed.

Plenty of Spurs players have been in action all across the globe over the past week. Let's see how they got on ahead of their return to proper (club) football, shall we?


1. England - Harry Kane, Eric Dier & Harry Winks

Eric Dier in action against Iceland | Pool/Getty Images

It was a bitterly disappointing week for the Three Lions after defeat in Belgium on matchday five of the Nations League meant they couldn't progress into next year's finals.

Both Harry Kane - making his 50th cap - and Eric Dier started the bout while Harry Winks entered the fray at the break.

Winks also started and notched an assist in the friendly against Ireland, a feat he repeated as a substitute in the dead rubber against Iceland, while, much to the likely dismay of Mourinho, Kane also started in Wednesday's meaningless bout, as did Dier.

The England skipper added to his remarkable assist haul in the 4-0 rout.


2. Wales - Gareth Bale, Ben Davies & Joe Rodon

Gareth Bale shone in the recent break | Stu Forster/Getty Images

It was a great end to the week for new boy Joe Rodon who captained Wales for the first time on his tenth cap against Finland following Gareth Bale's exit after the hour mark.

Bale notched an assist in the 3-1 victory, as he did for David Brooks' winner against Ireland, and looked bright throughout his two appearances.

Rodon, meanwhile, was impressive in the Ireland win and came on as a substitute in their friendly stalemate with the USA.

Ben Davies was suspended for the triumph over Finland which secured Wales' place in League A for the 2022/23 Nations League but did play 90 minutes against the Irish.


3. Ireland - Matt Doherty & Troy Parrott

Matt Doherty tested positive for coronavirus post-Wales defeat | Stu Forster/Getty Images

Matt Doherty had earned 180 minutes of action in Ireland's defeats to England and Wales before his positive test ruled him out of the stalemate with Bulgaria on Wednesday - a game in which loanee Troy Parrott enjoyed a five-minute cameo for his second cap.


4. France - Hugo Lloris & Moussa Sisssoko

Hugo Lloris led France to the Nations League finals | Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images

Hugo Lloris missed France's 2-0 friendly defeat to Finland last Wednesday before the skipper led Les Bleus to a pair of victories against Portugal and Sweden to round off their Nations League campaign.

Lloris was superb in the 1-0 win over Portugal which secured France's passage into next October's finals.

Moussa Sissoko, meanwhile, missed the triumph in Lisbon but started and finished the other two contests. The 31-year-old was certainly culpable for Finland's opener in the eventual defeat.


5. Denmark - Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

Spurs' summer signing played just 90 minutes over the break | John Berry/Getty Images

Just the one appearance for Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg over the break, which will undoubtedly please Mourinho.

The Dane played 90 minutes in his side's decisive 4-2 defeat to Belgium on Wednesday night. It was his 38th cap for the national team.


6. Belgium - Toby Alderweireled

Trademark... | Plumb Images/Getty Images

Thus, it was Toby Alderweireld who had the last laugh from Group A3 as Belgium secured passage into next Autumn's finals following victories over England and Denmark.

The centre-half played 90 minutes as part of Roberto Martinez's back three in both triumphs.


7. Spain - Sergio Reguilon

The full-back set-up Spain's equaliser against Switzerland | DeFodi Images/Getty Images

While the dynamic left-back was replaced by Jose Gaya for Spain's incredible 6-0 rout of Germany on Tuesday night, he started La Roja's previous two fixtures.

Reguilon was booked in a friendly against the Dutch but teed up Gerard Moreno superbly late on with a cross from the left for Spain's late equaliser against Switzerland.


8. Portugal Under-21's - Gedson Fernandes

Gedson Fernandes is a pivotal member of Portugal's Under-21 side | Soccrates Images/Getty Images

The forgotten man on N17 was in action for Portugal's Under-21 side during their European Championship qualifiers in the week.

Gedson completed 90 minutes in their 3-0 win over Bulgaria, netted the equaliser from the spot in the eventual 2-1 triumph against Cyprus before playing 56 minutes in Wednesday's victory over Holland.

A productive week for the versatile midfielder, who'll likely be a part of the squad for next March's Euros.


9. Argentina - Giovani Lo Celso

We hope Jose Mourinho was paying attention | JUAN IGNACIO RONCORONI/Getty Images

The Argentine enjoyed a fine break away with the national team as he notched an assist in each of La Albiceleste's World Cup qualifiers.

Lo Celso was majestic in the 1-1 draw with Paraguay, in which he set-up Nicolas Gonzalez from a corner and had another assist - for Lionel Messi -ruled out by VAR.

Gonzalez was once again the beneficiary of Lo Celso brilliance for the opener in Argentina's 2-0 triumph over Peru.


10. Colombia - Davinson Sanchez

He didn't need that... | Pool/Getty Images

Davinson Sanchez is a player in desperate need of a confidence boost but it's fair to say the recent break would've done him no favours.

After missing Colombia's 3-0 defeat against Uruguay, Sanchez played the entirety of their 6-1 drubbing at the hands of an inferior Ecuador.

Colombia now face an uphill battle if they're to qualify for Qatar 2022.


11. South Korea - Son Heung-min

Son Heung-min skippered South Korea to defeat against Mexico | Christian Hofer/Getty Images

Who thought a friendly between Mexico and South Korea amid a global pandemic was a wise idea? Seriously?

Nevertheless, fortunately for Spurs fans, Son Heung-min wasn't one of the several Korean stars who tested positive for the virus ahead of the Mexico clash - one they'd lose 3-2.

Son then captained his side to a 2-1 triumph over Qatar before returning home all safe and sound. Phew.


12. Ivory Coast - Serge Aurier

Serge Aurier donned the armband for the national team too | Soccrates Images/Getty Images

Serge Aurier captained Ivory Coast in their two recent Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar - winning the first 2-1 before being held 1-1 in the second five days later.



Source : 90min