Nemanja Vidic and Cristiano Ronaldo will go head to head
when Serbia host Portugal in next Wednesdays Euro 2008 Group A
qualifier.
They are just two of a plethora of United players linking up with
their national squads this week. The tally would have been much
higher had Gary Neville, Darren
Fletcher, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer,
Louis Saha and Mikael Silvestre
not suffered injuries.
Neville misses Englands matches against Israel and Andorra through
injury, but if his brother Phil plays in both matches then the pair
will surpass Sir Bobby and Jack Charltons record as the most
capped brothers for their country.
Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney,
Michael Carrick and Ben Foster
are in Steve McClarens squad for the crucial Group E qualifiers.
While in the Under-21s, Kieran Richardson will be
one of the first players to experience playing at the new Wembley
as England face Italy in a friendly on Saturday.
Jonny Evans, excelling in a loan spell with
Sunderland, has been called into Lawrie Sanchezs Northern Ireland
squad to face Liechtenstein and Sweden.
John OShea and Darron Gibson, on
loan at Royal Antwerp, are involved for the Republic of Irelands
matches against Wales and Slovakia. The Irish pair could face
Ryan Giggs for Wales on Saturday at Croke Park,
before John Toshacks side face San Marino the following
Wednesday.
Edwin van der Sar has ruled himself out of
Hollands qualifier against Romania on Saturday. He is still
suffering from a calf injury and will be assessed again before next
Wednesdays clash with Slovenia. Tomasz Kuszczak,
who has deputised for the Dutchman in Uniteds side, is in Leo
Beenhakkers Poland squad for their games against Azerbaijan and
Armenia.
In friendlies, Ji-sung Park will feature for South
Korea against Uruguay, while Dong Fangzhuo will
lead Chinas front line against Australia and Uzbekistan.
Saturday 24 March
Israel v England
Liechtenstein v Northern Ireland
Kazakhstan v Serbia
Poland v Azerbaijan
Portugal v Belgium
Rep of Ireland v Wales
China PR v Australia
South Korea v Uruguay
Tuesday 27 March
China v Uzbekistan
Wednesday 28 March
Andorra v England
Northern Ireland v Sweden
Poland v Armenia
Rep of Ireland v Slovakia
Serbia v Portugal
Slovenia v Netherlands
Wales v San Marino