Across Europe and the Americas, the coming international window is being shaped as much by treatment rooms as training pitches. Nations League fixtures, friendlies and national-team camps will proceed without a notable group of established names, while several coaches wait on late fitness assessments.
Key takeaways
- England are set to be without Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento.
- Spain have lost Tottenham full-back Pedro Porro, while Italy cannot call on midfielder Bryan Cristante.
- Federico Valverde will miss Uruguay’s friendlies, and Argentina are without Thiago Almada and Juan Foyth.
- Brazil striker João Pedro and Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen are also unavailable through injury.
- Mexico have confirmed absences for Alan Cervantes and César Montes, with Santiago Giménez still being monitored.
European squads reshaped before Nations League duties
England face one of the heavier casualty lists ahead of their Nations League programme. Palmer, Rice, Rashford, Mainoo and Livramento have each been ruled out by separate physical issues, forcing changes to a group that had been expected to carry considerable depth across midfield, attack and defence.
Spain must also revise their options on the right side of defence after Porro picked up an injury while with Tottenham. His absence removes a player regarded as one of the alternatives in a position where Spain have been seeking reliable variety for their international matches.
Italy’s preparations have been interrupted by the withdrawal of Cristante. The midfielder’s physical problem means the Azzurri must alter their central options for their Nations League assignments without a player included in the initial selection.
South American, African and Mexican concerns
On the other side of the Atlantic, Uruguay will play their upcoming friendlies without Valverde. Argentina have suffered two losses of their own: Almada has a muscle injury, while Foyth has not recovered sufficiently to join the camp in fit condition.
Brazil must replace João Pedro for their scheduled friendly matches, with another player brought in to take his place. Nigeria, meanwhile, will be without Osimhen after a muscle complaint ruled the forward out of the international period.
Mexico’s camp has its own injury questions. Cervantes has been sidelined by a muscular complaint, and Montes is unavailable after sustaining an injury. Giménez has been training separately because of physical discomfort, leaving his potential involvement dependent on how he progresses before Mexico’s matches.
