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Duo go for Nations League glory as 12 called up

Twelve Gunners will represent their countries during this week’s international window, with Mikel Merino and David Raya going for Nations League glory once again.

The duo will be looking to retain the trophy they lifted in 2023, with the semi-finals and final taking place over the next week.

Spain will face France in the last four, who are without the injured William Saliba, and the winner of that game in Stuttgart will advance to the showpiece in Munich on Sunday to face either Germany or Portugal. Should Spain lose, then they’ll play the other unsuccessful semi-finalist in the third-place play-off.

Aside from Nations League action, there are 2026 World Cup qualifiers taking place across the globe.

Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Myles Lewis-Skelly have all been selected for England’s qualifier against Andorra, as well as a friendly against Senegal. Our trio will look to continue their 100% start when they head to Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium on Saturday, having beaten Albania and Latvia in their opening two games under new management.

The Three Lions then host Senegal at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground home in friendly action three days later, as Thomas Tuchel continues to run the rule over his options as he builds towards next year’s finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Having won both of their opening two matches, Norway will be hoping that they can take another step towards qualifying for a first major tournament since Euro 2000 when Martin Odegaard’s side face Italy and Estonia, where he could go up against on-loan Karl Hein.

Poland have also won both of their opening qualifiers, and could make it three out of three when they face Finland. Jakub Kiwior will aim to be involved in that one, as well as a warm-up against Moldova.

Leandro Trossard’s Belgium get their campaign underway in North Macedonia before returning to their homeland for a fixture against Wales, with both opponents already collecting four points to lead the way, leaving the Red Devils with some catching up to do.

Kieran Tierney’s Scotland get their campaign underway against Iceland and Liechtenstein, while with no qualifiers scheduled in this window, Oleksandr Zinchenko’s Ukraine will take place in a friendly tournament in Canada, with games against the hosts and New Zealand.

In South America, Gabriel Martinelli has been included in Carlo Ancelotti’s first Brazil squad for their pair of World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay. Two points separate all three teams in the qualification standings, so these two matches for the Selecao could prove huge in ensuring Martinelli makes it to a second World Cup.

Full list of international fixtures

All times BST

Thursday, June 5

Spain (Raya, Merino) v France

Nations League | Stuttgart, Germany | 8pm

Friday, June 6

Ecuador v Brazil (Martinelli)

World Cup qualifier | Guayaquil | 12am

Norway (Odegaard) v Italy

World Cup qualifier | Oslo | 7.45pm

Scotland (Tierney) v Iceland

World Cup qualifier | Glasgow | 7.45pm

North Macedonia v Belgium (Trossard)

World Cup qualifier | Skopje | 7.45pm

Poland (Kiwior) v Moldova

Friendly | Chorzow | 7.45pm

Saturday, June 7

Andorra v England (Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Saka)

World Cup qualifier | Barcelona | 5pm

Canada v Ukraine (Zinchenko)

Friendly | Toronto | 8.30pm

Monday, June 9

Liechtenstein v Scotland (Tierney)

World Cup qualifier | Vaduz | 5pm

Estonia v Norway (Odegaard)

World Cup qualifier | Tallinn | 7.45pm

Tuesday, June 10

England (Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Saka) v Senegal

Friendly | Nottingham | 7.45pm

Finland v Poland (Kiwior)

World Cup qualifier | Helsinki | 7.45pm

Belgium (Trossard) v Wales

World Cup qualifier | Brussels | 7.45pm

New Zealand v Ukraine (Zinchenko)

Friendly | Toronto | 10pm

Wednesday, June 11

Brazil (Martinelli) v Paraguay

World Cup qualifier | Sao Paulo | 1.45am

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