What Manchester United's internationals have been up to: From vintage Fernandes to dismay for Maguire

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Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko missed games for Cameroon and Slovenia as a precaution due to minor fitness issues. Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez and Patrick Dorgu were also not fit enough to be selected by the Netherlands, Argentina and Denmark. Others, including Luke Shaw and Mason Mount, were not called up by England, and Joshua Zirkzee’s lack of first-team action looks set to cost him a World Cup spot with the Netherlands. But other star names were kept busy as they either tried to help their country qualify for the World Cup or prepare for the tournament with friendlies. A place at the World Cup already secured, Belgium headed across the Atlantic for two friendlies against two of the tournament’s three co-hosts — the United States and Mexico. With Thibaut Courtois injured, the 23-year-old United goalkeeper had a chance for his second international appearance. The United No 1 made an impression with a great save to deny Weston McKennie in the 5-2 victory against the U.S. He was an unused substitute for the friendly against Mexico, with Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels getting his chance to impress in that game. If Courtois is fit for the World Cup, then Lammens may have to settle for a spot on the bench but he is considered a future starter for his country. Turkey beat Romania and Kosovo to reach this summer’s World Cup through the play-offs, with the United backup goalkeeper an unused substitute in both games. Bayindir will be hopeful of travelling to the summer’s World Cup, even if Galatasaray’s Ugurcan Cakir looks set to be the No 1, with Mert Gunok also ahead of him in the pecking order. Came on as a half-time substitute in Portugal’s 0-0 friendly draw with Mexico for Matheus Nunes and then started the 2-0 win over the U.S. before reversing the change from the first friendly as he went off for the Manchester City man. Dalot appears to be in a battle for a starting spot in Roberto Martinez’s starting XI for this summer’s World Cup. The defender played 82 minutes for Morocco in a friendly at left-back as they were held 1-1 against Ecuador. He had an uneventful game and was an unused substitute in their 2-1 victory over Paraguay, meaning he didn’t play too much football after overcoming an illness to travel for the break. England manager Thomas Tuchel made headlines by saying the 33-year-old Manchester United defender is his fifth choice centre-back, despite his return to form for his club. John Stones, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa and Trevoh Chalobah all appear to be ahead of Maguire in the pecking order, which leaves his hopes of going to this summer’s World Cup hanging by a thread. “I got exactly what I thought, to be honest,” Tuchel told reporters after Maguire impressed over 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Uruguay last week. “Solid, solid central defender play. That’s what he does. Very good on the ball, very calm, strong in the air and in the weapon for set pieces. I haven’t changed my mind but I see other players I like to start for us, I see other players ahead with a different profile.” Maguire, as expected, started on the bench against Japan in the other England friendly during this break but came on for the final seven minutes in place of Konsa. The United defender will now hope to push his way more firmly into Tuchel’s thoughts by continuing his strong club form in the remaining seven games of the Premier League season. The 20-year-old defender has not yet graduated to the French senior side but did wear the captain’s armband for the Under-21s in a 2-1 friendly win over Iceland, and he impressed at centre-back. Yoro is not expected to be part of France’s World Cup squad this summer but could have a big future at international level. It was two years ago when Casemiro was left heartbroken by being left out of Brazil’s Copa America squad following a poor season for United. Now, the 34-year-old’s United form is back to its best and he’s a key player again for his country. The midfielder captained Brazil and played 84 minutes in the 2-1 defeat against France. He then played an influential role for just over an hour in Brazil’s 3-1 win over Croatia as Carlo Ancelotti’s side got back to winning ways. His defensive performance was particularly impressive. The midfielder was back in the England squad for the first time since September 2024 and came on as a late substitute in the 1-1 draw with Uruguay, a gentle return to international football. Against Japan, he partnered Elliot Anderson in midfield — something many United fans would like to see a lot more of next season, given the Nottingham Forest player is well-liked at Old Trafford. Mainoo had a good start on the ball but did struggle, at times, defensively when Japan played through the middle. Ugarte was caught up in controversy during the 1-1 draw with England after appearing to be booked twice. In fact, it was just confusion. The first incident came in the 70th minute when UK broadcaster ITV displayed a graphic saying Ugarte had been booked for a foul on Cole Palmer, before he was later shown a card for dissent. But Opta statistics showed Jose Maria Gimenez had been booked for the first incident. Ugarte, who has not started a Premier League game for United since January 7, then got 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw with Algeria in Turin. With Cristiano Ronaldo injured, Fernandes got the chance to captain his country for the first time in the goalless draw with Mexico in Mexico City, where he was an impressive performer. The United midfielder had the armband again for the clash with the U.S. at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and assisted both goals in a 2-0 win. The backheel that teed up Francisco Trincao to open the scoring was a particular highlight. Martinez took Portugal to Mexico and the U.S. to prepare them for the conditions there this summer, and Fernandes will play an important role if they are to succeed in the World Cup. This was a chance for the United forward to stake a claim for a starting spot at this summer’s World Cup. With Barcelona star Raphinha injured, Cunha got the chance to start back-to-back games for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. He played in a deeper role than he usually does at United, offering defensive support to Vinicius Junior by wandering to the left side during an impressive performance in the 3-1 win over Croatia. He had been quieter in the 2-1 defeat against France. The United winger made two substitute appearances in the break as he got 26 minutes in the 4-0 win over South Korea, which included a late assist. He then got 21 minutes against Scotland at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium in the Ivory Coast’s second friendly. He will be hoping he can finish the season strongly to ensure he gets more playing time when the World Cup comes around in the summer. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Chris McKenna spent more than 11 years working for the Daily Star as well as the Daily Mirror and Daily Express covering football and boxing. He also covered the World Cup final in 2022 and boxing’s biggest events of the last decade.