The first international break of the season gave 10 Atlético Madrid players the opportunity to forget about their tough start to LaLiga by representing their nations around the world.
Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup and international friendlies were on the agenda for those called up, as Atlético’s international footballers reunited with their national teams for the first time since the start of June.
Atleti boss Diego Simeone would have liked what he was watching from afar, as many of his players
contributed positively toward their teams’ efforts to qualify for the biggest tournament in football, held next summer in the United States.
Here is a round-up of how the 10 rojiblancos got on.
Argentina’s Atléticos help send Messi off
In what was Lionel Messi’s last-ever home game for his country, it was his Atleti-based teammates he had to thank as he bowed out with two goals in front of his adoring locals.
Julián Alvarez and Thiago Almada set up a goal of Messi’s each, either side of Atlético new boy Nico González adding an assist of his own as Argentina ran out 3-0 winners over Venezuela. Nahuel Molina also featured and was replaced by Giuliano Simeone late on.
The Albiceleste qualified for next year’s World Cup long ago, and they now sit 10 points clear at the top of a group where six teams automatically go through. They travel to Ecuador for their final qualifying match on Tuesday night.
Raspadori, Hancko make the difference
Italy’s top goalscorer in the last four years is Giacomo Raspadori. While some Atlético fans may raise an eyebrow at that statement, there is nothing sceptical about his performances for the Tricolore.
“Jack” posted up two goals and two assists across the two games he played, leaving Italy second in Group I of the UEFA qualifiers. In the 5-0 dismantling of Estonia, Raspadori had an instant impact when coming off the bench in the second half, setting up a goal and scoring his own within four minutes of his introduction. He added another assist late on to round off the comfortable win.
In his team’s entertaining 5-4 win in Hungary on Monday, Raspadori had seemingly put the game to bed by giving Italy a 4-2 lead with his 11th international goal and ninth in the past four years. The team acting as the hosts then pegged back the four-time world champions, before a late Sandro Tonali goal rescued the three points for Gennaro Gattuso’s side.
Another of Atleti’s new signings, David Hancko, also got on the score-sheet in Slovakia’s remarkable 2-0 victory over European powerhouse Germany. Playing as a flying left-back, Hancko suddenly found himself in the opposition penalty area before expertly finishing beyond Oliver Baumann just before half time. He then joined his fellow defenders to hold the fort and keep an impressive clean sheet against the team ranked 41 places above his.
A sticky 1-0 win away to Luxembourg three days later means that Slovakia sit three points clear at the top of Group A after two matches.
Le Normand, Sørloth with backseat roles; Oblak ships five
Robin Le Normand played the first half of Spain’s game against Bulgaria and the full 90 minutes in the following match against Turkey. Across his time in both encounters, he saw all nine goals his team registered (three against Bulgaria and six against Turkey) and conceded zero goals. A comfortable international break for the center-back.
Up in Scandinavia, Alexander Sørloth played the second half of Norway’s friendly against Finland, but he was unable to get on the score-sheet. He’ll be hoping to do better when he faces Moldova in a World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday night. Norway currently sit three points clear at the top of UEFA Group I.
Jan Oblak was the only player unable to register a win on international duty, which extends his wait to taste victory for both club and country this season. The Slovenia captain saw two goals go past him in a draw against Sweden, before he shipped three against Switzerland. His nation is bottom of UEFA Group B after taking part in Euro 2024.
