Another action-packed international break has wrapped up and players now turn their attentions back to their domestic duties.
But there has been a lot to learn during this first batch of Euro 2024 qualifiers and international friendlies, and clubs and fans alike will have been keeping an eye on how their players have fared.
Some will have offered their clubs – and any potential suitors – reasons to invest in their talents, such as Scott McTominay in his explosive display for Scotland, and Romelu Lukaku, who might finally be rediscovering his form after a turbulent 2022-23 season.
Others, however, will be shuffling back to their clubs and looking to regroup after a less than successful spell away.
Here, Sportsmail looks at the winners and losers from the last fortnight.
Mykhailo Mudryk (L) and Bukayo Saka (R) return to their clubs after wildly contrasting breaks
Denmark’s 20-year-old striker Rasmus Hojlund burst onto the international scene with a bang
WINNERS
Romelu Lukaku
The Belgian striker’s travails this season have been well-documented. Rather than rediscovering the form that got him signed to Chelsea – but then promptly disappeared – with a loan move back to Inter Milan, Lukaku has found himself in a familiar pattern.
After picking up a hamstring injury shortly after completing the move, he struggled to find fitness ahead of Serie A’s winter break. He failed to impress in Belgium’s limp World Cup showing in Qatar and in January, spent another stint on the sidelines.
His club appearances have been scattered amidst roiling debate over where he will play next season, undesired by both the parent club that made him their record signing less than two years ago, and the loan side where his return was supposed to feel like a homecoming.
Inter Milan loanee Romelu Lukaku has not had a consistent run of form this season in Serie A
In light of this, it’s all the more gratifying that the 29-year-old has found international form worthy of attracting positive attention. He thoroughly upstaged Serie A rival Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s landmark appearance for Sweden by scoring a hat-trick in Stockholm, and scored after nine minutes in Belgium’s savaging of Germany.
In a Belgian side that looked rejuvenated under new coach Domenico Tedesco, the former United man was an important piece of the puzzle. Should he be able to bring this form home to Milan after the break, the thought of next season could be a little brighter.
Scott McTominay
McTominay has failed to find his natural role in Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United side, and is pushed to the sidelines with greater and greater frequency under his manager. A move in the summer to Newcastle, who believe the 26-year-old has a vital role to play at St James’ Park next season, is a possibility.
Off the back of his international form, you can understand why a club with their ambition is determined not to let the player slip through their fingers.
The United man came on in the 67th minute against Cyprus and got to work. His immediate contributions electrified a Scotland side that although in the lead, had become increasingly frustrated by their deep-lying visitors.
His first and second goals came within six minutes of one another, and deep into added time, the midfielder was hunting a third. His performance against Spain over the full 90 was no less comprehensive.
The Scotland international has built upon the faith manager Steve Clarke has placed in him as a frequent starter in his side, and in securing both goals in their 2-0 victory against Spain he wrote himself into the history books.
Scott McTominay was in fine international form for Scotland as the hero of their Spain victory
McTominay scored his first three goals of Scotland’s qualifying campaign in just 38 minutes
Bukayo Saka
Is Saka the best right winger in the world? Sportsmail’s Chris Sutton thinks so, and made his case by praising the Arsenal star-boy’s thoughtfulness and ability to marry reading the game well with impressive strength. North London legend Tony Adams went one further, calling the forward the best player in the world, full stop.
Saka’s talent for not only creating chances but finishing them off with an enviable sharpness has not only spurred Arsenal’s title tilt, but made it nigh-on impossible to imagine Gareth Southgate’s side without him.
Saka is one of the jewels in Gareth Southgate’s England side, as demonstrated against Ukraine
His goal against Ukraine, coming moments after his contribution to Harry Kane’s own tally, was a blue-chip reminder of his quality and value in an England side forever encouraged to play off the leash.
Only 14 months after his penalty heartbreak in the Euro 2020 final against Italy, Saka has shown an admirable confidence and mental strength in an England jersey. Combined with his developed sense of ruthlessness in front of goal, the player has become undroppable for big matches.
Rasmus Hojlund
The announcement of any player as a ‘new Erling Haaland’ should raise an eyebrow as well as prompt a budding fear in the hearts of rival teams. But should a player score a hattrick when handed their first start for the national team, some hyperbole can be forgiven.
Hojlund has been causing headaches for Serie A defenders this season at Atalanta, with the 20-year-old having notched up seven goals in 23 appearances, with only 14 of those seeing him named to the starting line-up.
Whilst the 20-year-old has ceded the lion’s share of the transfer rumours to Napoli striker Victor Oshimen, news that United has been looking closely at the Danish international’s performances will come as no surprise after this international break.
The player shot to the top of the scoring ranks following Denmark’s qualifying matches against Finland and Kazakhstan, where his two goals became the bright spot in his nation’s historic loss to the former Soviet Republic, and put him ahead of established marksmen such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lukaku.
The former Sturm Graz player missed out on taking part in Denmark’s tepid World Cup campaign in December, but despite his rawness, Hojlund seems destined to become a regular national team fixture.
Atalanta’s Hojlund has been dubbed the ‘new Haaland’ in the absence of the ‘old’ one – the City man was unable to start for Norway due to a groin injury
Argentina
Still riding high off their World Cup win, it’s an enviable time to be an Argentina fan – or, for that matter, a player. The team have spent the international break being lauded for their spectacular achievement in Qatar, attending tribute ceremonies or parties, and supplementing the rest of their time with barnstorming international wins.
Messi broke historic ground in both appearances for the Albiceleste, scoring his 800th career goal in the team’s 2-0 win against Panama, before netting his 100th for his country in the side’s 7-0 rout of island nation Curacao.
The Argentina team have been celebrating non-stop since winning the World Cup in Qatar
Messi scored his 100th goal for the Albiceleste as part of a hattrick against Curacao
Whilst neither opponent would have necessarily troubled the world champions, Argentina’s friendly wins have allowed for an extension of celebrations. The World Cup trophy has been paraded in front of fans in the grounds desperate to join in on the triumph they missed in December, and Messi has in turned thanked the crowds for their unerring support.
Greater challenges may come in the future, but for now, Argentina can continue to ride high on their successes.
LOSERS
Spain
The Spanish press did not hold back in their brutal assessment of La Roja’s inability to mount any sort of challenge against Scotland, and nor should they have. Manager Luis de la Fuente made eight changes from the side that recorded a routine win against a Haaland-less Norway on Saturday, and with that fatal underestimation, may have critically set back Spain’s overdue rebuild.
De la Fuente took the reins after former manager Luis Enrique saw his side knocked out of the World Cup in the round of 16 against Morocco, but the teams have shared complacency at times.
There is concern over Spain’s dearth of up and coming talent. The head coach handed full debuts to 29-year-old David Garcia, who proved wanting, and Joselu, an Espanyol striker who failed to live up to his billing at Newcastle in the late 2010s. Pedri, who was injured and not named to the squad, and Gavi – who De la Fuente chose to rest rather than start at Hampden Park – cannot carry the mantle alone.
Spain were left ragged by a Scotland side with more guile and now sit second in Group A
Captain for the evening Rodri was irritated by what he called a ‘rubbish’ Scotland performance
But neither can the manager rely on experienced heads to steady the ship. Manchester City’s Rodri, who wore the captain’s armband and was the most eye-catching name on the team-sheet, spent his post-match interview pointing the blame elsewhere, from a negligent referee, to Scotland’s supposed timewasting and gamesmanship.
Newspaper Marca splashed their indictment across the front page, asking: ‘What is the plan?’. The national team’s hierarchy have work to do to put one in place.
Virgil van Dijk
The Netherlands captain had an international break to forget, and one that was spent perpetually under siege. First came the Oranje’s sobering 4-0 defeat to France in Paris. Ronald Koeman’s side had taken a hit as suspected food poisoning had ripped apart his plans. But there were fewer excuses for the subsequent capitulation as the side were stripped down for parts by Didier Deschamps agile French team.
The Liverpool man was pointedly targeted with the majority of post-match ire, with former Dutch internationals Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit opining on the captain’s lack of suitability to lead the national side and Gullit’s particular concern over his ‘arrogance’.
His side got their Euro qualifying campaign with a win against Gibraltar, but the performance was no less flawed – a 3-0 victory at home that features 51 Dutch shots at goal was not the confident rejoinder that Koeman’s men would have hoped to deliver.
Van Dijk returns to Liverpool at an impasse. His club form has been inconsistent, with the defender making a greater number of errors in the backline with calamitous consequences. The Reds are no longer under consideration for silverware after a damp Champions League exit to last year’s opponents in the final Real Madrid, and a fight on their hands to secure European competition next season.
The player has not seen the international break shift his form, only call it into greater question. Van Dijk goes into Liverpool’s upcoming tie against City on Saturday with under more pressure than ever.
The Liverpool defender had an international break to forget after a limp Netherlands showing
Leeds
Whilst many clubs will have been watching their players during the international break with some trepidation, no Premier League side has been more affected than Leeds.
The Yorkshire side is currently hovering 14th in the table, but only two points above the relegation zone. Their season has been inconsistent to the letter, with dips and crests in form in no small part linked to the players they have available. Which is why the latest string of potential absences – as the club prepares to fight for a place in top-flight football next season – could prove particularly concerning.
Maximilian Wober, who has played every minute for new coach Javi Gracia, picked up a muscle injury whilst on duty for Austria in their qualifier against Azerbaijan. This could yet jeopardise the stability of Leeds’ successful defensive partnership which pairs the 25-year-old with Robin Koch.
Teenager Wilfried Gnonto, who has dazzled almost every time he’s been handed a chance this season, injured his ankle in Italy’s 2-1 defeat at the hands of England in Naples after being brought on in the 69th minute.
Wilfried Gnonto (R) spent only a limited time on the pitch in Naples but picked up an injury
Lastly, £20million summer signing Tyler Adams is facing an extended spell on the sidelines after withdrawing from the USA men’s set-up ahead of their international friendlies. Adams subsequently underwent surgery on his hamstring, and it’s not yet known how long the midfielder will be out of contention for the club. None of these absences will reassure Gracia as he prepares to take on league-leaders Arsenal in Leeds’ first match back after the break.
Mykhailo Mudryk
Signed for £88million in January amidst popping flashbulbs in a wave of attention after crosstown rivals Chelsea swiped Mykhailo Mudryk from under Arsenal’s nose, the Ukrainian forward’s time on England soil has been checkered.
The former Shakhtar Donetsk player has had an uneven spell under new manager Graham Potter, growing in confidence in spells before finding himself back on the bench. The opportunity to impress at international level against England at Wembley on Sunday was there to be seized.
Instead, Mudryk stuttered. He had only two touches in England’s box all evening, and looked particularly faulty in a team performance that was already anonymised by an England side in control.
It was a performance to raise familiar questions, ones that ring particularly clearly in Chelsea fans’ ears – those who are used to the trademark ruthlessness of the Abramovich era which extended to both players and managers.
Mudryk’s role in Sunday’s match will do little for his likely already-stricken confidence. It will be up to his manager to see how best to get the player on track for the remainder of the season.
Chelsea’s £88m-man Mudryk was unable to use the international break to wow his club
Mudryk spoke to Chelsea team-mate Ben Chillwell after a disappointing match at Wembley
Brazil
Casemiro was handed the captain’s armband for the first time since January 2022 as Brazil looked to try out a refreshed side under interim manager Ramon Menezes. In lieu of experienced heads such as Thiago Silva and Neymar, who are both injured, the head coach’s selection was heralded as looking towards the new wave, with high profile youth inclusions such as Chelsea teenager Andrey Santos.
But rather than kick-off the post-Tite era on the front foot, Brazil became yet another footballing giant to fall under the sword of dynamic Morocco.
Casemiro’s captaincy may not have made an imprint on his United manager Erik ten Hag
Their historic achievement in Qatar should not be regarded as a one-off, and the Atlas Lions were determined to prove it, keeping their cool after the United player secured his side the equaliser. Morocco’s breakthrough came with Abdelhamid Sabiri’s goal in the 79th minute, and with it, victory over the five-time World Cup winners for the first time in their history.
Whilst an international friendly can’t always be relied upon to provide iron-clad verdicts, Brazil remain in flux. There is work to be done when integrating young superstars such as Vinicius Jr into the squad and question marks remain over how a fully-fit Neymar can prove the difference on an international level.
With the national team’s hunt for a permanent new head coach likely to bear fruit over the summer, there will be no time to waste in making preparations for 2024’s Copa America.
