{"id":7566,"date":"2024-11-12T08:27:05","date_gmt":"2024-11-12T08:27:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/?p=7566"},"modified":"2024-11-12T08:27:06","modified_gmt":"2024-11-12T08:27:06","slug":"international-break-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/international-break-preview","title":{"rendered":"International Break Preview: Ronaldo and Messi feature, Italy vs. France, Viktor Gy\u00f6keres on the European stage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As the international break returns, football fans are in for a treat with high-stakes matches and superstar appearances. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/cristiano-ronaldo-817\">Cristiano Ronaldo<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/lionel-messi-874\">Lionel Messi<\/a> are back on the international stage, with Ronaldo\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/portugal-5028\">Portugal<\/a> taking on Croatia and Poland and Messi\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/argentina-2378\">Argentina<\/a> facing Paraguay and Peru. Europe hosts several thrilling matchups, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/italy-2375\">Italy<\/a> set to clash with both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/belgium-2373\">Belgium<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/france-5061\">France<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Sweden\u2019s in-form <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/viktor-gyokeres-64922\">Viktor Gy\u00f6keres<\/a> brings his prolific club scoring to games against Slovakia and Azerbaijan, and Greece looks to maintain their perfect record in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/uefa-nations-league-7016\">Nations League<\/a> with crucial fixtures against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/england-5054\">England<\/a> and Finland. Over in South America, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/brazil-2379\">Brazil<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/uruguay-5073\">Uruguay<\/a> meet in a World Cup qualifying showdown, with both teams needing a win to keep their campaign on track. The international stage is set, and it\u2019s all to play for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>International Break &#8211; What to know<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#cristiano-ronaldo-and-lionel-messi-will-both-be-featuring\">Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will both be featuring in the international break matches<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#italy-take-on-belgium-and-france-in-two-thrillers\">Italy take on Belgium and France in two thrillers<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#viktor-gyokeres-is-the-most-in-form-player-on-the-planet-can-he-bring-that-to-sweden\">Viktor Gy\u00f6keres is the most in-form player on the planet, can he bring that to Sweden?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#could-greece-keep-up-their-perfect-record\">Could Greece keep up their perfect record?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#brazil-battles-uruguay-in-a-must-win-showdown\">Brazil battles Uruguay in a must-win showdown<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cristiano-ronaldo-and-lionel-messi-will-both-be-featuring\">Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will both be featuring in the international break matches<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As the international break approaches, all eyes will be on football\u2019s greatest active legends, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Ronaldo returns to Portugal\u2019s squad fresh off a string of strong performances with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/al-nassr-fc-riyadh-7549\">Al-Nassr<\/a> in Saudi Arabia, where he\u2019s scored six goals and provided two assists in nine league games. His role in the Portuguese team remains central as they face Croatia and Poland in matches that could further bolster their qualification hopes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ronaldo\u2019s record as the all-time leading scorer in men\u2019s international football continues to grow, and fans are eager to see if he can add to his tally. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi, having just concluded his MLS season with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/inter-miami-54729\">Inter Miami<\/a>, shifts his focus entirely to Argentina, who have upcoming clashes against Paraguay and Peru. Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina\u2019s last international window, and with his full attention now on his national team, he\u2019ll be hungry to deliver yet another memorable performance on home soil.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"703\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GettyImages-1239476982-1-703x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Still got it on the international stage!\" class=\"wp-image-5901\" style=\"width:649px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Gualter Fatia\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"italy-take-on-belgium-and-france-in-two-thrillers\">Italy take on Belgium and France in two thrillers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>European heavyweights Italy and France are set for two thrilling encounters, with Italy first facing Belgium in a clash of two technically gifted squads and then taking on a French side brimming with young talent. Italy, under Luciano Spalletti, has demonstrated defensive resilience, but France\u2019s offensive prowess led by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/kylian-mbappe-39820\">Kylian Mbapp\u00e9<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/michael-olise-65785\">Michael Olise<\/a> presents a stern test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Belgium, too, has bolstered their ranks, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/romelu-lukaku-844\">Romelu Lukaku<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/jeremy-doku-62158\">Jeremy Doku<\/a> in good form. For both Italy and France, the international break offers a chance to assert their European dominance, and these games are poised to give fans a taste of intense, competitive football.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-widget-type=\"predictions\" data-entity-type=\"game\" data-widget-id=\"0.ipl9v311j1\" data-lang=\"en-US\" data-entity-id=\"4051264\" data-publisher-id=\"125\" data-show-odds=\"true\" data-odds-type=\"decimal\" data-hide-powered-by=\"true\">\u00a0<\/div>\r\n<p><script src=\"https:\/\/widgets.365scores.com\/main.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"viktor-gyokeres-is-the-most-in-form-player-on-the-planet-can-he-bring-that-to-sweden\">Viktor Gy\u00f6keres is the most in-form player on the planet, can he bring that to Sweden?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Viktor Gy\u00f6keres has become a name to watch as he lights up the pitch with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/sporting-cp-890\">Sporting Lisbon<\/a>, amassing an incredible 23 goals and four assists in just 18 games this season. Sweden\u2019s rising star now brings his impressive form to the international stage as they prepare to face Slovakia and Azerbaijan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gy\u00f6keres\u2019 ability to find the back of the net has become his signature, and these fixtures could provide him with the perfect opportunity to increase his tally. Sweden\u2019s hopes rest heavily on his shoulders, and if he can translate his club success to national team success, the Scandinavian nation will be poised for a solid run in the qualifying rounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Barca&#39;s hierarchy are keen on Viktor Gyokeres and the hattrick against Man City made them think about the option even further ? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/NO15b5Oj31\">pic.twitter.com\/NO15b5Oj31<\/a><\/p>&mdash; 365Scores (@365Scores) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/365Scores\/status\/1854419132176871900?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 7, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"could-greece-keep-up-their-perfect-record\">Could Greece keep up their perfect record?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/greece-5030\">Greece<\/a> has been one of the biggest surprises in the Nations League, maintaining a perfect record of four wins from four games under the guidance of manager Ivan Jovanovi\u0107. They\u2019ve shown resilience and strategic discipline, including an impressive win over England with a last-minute goal in October. Now, Greece faces tough matches against England once more and Finland. With a flawless record so far, the Greek squad will be eager to prove their consistency, aiming to continue their winning streak and secure their status among the top teams in their group.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"652\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/GettyImages-2177974852-1024x652.jpg\" alt=\"An international match between England and Greece\" class=\"wp-image-7568\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A tribute to Greek footballer George Baldock. (Photo by Catherine Ivill &#8211; AMA\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"brazil-battles-uruguay-in-a-must-win-showdown\">Brazil battles Uruguay in a must-win showdown<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In South America, a high-stakes clash awaits as Brazil and Uruguay battle it out in World Cup qualifying. Both teams are tied on 16 points after 10 games, making this a pivotal match in the race for 2026 qualification. Brazil boasts a formidable attacking lineup with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/rodrygo-53912\">Rodrygo<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/raphinha-39789\">Raphinha<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/vinicius-junior-48298\">Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior<\/a> all in impressive form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Uruguay, however, won\u2019t be an easy target, especially with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/manuel-ugarte-56838\">Manuel Ugarte<\/a> coming into his own at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/manchester-united-105\">Manchester United<\/a>, where he\u2019s shown his prowess as a tenacious midfielder. This fixture is more than a test of skill\u2014it\u2019s a crucial game that could determine the trajectory of both teams\u2019 World Cup journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/GettyImages-2172974597-2-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Raphinha is in excellent form ahead of the international break!\" class=\"wp-image-7569\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Jose Breton\/Pics Action\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em style=\"font-size: revert; color: initial; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\">By Nicky Helfgott &#8211; <\/em><a style=\"font-size: revert; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NickyHelfgott1\"><em>NickyHelfgott1 on X (Twitter<\/em>)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: revert; color: initial; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\">Keep up with all the <\/span><a style=\"font-size: revert; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\">latest football news<\/a><span style=\"font-size: revert; color: initial; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\"> and<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/uefa-nations-league-7016\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/premier-league-7\/news\"> Nations League news<\/a><span style=\"font-size: revert; color: initial; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\"> on 365Scores!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-widget-type=\"predictions\" data-entity-type=\"game\" data-widget-id=\"0.s7yn03divu8\" data-lang=\"en-US\" data-entity-id=\"3877906\" data-publisher-id=\"125\" data-show-odds=\"true\" data-odds-type=\"decimal\" data-hide-powered-by=\"true\">\u00a0<\/div>\r\n<p><script src=\"https:\/\/widgets.365scores.com\/main.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the international break returns, football fans are in for a treat with high-stakes matches and superstar appearances. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are back on the international stage, with Ronaldo\u2019s Portugal taking on Croatia and Poland and Messi\u2019s Argentina facing Paraguay and Peru. Europe hosts several thrilling matchups, with Italy set to clash with &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":7567,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[1510,2772,2762,2767,2770,2763,26,1548,2766,1345,2760,159,2771,2761,2765,2768,591,2769,2744,2764],"class_list":["post-7566","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-soccer","tag-al-nassr","tag-argentina-national-team","tag-argentina-vs-paraguay","tag-belgium-vs-italy","tag-brazil-football","tag-brazil-vs-uruguay","tag-cristiano-ronaldo","tag-european-qualifiers","tag-greece-perfect-record","tag-inter-miami","tag-italy-vs-france","tag-lionel-messi","tag-portugal-national-team","tag-portugal-vs-croatia","tag-south-american-qualifiers","tag-sweden-vs-slovakia","tag-uefa-nations-league","tag-uruguay-football","tag-viktor-gyokeres","tag-world-cup-qualifiers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7566"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7566"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}