Qualifiers, Friendlies & Play-Offs - Foxes On The International Stage
- Harry Souttar could feature in World Cup qualifier action for Australia
- Danny Ward may be involved as Wales look to reach EURO 2024
- Up to 10 Foxes are in line to play in international friendlies
- England youth fixtures include the likes of Callum Doyle and Ben Nelson
- Several Development Squad players have been called up to represent their countries
First Team action begins on Thursday when Harry Souttar’s Australia take on Lebanon in their second round FIFA World Cup qualifier. Currently top of Group I with two wins from two, Graham Arnold’s side will look to keep their 100 per cent record intact at CommBank Stadium (9:10am kick-off).
The 25-year-old centre-back is in line to earn his 28th senior international cap in Sydney before the reverse fixture takes place next Tuesday morning (8:45pm kick-off) over in Canberra.
Danny Ward may be involved for Wales on Thursday evening as their UEFA EURO 2024 fate is decided via the play-offs. Meeting Finland at Cardiff City Stadium in their semi-final, Rob Page’s men would move one step closer to this summer’s flagship continental tournament with a positive result.
On Friday, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi could come up against City team-mate Abdul Fatawu in a friendly between Nigeria and Ghana. Stade de Marrakech in Morocco is the neutral venue for the 4pm kick-off.
Fatawu is then set to face Uganda at the same time and venue four days later, while it’s a meeting with Mali for Iheanacho and Ndidi later that evening (8pm kick-off).
There’s also friendly action in Europe with Hungary meeting Yunus Akgün’s Turkey in a 7:45pm kick-off at Puskás Aréna. The Crescent Stars are warming up for the European Championships having qualified from Group D.
The 23-year-old attacking midfielder will then travel across to Austria for a 7:45pm kick-off at Ernst Happel Stadion next Tuesday, aiming to add to his two-goal tally at international level.
Elsewhere this Friday, Callum Doyle is in the England Under-21s squad meeting Azerbaijan Under-21s as EURO U21 qualification continues at Azersun Arena (12pm kick-off). Luxembourg Under-21s are the opponents back on home soil next Tuesday (7pm kick-off), facing off in Bolton. The Young Lions sit second in Group F, winning four of five in the first round of fixtures.
Another two Foxes may be competing against each other on Saturday, with Patson Daka’s Zambia taking on Tawanda Maswanhise’s Zimbabwe in a friendly at Bingu National Stadium (12pm kick-off).
Centre-back Wout Faes is likely to be involved in Belgium’s friendly double-header, facing Republic of Ireland in a friendly at Aviva Stadium on Saturday (5pm kick-off), before meeting fellow EURO 2024 qualifiers England at Wembley Stadium three days later (7:45pm kick-off).
It’s a similar schedule for goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and defender Jannik Vestergaard, who both form part of the Denmark squad to take on Switzerland on Saturday (7pm kick-off) and Faroe Islands next Tuesday night (7:15pm kick-off) in friendlies on home soil.
Young centre-back Ben Nelson, meanwhile, is in the England Elite League Squad as they fly out to tackle Poland Under-20s in a 5pm kick-off at Białystok City Stadium on Friday, prior to next Tuesday’s 2pm meeting with Czechia Under-20s in the U20 Elite League.
Four Development Squad players will also represent the Club on the international stage – Brandon Cover and Silko Thomas for Jamaica Under-23s and Oliver Ewing and Chris Popov for Wales Under-21s.
Jamaica face off against Mallorca today (Wednesday), ahead of taking on Guinea next Tuesday, while Wales are up against Lithuania Under-21s this Wednesday (6pm kick-off), before Morocco Under-21s are their opponents in six days’ time.
All times GMT.