Southampton have a total of eight senior players on international duty, many of whom have crucial games for their country to navigate before returning to Championship action for the Saints.
In Euro 2024 qualifying, starting Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu and Ryan Manning were called up by Ireland once more, Stuart Armstrong by Scotland, Shea Charles linked up with Northern Ireland and Jan Bednarek received a Poland recall.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis continues as the captain of England’s under-21 European Championship-winning side, with the defender even spotted training with the senior side in the week, while Samuel Edozie is involved with England’s Elite Development Squad.
Further afield, Joe Aribo was called up by Nigeria and Carlos Alcaraz continues to rub shoulders with a certain Lionel Messi at Argentina; albeit with the under-23 side.
Che Adams and Will Smallbone would both have featured for Scotland and Ireland respectively, but both had to withdraw through injury.
Bazunu and Manning endure difficult Ireland period
Bazunu and Manning both started as Ireland suffered a 1-0 defeat away in the Netherlands. Both completed 90 minutes as Ireland completed a dismal qualifying campaign which saw them lose every game except for their two against minnows Gibraltar.
Bazunu is now firmly established as Ireland’s first-choice goalkeeper and picked up the man of the match award in the Netherlands defeat. Manning will be looking to add to his nine international caps for what will likely be a new manager at international level following the failings of this qualifying campaign.
The Irish duos club teammate, Bednarek, saw his hopes of automatic qualification for next summer’s tournament dashed as Poland played out a 1-1 draw with Czech Republic. On a personal note, it will be pleasing for the man with 52 caps for his country to have played 90 minutes after being left out of the squad for last month’s internationals.
Armstrong and Alcaraz provide international assists
It was Southampton’s creators that provided the spark at international level, as Armstrong and Alcaraz both provided important assists for their sides.
Armstong will be disappointed to find his minutes somewhat limited as Scotland have enjoyed a successful campaign, qualifying automatically to next summer’s Euros in Germany. However, with his side 2-1 down away in Georgia, Armstrong came off the bench in the 79th minute and provided a last gasp assist for Lawrence Shankland in the 93rd minute to secure a point that keeps their slim hopes of winning Group A ahead of Spain alive.
The assist Alcaraz provided was not nearly as important as his Southampton teammate’s for Scotland, although it will improve his personal claim for continued inclusion in the Argentina set-up.
Argentina under-23 side lost 5-2 to their Japan counterparts in an international friendly loss that will be disappointing to the Argentines despite it’s limited importance. Although Alcaraz’s side suffered a heavy defeat, the 20-year-old’s assist for Pablo Solari levelled the scores at 1-1 in the first half. Alcaraz was substituted at half-time and will hope he impressed manager Javier Mascherano.
Minutes continue to be limited for Aribo
Aribo has been on the periphery at Southampton this season, with the only league game he started a home defeat to Ipswich Town. The former Rangers man may count himself lucky that this has not resulted in his exclusion from the Nigeria squad, however he is also finding minutes limited for his country.
Aribo came off the bench in the 73rd minute as Nigeria played out a disappointing 1-1 home draw with Lesotho in the first game of their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Shea Charles served his one-game suspension as Northern Ireland suffered a 4-0 defeat against Finland, with the former Manchester City man having started every game in qualifying prior to that.
Harwood-Bellis led out England under-21s and secured a clean sheet as the England junior side won 3-0 in Serbia.