Domestic football takes a break this week as a new international cycle begins and sides from around the world begin on the road to Moscow.
Sam Allardyce’s first England squad includes three Blues with Joe Hart, John Stones and Raheem Sterling all with a chance to feature against Slovakia in Trnava on September 4.
Allardyce is hopeful Stones can transform his terrific start at City into international form in the World Cup qualifier.
He’s a terrific talent, like many of the players in England. We’ve just got to enhance the talent, play as a team and win.
Allardyce
Two of City’s Spanish contingent are part of the new era under Julen Lopetegui, which starts with a friendly against Belgium and a qualifier against Liechtenstein.
Nolito are the club’s representatives in La Roja’s squad that will travel to the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels before welcoming Liechtenstein to the Reino de Leon in northern Spain on September 5.
Kevin De Bruyne may also feature in that friendly between his country and Spain on September 1 after he was included in Roberto Martinez’s first Belgium squad.
De Bruyne and his teammates will then travel on to Nicosia where they will face Cyprus in their first World Cup qualifier on September 6.
Despite his international suspension, Aleksandar Kolarov is to join up with his Serbia teammates to provide support for their qualifier in Belgrade against the Republic of Ireland on September 5.
In South America, Pablo Zabaleta and Nicolas Otamendi’s Argentina will face Uruguay at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza on September 2. They will then face Venezuela on Wednesday September 7.
Finally, Kelechi Iheanacho is part of the Nigeria squad scheduled to face Tanzania in Uyo on September 3.
