Tuchel, Ronaldo, and More: Big International Games are Here
The Nations League and World Cup qualifiers are starting this Friday, and Optus Sport is showing all 48 games live. Thomas Tuchel is managing England for the first time, and Cristiano Ronaldo could score his 136th international goal for Portugal. There’s lots to watch this break. Tuchel Ronaldo and More.
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Lots of important games are coming up in the Nations League and European World Cup qualifiers, with great teams and players. Here are five matches you should check out (all times are AEDT):
England vs. Albania and England vs. Latvia
Saturday, March 22 & Tuesday, March 25
Wembley Stadium
Everyone’s going to be watching Thomas Tuchel’s debut game as England’s manager. He took the job in October 2024 and is only the third foreign manager England has ever had. His first team picks were a bit of a surprise, with some older players like Jordan Henderson getting called up and some younger guys like Myles Lewis-Skelly too. Tuchel Ronaldo and More.
Tuchel’s England team is playing Albania (ranked 22nd in the world) and Latvia (ranked 140th) at home in Wembley. Morgan Gibbs-White wasn’t picked at first but got another chance because Cole Palmer got hurt. But Ivan Toney and Adam Wharton didn’t get picked.
Netherlands vs. Spain
Friday, March 21 & Monday, March 24
Stadio Feyenoord & Estadio de Mestalla
Spain, who won EURO 2024, is playing the Netherlands in a big Nations League quarter-final game. The coach, Luis de la Fuente, has chosen Raul Asencio from Real Madrid for the first time, even though he’s never played for Spain before. Tuchel Ronaldo and More.
Frenkie de Jong is back for the Netherlands after getting hurt and missing the EUROs. Matthijs de Ligt is back too, even though he hasn’t been playing great for Manchester United. These games should be good, with players like Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Nico Williams playing for Spain.
Denmark vs. Portugal
Friday, March 21 & Monday, March 24
Parken Stadium & Estadio Jose Alvalade
Will Cristiano Ronaldo score more goals? The 39-year-old has already scored 19 goals in 24 games for Al-Nassr this season and wants to score his 136th goal against Denmark.
Diogo Dalot, who plays for Portugal, said that Ronaldo is great and that it’s an honor and privilege to play with him. Ronaldo is still vital to Roberto Martinez’s plans and Portugal want to win the Nations League again. Tuchel Ronaldo and More
Denmark hasn’t won a game since September 2024 and will need Pierre-Emile Højbjerg to play well. Rasmus Hojlund has been struggling at Manchester United, and Christian Eriksen hasn’t been playing much.
Italy vs. Germany
Friday, March 21 & Monday, March 24
San Siro & Signal Iduna Park
This could be the most tactical game of the break. Italy and Germany are ranked 9th and 10th in the world. Germany has been playing well since leaving the EURO 2024 quarter-final, winning against Hungary and Bosnia.
Julian Nagelsmann has picked Leon Goretzka from Bayern Munich again. Italy, on the other hand, haven’t been doing so well. They lost to France and only just beat Belgium 1-0. They need to play well against Germany’s strong defense.
Croatia vs. France
Friday, March 21 & Monday, March 24
Hajduk Split Stadium & Stade de France
France enters this Nations League quarter-final playing very well, going five games without losing, including wins over Belgium and Italy. But Marcus Thuram, their best forward this season, is hurt.
Didier Deschamps still has other good players to pick from, like Michael Olise, Kingsley Coman, and Christopher Nkunku. Croatia, led by Luka Modric, has been playing badly recently, losing to Scotland and drawing against Portugal. They need to improve to compete with France.
Get Ready for Some Great Football
With new managers, players returning, and records to be broken, this international break should be good. Watch all 48 games live on Optus Sport and see who wins the Nations League and who qualifies for the World Cup.
