Maria Thorisdottir and Vilde Boe Risa

Reds set to feature in upcoming internationals

Thursday 25 November 2021 12:21

As many as 11 Manchester United Women’s players could play for their countries during the current international break.

Several Reds joined up with their respective national teams following our game against Arsenal on Sunday, and they have since been preparing for the upcoming fixtures. 

Members of Marc Skinner’s squad could be in action as early as this evening (Thursday), so here’s a rundown of all the potential United involvement that could come over the next week or so…

BRAZIL 

Reds forward Ivana Fuso will be keen to follow up her recent strike in our Conti Cup victory against Manchester City, while on national-team duty. Fuso has joined up with the Brazil squad for three round-robin matches in the annual International Women’s Football Tournament (Torneio Internacional de Futebol Feminino) hosted in her home country. The hosts, who have won seven of the nine previous editions of the competition, will face India, Venezuela and Chile on 26 November, 29 November and 2 December respectively, in Manaus, with the team on the most points after three games each crowned the winners. Brazil’s first match will kick-off at 01:00 GMT in the UK, with the other two getting under way in the following days at midnight GMT.

ENGLAND 

Mary Earps, Katie Zelem, Alessia Russo, and Ella Toone, having signed a new contract with the club last week, form a quartet of Reds named in the Lionesses’ squad for November’s two World Cup qualifiers. Sarina Wiegman’s side host Austria at 12:30 GMT on Saturday before welcoming Latvia to the Keepmoat Stadium three days later, for a game that kicks off at 19:00 GMT. England currently top Group D and will be looking to build on the perfect record they have put together in the first four matches of the campaign. 

NORWAY 

United Women’s Norwegian duo of Maria Thorisdottir and Vilde Boe Risa have joined up with their national team ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The pair could be the first Reds in action during this break, if they feature during their nation’s match at Albania tonight (19:10 GMT). Top then meets bottom in qualifying Group F as Even Pellerud’s side make the trip to take on Armenia, on the following Tuesday (13:00 GMT).

SPAIN 

Full-back Ona Batlle could represent Spain again over the upcoming break, with the current Group B table-toppers also in World Cup qualifying action this month. Ona and co are preparing to face the Faroe Islands this evening (20:00 GMT) before Scotland are the visitors to Estadio de La Cartuja on Tuesday 30 November. That match gets under way at 20:00 GMT but unfortunately won’t see Batlle come up against any of her Scottish club team-mates, after Kirsty Smith, Kirsty Hanson and Martha Thomas all withdrew from November’s Scotland squad.
Batlle registered two assists from the bench in her nation's most recent outing, against Ukraine, in October.

WALES 

There’s a trio of Reds who will be looking to help Wales boost their 2023 World Cup qualification hopes over the coming week. Hayley Ladd, Carrie Jones, fresh from signing her first professional contract with the club last week, and youngster Chloe Williams are all included in the Dragons’ squad for fixtures against Greece (26 November – 19:15 GMT) and France (30 November – 20:10 GMT). The Welsh team have three wins and a draw from their opening four matches of the qualifying campaign and currently occupy second spot in Group I behind their latter opponents, France.

Wishing good luck to all of our international Reds over this break!

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