They may frustrate football fans during the middle of club seasons, but there was plenty of enthralling action to keep supporters entertained during the March international break.
Many of Europe’s top stars were in action for their countries, with several stand out perforances too.
Here, we cast our eye of the biggest names featuring in friendlies across the continent.
Philippe Coutinho (Brazil)
Games: 2
Minutes: 152
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
PSG defender Dani Alves put Coutinho on the same pedestal as Neymar during the international break, claiming the Barcelona schemer is on a par with the talismanic forward. Alves said: “I think that Coutinho is a player who is on the same level as Ney, he has a massive influence on our game and in his teams.” And with his PSG colleague now out injured, Coutinho stepped up as Brazil earned wins over Russia and world champions Germany.
Toni Kroos (Germany)
Games: 2
Minutes: 180
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
A goal from Gabriel Jesus was enough to earn Brazil a 1-0 victory over Germany to gain some revenge for their 2014 World Cup humiliation. Real Madrid metronome played the full 90 minutes in both of his games for Germany over the international break. He had the most touches of any player on the pitch against the Selecao (103) and played two key passes, but could not prevent his team from going down to the Samba Boys. Kroos also had more touches (93) than any player in Germany’s 1-1 draw with Spain last Friday.
Mesut Ozil (Germany)
Games: 1
Minutes: 73
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
The Arsenal forward played in only one of Germany’s two friendlies, featuring for 73 minutes against Spain. He made the most of his time on the field though as he recorded a pass accuracy rating of 96.3 against the Spaniards, the most accurate German and registering one shot on target. Ozil also delighted Gunners fans with a tremendous bit of skill to beat Spain great Andres Iniesta, feigning to move inside before cleverly working his way past the 33-year-old in one of the highlights of the match.
David De Gea (Spain)
Games: 2
Minutes: 180
Goals conceded: 1
At club level he’s been called upon on numerous occasions this season to save his side, but De Gea enjoyed a relatively stress-free time of things during the international break, conceding two goals in two games in daunting tasks against world champions Germany and Argentina. Spain shared the spoils with Die Mannschaft on Friday but De Gea then enjoyed the much better evening when he came up against his Manchester United colleague Sergio Romero against La Albiceleste, with the Red Devils’ No2 conceding six in a chastening 6-1 defeat.
Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands)
Games: 2
Minutes: 180
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
The former Southampton defender has endured a tough start to life at the elite level with Liverpool, but he is starting to find his rhythm. And Van Dijk certainly enjoyed his international break too as he contributed a fine goal in the Netherlands’ 3-0 demolition of European champions Portugal. The Dutch were downed 1-0 at Wembley on Friday but bounced back with aplomb in Carouge, racing into a 3-0 half-time lead and maintaining it, with Reds defender Van Dijk volleying in stylishly to make it 3-0.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Games: 2
Minutes: 158
Goals: 2
Assists: 0
Contrasting fortunes for the Real Madrid superstar, who scored both of his sides goals in a come from behind win over Mohamed Salah’s Egypt on Friday to send them into the second friendly with the Netherlands in high spirits. It was a real rescue act from Ronaldo in Zurich on Friday who snuck in behind his marker to head in Ricardo Quaresma’s cross in the 92nd minute. Another Quaresma cross, another Ronaldo header two minutes later as the Los Blancos great won it with the final move of the game, although the referee consulted the video assistant referee system for a possible offside before allowing the goal.
Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Games: 1
Minutes: 79
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
From high to low for Salah and Egypt as the 2018 World Cup finalists led 1-0 against European champions Portugal before Cristiano Ronaldo’s rescue act. The Liverpool flyer scored with a thumping drive to put the Pharaohs ahead early in the second half in Zurich, with the Premier League’s shining star then removed in the 79th minute and watching from the bench as Ronaldo wiped out the lead he helped his country procure.
Kylian Mbappe (France)
Games: 2
Minutes: 152
Goals: 2
Assists: 1
The future of French football gets among the goals even when he doesn’t play particularly well. The 19-year-old scored twice against Russia but not at his best in St Petersburg, where Les Bleus needed his late second goal to give them so0me breathing space as they allowed the hosts back into the game in the second half after taking a 2-0 lead. Mbappe wasted a glorious chance to open the scoring but made up for it when racing onto Paul Pogba’s pass and finishing with aplomb. His second goal was fortuitous as Russia stopper Andrey Lunev let it go through his legs. Also laid on an assist for Thomas Lemar in Friday’s 3-2 home defeat to Colombia.
Paul Pogba (France)
Games: 2
Minutes: 115
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
Put his club worries behind him with a fine display in a full 90-minute appearance against Russia. Started poorly and gave a way possession on a few occasions, but settled into the game and never hid from the action, taking the ball of team-mates and venturing forward to start attacks. Sparked the move from which Mbappe should have opened the scoring early on before feeding a delicious pass through for the PSG starlet to put his side 1-0 up. Then stepped up and fired a fierce free-kick into the bottom corner to make it 2-0 early in the second half.
