Nemanja Vidic and Cristiano Ronaldo will go head to head when Serbia host Portugal in next WednesdayÂ’s Euro 2008 Group A qualifier.
They are just two of a plethora of United players linking up with their national squads this week. The tally would have been much higher had Gary Neville, Darren Fletcher, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Louis Saha and Mikael Silvestre not suffered injuries.
Neville misses EnglandÂ’s matches against Israel and Andorra through injury, but if his brother Phil plays in both matches then the pair will surpass Sir Bobby and Jack CharltonÂ’s record as the most capped brothers for their country.
Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Ben Foster are in Steve McClarenÂ’s squad for the crucial Group E qualifiers. While in the Under-21s, Kieran Richardson will be one of the first players to experience playing at the new Wembley as England face Italy in a friendly on Saturday.
Jonny Evans, excelling in a loan spell with Sunderland, has been called into Lawrie SanchezÂ’s Northern Ireland squad to face Liechtenstein and Sweden.
John OÂ’Shea and Darron Gibson, on loan at Royal Antwerp, are involved for the Republic of IrelandÂ’s matches against Wales and Slovakia. The Irish pair could face Ryan Giggs for Wales on Saturday at Croke Park, before John ToshackÂ’s side face San Marino the following Wednesday.
Edwin van der Sar has ruled himself out of HollandÂ’s qualifier against Romania on Saturday. He is still suffering from a calf injury and will be assessed again before next WednesdayÂ’s clash with Slovenia. Tomasz Kuszczak, who has deputised for the Dutchman in UnitedÂ’s side, is in Leo BeenhakkerÂ’s Poland squad for their games against Azerbaijan and Armenia.
In friendlies, Ji-sung Park will feature for South Korea against Uruguay, while Dong Fangzhuo will lead ChinaÂ’s front line against Australia and Uzbekistan.
Saturday 24 March
Israel v England
Liechtenstein v Northern Ireland
Kazakhstan v Serbia
Poland v Azerbaijan
Portugal v Belgium
Rep of Ireland v Wales
China PR v Australia
South Korea v Uruguay
Tuesday 27 March
China v Uzbekistan
Wednesday 28 March
Andorra v England
Northern Ireland v Sweden
Poland v Armenia
Rep of Ireland v Slovakia
Serbia v Portugal
Slovenia v Netherlands
Wales v San Marino
no serious injuries please. im not a fan of international friendlies.
rather meaningless and lots of injuries though they are friendlies