Reds get set for June internationals

UEFA’s European Championship qualifiers, which got under way in March, continue while the Nations League finals are being held in the Netherlands.

African and South American national sides are in action and, in total, we make it 19 Reds who will be involved in some way, starting with a potential debutant…

ARGENTINA

Thursday 15 June could be a momentous day for Alejandro Garnacho, with the 18-year-old named in the world champions’ squad to face Australia. “We let him come and let him join the group,” boss Lionel Scaloni said last week. “We'll analyse if he'll play from the start or he'll have minutes.” Should our teenage forward not be awarded an international debut against the Socceroos in Beijing, there’s also an exhibition fixture penned in next Monday, as the Albiceleste face Indonesia.

AUSTRIA

On-loan midfielder Marcel Sabitzer was forced to sit out of the final month of United’s season through injury, but the 29-year-old has been named by Ralf Rangnick in his latest Austria squad. Das Team travel to Belgium and host Sweden as they aim to build on a 100 per cent record so far and qualify for a third straight European Championship finals.

BRAZIL

The South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup don’t get underway until September, but Brazil are in friendly action as they take on Guinea and Senegal in Barcelona and Lisbon, respectively. Casemiro captained the Selecao in their last set of friendlies and remains a vitally important member of the squad, while Alex Telles has also been picked following his recent success in the Europa League final with Sevilla.

DENMARK

The Scandinavians are bidding to get back on track in Group H, after a shock 3-2 loss to Kazakhstan in March left them trailing Slovenia by three points. Christian Eriksen and co can reel the group leaders in by beating them in Ljubljana next Monday, although a home clash with Northern Ireland is first on the menu.

ENGLAND

Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw are all in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the upcoming qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia, who will take part in the first England fixture at Old Trafford since 2007. The Three Lions look well-placed to take control of Group C, after beating Ukraine and Italy during the last international break.

IRAQ

Zidane Iqbal is one of 27 names included in Iraq’s squad for a training camp in Spain, with Colombia the opposition in a friendly game at Valencia’s Mestalla Stadium on Friday 16 June. The Lions of Mesopotamia are finetuning their preparations for the AFC Asian Cup, which will take place in Qatar next January.

IVORY COAST

The Elephants host the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations and have therefore already qualified, although they are still taking part in the process. A win in Zambia will confirm top spot in Group H for Eric Bailly and co, with a game to spare.

NETHERLANDS

Tyrell Malacia and Wout Weghorst are on Nations League duty, with the Netherlands taking on Croatia in the first of this week’s semi-finals. The winner of that clash will go up against either Spain or Italy in the final on Sunday evening, while the two beaten semi-finalists participate in a third-placed play-off earlier in the day.

PORTUGAL

Roberto Martinez’s side put 10 goals past Liechstenstein and Luxembourg without reply in March, but Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland should prove trickier opposition for a squad containing Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes. Former Red Cristiano Ronaldo will become the first male international to win 200 caps should he play in both fixtures.

SCOTLAND

Scott McTominay was in the goalscoring form of his life back in March, netting four times across games with Cyprus and Spain to get Steve Clarke’s men off to a flying start in Group A. A trip to Norway and the visit of Georgia to Hampden Park are next on the agenda and, with Spain otherwise occupied by the Nations League, there’s a real chance for Scotland to build a lead at the top of the pool.

SWEDEN

While last week’s retirement announcement from Zlatan Ibrahimovic brings a chapter of Swedish football history to an end, the next generation under Janne Andersson – including captain Victor Lindelof and forward Anthony Elanga – are hoping to escape a difficult-looking group containing Austria and Belgium. A 3-0 reverse to the latter in March didn’t help their hopes, placing extra pressure on next Tuesday’s trip to Austria. First up is a friendly against New Zealand in Stockholm.

TUNISIA

Hannibal – who has been playing in the Championship on loan at Birmingham City this season – is in the Tunisia squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Equatorial Guinea. The Eagles of Carthage have already booked their place at next January’s tournament, so the friendly with neighbours Algeria next Tuesday could be the one to watch.

URUGUAY

Marcelo Bielsa was appointed as Uruguay’s new manager last month and the former Athletic Bilbao and Leeds boss has selected an experimental 31-man squad for friendlies with Nicaragua and Cuba. Facundo Pellistri has made the cut, although highly experienced names like Edinson Cavani, Diego Godin and Luis Suarez are not included.

INTERNATIONAL FIXTURES

WEDNESDAY 14 JUNE

Netherlands v Croatia (19:45)

THURSDAY 15 JUNE

Uruguay v Nicaragua (00:30)
Australia v Argentina (13:30)

FRIDAY 16 JUNE

Sweden v New Zealand (18:00)
Denmark v Northern Ireland (19:45)
Malta v England (19:45)
Colombia v Iraq (20:00)

SATURDAY 17 JUNE

Zambia v Ivory Coast (14:00)
Equatorial Guinea v Tunisia (16:00)
Norway v Scotland (17:00)
Belgium v Austria (19:45)
Portugal v Bosnia and Herzegovina (19:45)
Brazil v Guinea (20:30)

MONDAY 19 JUNE

Indonesia v Argentina (13:30)
Slovenia v Denmark (19:45)
England v North Macedonia (19:45)

TUESDAY 20 JUNE

Austria v Sweden (19:45)
Iceland v Portugal (19:45)
Scotland v Georgia (19:45)
Algeria v Tunisia (20:00)
Brazil v Senegal (20:00)

WEDNESDAY 21 JUNE

Uruguay v Cuba (00:30)

All kick-off times are in BST.