The international break is a time when managers will cross their fingers and hope their star players come back from their travels unscathed.
And this issue has been somewhat exacerbated during the current break, given the fact that the qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup is entering the final straight. With 48 teams qualifying for next summer’s expanded tournament, more teams than ever are fighting for a place, which in turn means more players are facing crucial international fixtures over the current break.
