5 Real Madrid Players to Watch on International Duty Week of October 6

The international break has not come at a good time for Real Madrid. They have won each of their last six matches in all competitions and would have appreciated the opportunity to keep that momentum going.

Instead, as per Marca, 14 of their 22 first-team players have travelled to join up with their respective national teams ahead of the international fixtures that will take place between October 9 and 14. They will be involved in matches across Europe and the Americas.

Here are five Real Madrid players to watch on international duty this week.

Cristiano Ronaldo

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Cristiano Ronaldo sat out the last international break as part of his recovery from the niggling injuries that had stymied his effectiveness in the early weeks of the campaign.

In his absence, Portugal began their European Championship qualifying campaign with a humiliating 1-0 defeat at home to Albania.

Paulo Bento resigned from his position as national-team coach shortly afterwards and was replaced by Fernando Santos, who led Greece to the quarter finals of Euro 2012 and to the round of 16 at this summer’s World Cup.

Ronaldo was immediately restored to the national-team setup as part of the new coach’s first squad. Santos will now hope that his star man can replicate his stellar club form at international level.

Per Soccerway, Ronaldo has scored 13 goals in six league appearances so far this season, including hat-tricks in three of his last four matches.

Santos faces two tough early tests. Portugal take on France in a friendly in Paris on Thursday and then travel to Denmark in search of three points to get their qualification campaign back on track.

If Portugal are to emerge victorious from either or both of those fixtures, Ronaldo will surely have a key role to play.

Raphael Varane

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Raphael Varane could find himself in close quarters with his free-scoring teammate if Ronaldo starts against France on Thursday.

Ronaldo would likely be deployed on the left of a forward three, from where he would seek to cut infield towards goal. As the right-sided of France’s centre-backs, Varane would be the one charged with preventing him from making further progress.

Despite some strong recent performances, Varane still seems to be the third-choice centre-back for Madrid. But at international level, he is one of the first names on Didier Deschamps’ teamsheet.

Varane and Mamadou Sakho have formed a strong, quick and aerially dominant partnership in the centre of the French defence. They will be one of the cornerstones of the country’s bid to win Euro 2016 on home soil.

France performed very well in their friendly victory over Spain last month and Thursday’s match will provide Deschamps with a further opportunity to fine-tune his side against another of Europe’s strongest teams.

Karim Benzema is also likely to start up front for France in Paris, providing he recovers from the hip injury that, as per AS, he picked up in training on Tuesday.

Iker Casillas

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The debate continues to swirl as to whether or not Iker Casillas should retain his place between the sticks for Madrid and his place at international level is now also starting to come under threat.

David de Gea performed competently when given an opportunity in last month’s friendly defeat to France. Casillas was restored to the starting XI for the European Championship qualifying victory over Macedonia, but De Gea’s interim club form renders him a genuine contender for the position.

Casillas will be desperate to hold on until Euro 2016, not least because he wants a chance to make up for Spain’s poor showing at this summer’s World Cup.

“I dream about Paris 2016,” he explained in a recent interview with Inaki Gabilondo of Canal+ (h/t Marca). “I was badly affected by the World Cup. I have a point to prove.”

Spain are unlikely to be unduly troubled by either Slovakia or Luxembourg. Casillas will probably remain the No. 1 for now, but a slip up in either match could see De Gea given another chance to show what he can do.

Dani Carvajal is also likely to play some part in one or both of Spain’s matches.

Gareth Bale

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Wales have only ever taken part in one major international tournament.

The easier qualifying conditions for the 24-team European Championship of 2016—with two automatic places and a further potential playoff spot available from each qualifying group—have, however, given them reason to be hopeful of doubling their appearance tally.

Chris Coleman’s side began their qualifying campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory away to Andorra. Gareth Bale scored both goals, including a lovely free-kick for the 81st-minute winner. The country’s hopes will again rest on his shoulders this week.

Wales host Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday and Cyprus on Monday in two matches from which they will want to take at least four points ahead of trips to Belgium and Israel in their subsequent two fixtures.

Per The Guardian, Bale was named Welsh player of the year for a record fourth time on Monday.

Ahead of the ceremony, he spoke of their chances of getting a win against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday.

“We know they’re a very good side, they showed that by getting to the World Cup and they’ve obviously got some good players,” he said.

“But we believe in ourselves and hopefully we can get the victory on Friday.”

James Rodriguez

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James Rodriguez will travel to the United States for Colombia’s friendlies against El Salvador and Canada in New Jersey.

Rodriguez has started to find his rhythm at Madrid in recent weeks and may, therefore, not be particularly happy about the timing of the international break.

He is, though, one of Colombia’s star players and will nevertheless be looking forward to the chance to line up for Los Cafeteros in two eminently winnable friendlies.

With Radamel Falcao Garcia back from the injury that ruled him out of the World Cup, coach Jose Pekerman is likely to use these matches as an opportunity to work out how best to incorporate both Rodriguez and Falcao into his starting XI.

Rodriguez revelled in the additional space afforded to him in a 4-2-3-1 formation during the World Cup, but the return of Falcao is likely to see Pekerman revert to a two-striker system.

It will be interesting to see what effect this has on Rodriguez’s output—particularly as he seems to be slowly adjusting to the greater defensive responsibility he now shoulders at club level.

Rodriguez will undoubtedly be a key figure in the Colombian national team for years to come, but this week’s two friendlies could give us a better idea of his current role in the build-up to next year’s Copa America in Chile.