In total, 16 members of Pep Guardiola’s side reported for senior international duty as the curtain fell on the group stages of Euro 2024 qualifying.
Meanwhile, our South American stars continued their World Cup qualifying campaigns.
Here’s the lowdown on what happened on the global stage across the past two weeks…
Argentina | Julian Alvarez
Argentina 0-2 Uruguay | La Bombonera | Friday 17 November | World Cup qualifier
Brazil 0-1 Argentina | Maracana | Wednesday 22 November | World Cup qualifier
Alvarez’s Argentina’s 100% start in qualifying for the tournament in North America came to an end when they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay in Buenos Aires with City’s forward starting the fixture.
However, the 23-year-old led the line and played 78 minutes as Lionel Scaloni’s team recorded a historic 1-0 win over Brazil at the Maracana which represented the five-time world champions’ first World Cup qualifying defeat on home soil.
Belgium | Jeremy Doku
Belgium 1-0 Serbia | King Baudouin Stadium | Wednesday 15 November | Friendly
Belgium 5-0 Azerbaijan | King Baudouin Stadium | Sunday 19 November | Euro 2024 qualifier
City’s pacey winger was an unused substitute in his nation’s friendly win over Serbia, but starred for Belgium as they secured first place in Group F of Euro qualifying with a 5-0 win over Azerbaijan.
After just 17 minutes, Doku assisted Romelu Lukaku’s first goal of the evening before the Roma striker scored three more before the interval.
Our summer signing then teed up Leandro Trossard for Domenico Tedesco’s side’s fifth goal and his second assist of the encounter.
Brazil | Ederson
Colombia 2-1 Brazil | Estadio Metropolitano | Friday 17 November | World Cup qualifier
Brazil 0-1 Argentina | Maracana | Wednesday 22 November | World Cup qualifier
Ederson was an unused substitute in Colombia as Brazil lost 2-1 to Nestor Lorenzo’s team in World Cup qualifying and remained on the bench as they tasted defeat against Argentina in their following assignment.
Croatia | Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic
Latvia 0-2 Croatia | Skonto Stadium | Saturday 18 November | Euro 2024 qualifier
Croatia 1-0 Armenia | Stadion Maksimir | Tuesday 21 November | Euro 2024 qualifier
Gvardiol helped Croatia maintain a clean sheet as they edged closer to Euro 2024 qualification with a 2-0 away win over Latvia.
Goals from Lovro Majer and Andrej Kramaric were enough to secure three points while Mateo Kovacic wasn’t named in the matchday squad.
City’s versatile defender then contributed to Zlatko Dalic’s side’s passage to the major tournament by playing the full 90 minutes in their 1-0 win over Armenia.
England | Rico Lewis, Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish
England 2-0 Malta | Wembley | Friday 17 November | Euro 2024 qualifier
North Macedonia 1-1 England | Toše Proeski Arena | Monday 20 November | Euro 2024 qualifier
England had already booked their place in the tournament in Germany during October’s international break, but cemented first place in Group C with a 2-0 win over Malta in which Phil Foden and Kyle Walker featured.
Rico Lewis was then afforded his senior Three Lions debut in the 1-1 draw with North Macedonia before our Academy graduate earned the Player of the Match award.
During the draw at Tose Proeski Arena, Walker captained Gareth Southgate’s side for the first time while Jack Grealish and Foden also started.
Norway | Oscar Bobb, Erling Haaland
Norway 2-0 Faroe Islands | Ullevaal Stadion | Thursday 16 November | Friendly
Scotland 3-3 Norway | Hampden Park | Sunday 19 November | Euro 2024 qualifier
It was an international break to remember for City starlet Oscar Bobb who scored his first senior goal for Norway in their friendly victory over Faroe Islands with a fine strike from range.
The 20-year-old then started in an exciting draw against Scotland while Erling Haaland didn’t feature at Hampden Park.
Portugal | Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva
Liechtenstein 0-2 Portugal | Rheinpark Stadion | Thursday 16 November | Euro 2024 qualifier
Portugal 2-0 Iceland | Estadio Jose Alvalade | Sunday 19 November | Euro 2024 qualifier
City duo Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias both started Portugal’s 2-0 win away at Liechtenstein as Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Cancelo (on loan at Barcelona from the Club) secured the success.
Roberto Martinez’s then maintained their 100% record in Euro 2024 qualifying by beating Iceland by the same scoreline with Bernardo assisting their first of the evening at Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Spain | Rodrigo
Cyprus 1-3 Spain | Alphamega Stadium | Thursday 16 November | Euro 2024 qualifier
Spain 3-1 Georgia | Jose Zorrilla Stadium | Sunday 19 November | Euro 2024 qualifier
Rodrigo didn’t feature in Spain’s 3-1 success over Cyprus, but the combative and classy midfielder played 86 minutes as Luis de la Fuente’s side secured first place in Group A with a 3-1 win over Georgia.
Robin le Normand, Ferran Torres were on the scoresheet before Luka Lochoshvill’s own goal put the hosts out of sight after Kvicha Kvaratskhelia equalised in the first half.
Switzerland | Manuel Akanji
Israel 1-1 Switzerland | Pancho Arena | Wednesday 15 November | Euro 2024 qualifier
Switzerland 1-1 Kosovo | St. Jakob-Park | Saturday 18 November | Euro 2024 qualifier
Romania 1-0 Switzerland | National Arena | Tuesday 21 November | Euro 2024 qualifier
Manuel Akanji played the full 90 minutes in all three of Switzerland’s Euro 2024 qualifiers in November.
Following successive draws with Israel (1-1) and Kosovoa (1-1), respectively, Murat Yakin’s side confirmed their place at the showpiece in Germany next summer.
This meant their 1-0 defeat to Romania in their final assignment didn’t impact their passage to the major tournament.
England Under-21s | Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, James McAtee, Liam Delap
Serbia U21 0-3 England | FK TSC Stadium | Saturday 18 November | Euro U21 qualifier
England 3-0 Northern Ireland | Goodison Park | Tuesday 21 November | Euro U21 qualifier
Finally, a quartet of City Academy graduates, who are enjoying loan spells away from the Etihad Stadium this term, helped England Under-21s to wins over Serbia and Northern Ireland.
James McAtee scored twice in their first Euro U21 qualifier in a 3-0 win over Serbia while Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Liam Delap and Josh Wilson-Esbrand all featured at FK TSC Stadium.
The attacking midfielder, striker and left-back all then featured in the strong success over the Green and White Army at Goodison Park.
