1) France
This was not a vintage window for Didier Deschamps’ side with a home defeat against Germany followed up by a shaky 3-2 win against Chile in Marseille. The captain, Kylian Mbappé, had a difficult few days and the absence of Antoine Griezmann, who missed his first France games for seven years because of injury, was clearly felt. There were positives, however, with the 18-year-old Warren Zaïre-Emery having a good game against Germany and Randal Kolo Muani scoring and assisting against Chile. Deschamps made nine changes for the second game with William Saliba getting a rare start in Marseille, even though the coach had said beforehand that the Arsenal player “does things he doesn’t like”. Still the team to beat. Marcus Christenson
2) England
The results in these friendlies will not matter come the start of the Euros yet England’s celebrations after Jude Bellingham’s 95th-minute equaliser against Belgium on Tuesday night showed they did not want another defeat. “We knew the rubbish we would get,” said the goalscorer. Having lost to Brazil on Saturday, there was a much-improved performance against the Red Devils with the 18-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo the standout performer. The two games, though, showed that Gareth Southgate will need Harry Kane fit in Germany to be able to threaten the best. MC
3) Germany
Crisis, what crisis? The Euro 2024 hosts, who looked in disarray only four months ago, will approach the tournament with an almighty spring in their step following victories against France (away) and the Netherlands (home). The 2-0 win in Lyon was particularly impressive, Florian Wirtz scoring a wonderful goal after seven seconds, as the winning margin could have been even bigger. Toni Kroos was back dictating things in central midfield, where Bayer Leverkusen’s Robert Andrich impressed next to the Real Madrid veteran. Julian Nagelsmann made no changes between the two games, which meant two starts for Stuttgart’s 27-year-old left-back Maximilian Mittelstädt, who was on the bench for Hertha Berlin as they were relegated last season but now looks like a certain starter for the Euros. MC
4) Spain
“A game against Brazil is never a friendly,” Dani Olmo said after the tempestuous 3-3 draw at the Bernabéu on Tuesday night, a game that had it all: great goals, feisty challenges and calamitous mistakes. Tempers threatened to boil over after Brazil’s late equaliser and subsequent celebrations and the Spain coach, Luis de la Fuente, was dismayed that a section of the crowd had booed the Atlético Madrid striker Álvaro Morata. Spain were superb in the first half and would likely have run away with the game but for an Unai Simón mistake after 40 minutes with Spain 2-0 up. The 16-year-old Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal was outstanding on the right wing and looks set to be one of the most exciting players at this summer’s Euros. The fireworks at the Bernabéu made up for the disappointing performance in the 1-0 defeat against Colombia in London on Friday and, as De la Fuente said: “We learn more from defeats than from victories.” MC
5) Portugal
And so, in the 12th game of Roberto Martínez’s Portugal reign came the first defeat. After an immaculate qualifying campaign, with 10 wins in 10 games and a goal difference of +34, as well as an impressive 5-2 win against Sweden on Thursday, Portugal slumped to a 2-0 defeat in Slovenia after a lacklustre performance. It should act as a wake-up call but no need to press any panic buttons yet. The game did, however, provide more evidence, if needed, of the importance of Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, both of whom did not play in Ljubljana. “The objective of these fixtures was not to win,” said Martínez before adding “although we never like to lose”. The Spaniard called up more than 30 players for the two games and gave most of them a chance. Nuno Travassos
6) Netherlands
Games against Scotland and Germany produced a mixed bag of results, performances and even formations for Ronald Koeman’s side. They beat the Scots 4-0 in Amsterdam having being lined up by Koeman in a 4-3-3 formation, and while the scoreline may suggest it was a cakewalk for the Oranje it was visitors who largely dominated proceedings, creating a host of chances but failing to take any and subsequently being punished by three Dutch goals in the last 18 minutes of the game, scored by Georginio Wijnaldum, Wout Weghorst and Donyell Malen, following Tijjani Reijnders’ strike five minutes before half-time. It was an impressive show of ruthlessness by the Dutch that was again on show four minutes into Tuesday’s game against Germany when Joey Veerman gave the visitors the lead in Frankfurt with a well-taken volley. The Netherlands, back in a more usual 3-5-2 formation, continued to threaten on the counterattack but failed to score again while allowing Germany to do so twice, through Mittelstädt and Niclas Füllkrug. Koeman’s side look dangerous but will need tightening up defensively if they are to make progress once back in Germany this summer. Sachin Nakrani
7) Belgium
Belgium ended the international window unbeaten in 12 games under their head coach, Domenico Tedesco, but that was largely where the encouragement started and ended. The world’s fourth-best team looked anything but in a goalless draw with Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, a game that could well have ended in defeat had Evan Ferguson not missed an early penalty for the hosts, and while a stronger lineup were better against England on Tuesday, they were also pretty lucky to escape Wembley with a 2-2 draw, with Tedesco admitting afterwards that he could not bemoan Jude Bellingham’s 95th-minute equaliser given how much the hosts had dominated the play. Belgium enjoyed only 37% possession and only scored twice through Youri Tielemans because of defensive errors by their opponents. Kevin De Bruyne is to come back into the team but, in general, the Red Devils don’t appear to be serious contenders for the ultimate prize in Germany this summer. SN
8) Italy
Luciano Spalletti took his squad to the United States for two games, against Ecuador and Venezuela, and returned home with two wins, four goals scored and one clean sheet. It was not pretty at times but Gli Azzurri set the tone with their pressing as well as work ethic and Nicolò Barella and Lorenzo Pellegrini showed again that they are at the top of their game. Genoa’s Mateo Retegui scored twice against Venezuela to confirm his status as the first-choice No 9 (although the options in that position are so few that it is one of Spalletti’s major concerns going into the Euros). “A very positive tour,” said a pleased Spalletti, “very well organised by the federation and the team played two good games.” MC
9) Croatia
After 174 caps and 18 years with the national team Luka Modric finally lifted an international trophy. It may have been “only” the ACUD Cup – a friendly tournament organised in Cairo – but the image was striking nevertheless. Croatia played two very different games. The semi-final against Tunisia was a tedious affair in front of around 1,000 people that went to penalties after few real chances, but the final, against the hosts, who were without Mohamed Salah, saw an attendance of 83,350 at the Misr Stadium. The Vatreni looked much better in the latter, switching to a 4-2-3-1 formation from their usual 4-3-3 and exploring some other back-up options such as Josko Gvardiol at left-back (rather than centre-back) to win 4-2. Aleksandar Holiga
10) Austria
It is fair to say that Ralf Rangnick’s side were not slow off the blocks this fortnight and they followed up Christoph Baumgartner’s world-record (for internationals) goal after six seconds against Slovakia by taking the lead against Turkey after 103 seconds. Despite missing key players such as David Alaba, Marko Arnautovic and Marcel Sabitzer, who fell ill before the game, they went on to win 6-1, playing carefree, attacking football in front of 38,000 fans at the Ernst-Happel Stadium. It was a fifth consecutive win for Austria and Michael Gregoritsch got a hat-trick. “The second half was close to perfection,” beamed Rangnick. Andreas Hagenauer
11) Denmark
“I don’t think I am more positive or negative to our chances at the Euros after these two games,” said an honest Pierre-Emile Højbjerg after Denmark had drawn 0-0 against Switzerland and beaten the Faroe Islands 2-0. The coach, Kasper Hjulmand, tried different systems and players in the two games but has come in for some rare criticism recently. The fact that Christian Eriksen made the squad despite lack of playing time at Manchester United was highlighted as a sign of weakness and the former Denmark international Thomas Gravesen even wondered whether Hjulmand was still the right person for the job. “If someone really thinks that I don’t pick the best player I think we have to win games … well, it is my backside on the line here too,” Hjulmand responded. MC
12) Hungary
Two wins from two during this international break is a real positive for Hungary, with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Turkey on Friday followed by a workmanlike 2-0 victory over Kosovo on Tuesday. Marco Rossi’s much-changed side looked out of sorts in the first 45 minutes of the most recent contest and could easily have fallen behind, but three changes at half-time lit a fire under the hosts and the intensity that has come to define this team re-emerged. Right now, only Colombia have a longer unbeaten run in international football than Hungary, who haven’t lost since Dominik Szoboszlai took over as captain. Instrumental again on Tuesday, the Liverpool midfielder has five goals and two assists in his last five international appearances and will be at the heart of everything Hungary aim to achieve this summer. Tom Mortimer
13) Switzerland
“The stats don’t lie,” Xherdan Shaqiri said after starting on the bench for Switzerland in the 0-0 draw against Denmark. Four days later he was back in the starting XI and scored the only goal of the game against Ireland in the 1-0 win in Dublin. It was not only the goal, coming from a free-kick, that made the difference. The 32-year-old also introduced some unpredictability to the Swiss side, something that was missing against Denmark. In the end, the coach, Murat Yakin, could be fairly pleased with the team. Vincent Sierro and Dereck Kutesa made their debuts against Ireland and did not look out of place while Dan Ndoye impressed on his ninth cap. It was a welcome success for Yakin after five winless games, a run stretching back to last September. MC
14) Romania
Romania drew 1-1 with Northern Ireland and lost 3-2 Colombia during the international break. Both performances were largely average in quality, highlighting the team’s weaknesses in defence and shortage of ideas in attack. Saying that, there were moments against Colombia where Romania showed flashes of old and, in that regard, it was fitting that Ianis Hagi, son of the great Gheorghe, scored having come on as a substitute. Overall, however, there is much for Edward Iordanescu’s side to improve upon before they compete at Euro 2024. Emanuel Rosu
15) Poland
What a week it has been for Poland, with two playoff wins, against Estonia and Wales, securing their place at this summer’s European Championships. Each game showed different strengths of Michal Probierz’s men; ruthlessness and domination in the 5-1 thrashing of Estonia in Warsaw last Thursday followed by determination and togetherness in the penalty shootout victory over Wales in Cardiff on Tuesday. The latter triumph was far from pretty – Poland did not record a shot on target until the shootout – but it also showed how far they have come after their poor group campaign under Fernando Santos. They were a collection of individuals then; now they are a team and for Robert Lewandowski comes the chance to play at what will probably be the striker’s last ever major tournament. Maciej Slominski
16) Serbia
There was some consternation in Serbia from people who saw this international window as a missed opportunity, that the fixture against Russia was politically motivated rather than giving Dragan Stojkovic the best chance to fine-tune his Euro plans. They lost 4-0 in Moscow after an early red card for the defender Milan Gajic, one of three players in the starting XI who ply their trade in the Russian Premier League. They then beat Cyprus 1-0 after an early Sergej Milinkovic-Savic goal but they were not at their fluent best. MC
17) Czech Republic
A pair of two 2-1 wins, away to Norway on Friday and home to Armenia on Tuesday, made this an encouraging international window for Ivan Hasek’s side. It is now five games without defeat for Czech Republic with Hasek overseeing a 100% record in charge having returned to the post of head coach in January. The former Czechoslovakia captain previously led the national team for a brief spell in 2009 and will feel his team can make a mark in Germany this summer given they’re in a group with Portugal, Turkey and Georgia and have a squad that contains the likes of Tomas Soucek and Patrik Schick, both of whom featured in their two most recent victories. SN
18) Scotland
Steve Clarke denied he is concerned about his team’s form and prospects following their 4-0 trouncing by the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Friday and subsequent 1-0 loss to Northern Ireland at Hampden Park on Tuesday but he really should be. Scotland have now lost five and drawn two of their past seven matches and, overall, look shaky at the back and toothless in attack. Against Michael O’Neill’s men they were especially lacking in imagination, which is a concern given there are only the June friendlies against Gibraltar and Finland to come in regards to rediscovering a bounce before taking on Germany in Munich in the opening game of the summer tournament. Jamie Jackson
19) Slovenia
“This win feels phenomenal,” said the assistant coach, Bostjan Cesar, after Slovenia had defeated Portugal 2-0 at the Stozice Stadium. Cesar, who stepped in after head coach Matjaz Kek’s father died last week, added that they had learned their lessons from the disappointing draw against Malta five days earlier. Against Portugal everyone stepped up, from the composed Jan Oblak in goal, to an organised defence and an energy-filled attack, led superbly by Benjamin Sesko, and they deserved the win, keeping Cristiano Ronaldo and co at arm’s length. The visitors had chances but Slovenia took theirs, Adam Gnezda Cerin and Timi Max Elsnik getting the second-half goals. There was praise after the game from the Portugal manager, Roberto Martínez, who backed Slovenia to cause problems for Group C opponents England, Serbia and Denmark at the Euros. Miran Zore
20) Turkey
Turkey were close to heading into Euro 2024 as dark horses after topping their qualification group, but back-to-back defeats – including a humiliating 6-1 defeat to Austria – has raised questions about Vincenzo Montella’s side. In fairness they delivered a pretty good display against Hungary in Budapest on Friday and were somewhat unlucky to lose 1-0, but their inability to turn chances into goals was glaring. Bournemouth’s Enes Unal performed poorly as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation and the worry is Montella does not have many alternatives. Things got much worse for Turkey at the Ernst Happel Stadium on Tuesday, with Austria dominating proceedings from start to finish, and it was somewhat telling that Turkey’s goal, scored by Hakan Calhanoglu, came from the penalty spot. These defeats will come as a blow to Montella, who was asked if he would resign after the Austria game, but he has time, at least, to resolve Turkey’s weaknesses between now and the summer. Emre Sarigul
21) Ukraine
Quite apart from the geopolitical significance of their victory over Iceland on Tuesday night – and frankly, who doesn’t love a little schadenfreude at the expense of Vladimir Putin? – on a purely sporting level it would have been a crashing shame if the Euros had been deprived of this richly talented Ukraine side, stuffed with promise all over the pitch. Not one but two world-class goalkeepers in Andriy Lunin and Anatoliy Trubin; the brilliant young playmaker Georgiy Sudakov; more familiar faces in Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mykhailo Mudryk, whose winning goal could be a formative moment in a still-developing international career. Sergiy Rebrov has proven a shrewd appointment as coach and if he can iron out some of this team’s inconsistencies, they could do some real damage this summer. Jonathan Liew
22) Slovakia
It’s been a difficult international window for Slovakia’s head coach, Francesco Calzona. In games against Austria and Norway, he had to improvise given the absence of key players due to injury, most notably captain Milan Skriniar. The absences gave fringe players the opportunity to shine but they certainly did not do that in Friday’s 2-0 loss to Austria. The performance in the 1-1 draw away to Norway on Tuesday was much improved, however. Calzona, who is combining his duties as Slovakia coach with being caretaker manager of Napoli until the end of the season, has much work to do but can at least take heart from the displays of the young centre-back Adam Obert, who impressed in both games. Lukas Vrablik
23) Albania
Albania, who topped qualifying Group E ahead of the Czech Republic and Poland, suffered two defeats, with the 3-0 reverse to Chile in Italy particularly painful. However, the head coach, Sylvinho, tried to put a positive spin on the performance. “We did create a lot of chances,” he said. “We created six or seven decent chances and that is not bad against a team such as Chile. However, in the Euros we may get two or three good chances in a game – and then we have to take them.” Against Sweden in Stockholm, with a large Albanian contingent in attendance, they were much better, losing narrowly 1-0 but should have had a penalty when Armando Broja was brought down in the first half. “I have nothing negative to say about the players today,” Sylvinho said. There is work to be done, however, if Albania are going to cause some upsets in two months’ time. MC
24) Georgia
Willy Sagnol’s side had to win two home games to reach the Euros and they did, just. Luxembourg, who had a player sent off in the semi-final, were beaten 2-0 while the final against Greece went to penalties. It was an ill-tempered game at times in front of a fanatical home support with tensions boiling over when the half-time whistle blew and a red card shown to a member of each coaching staff. When it was all done and dusted though Georgia had made history by qualifying for their first ever major tournament. “Some did not believe in us but now they will believe it. We are happy. I have never had such an emotion in my life,” Khvicha Kvaratskhelia told 1TV Sport. “Thanks to the Georgian fans. I’ve played in many stadiums but I haven’t seen such support anywhere. You were the most important factor.” MC
