Aston Villa have ten players out on senior international duty, playing in matches that range from utterly meaningless to vitally important.
Villa players are involved in international friendlies and World Cup qualifying play-offs ahead of the summer tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico in a few months’ time.
With the international window halfway through, let’s see what’s happening with the Villa boys out on tour this month.
Morgan Rogers and Ezri Konsa (England)
Neither of Villa’s England players featured in the Three Lions’ draw against Uruguay at Wembley on Friday, for which Thomas Tuchel dipped into what was a colossal 35-man squad.
England’s second friendly will be against Japan at Wembley on Tuesday. Morgan Rogers and Ezri Konsa, both on the bubble when it comes to England’s strongest starting line-up, are expected to feature against Samurai Blue.
Matty Cash (Poland)
England qualified for World Cup 2026 long ago but Poland still have work to do. They’re 90 minutes away thanks to Thursday’s play-off win over Albania, and they face Sweden away from home in Tuesday’s play-off final. It’s a 7.45pm BST kick-off.
Villa right-back Matty Cash started Thursday’s win and will expect to be selected again with a World Cup place on the line.
Victor Lindelöf (Sweden)
Cash will line up against Villa teammate Victor Lindelöf in Tuesday’s crucial qualifier.
Lindelöf captained Sweden to a 3-1 win against Ukraine in Spain on Thursday to set up the Poland clash, with Sweden taking over home advantage as they look to qualify for the World Cup after missing out four years ago.
Leon Bailey (Jamaica)
The third Villa player who is one game away from the World Cup finals is winger Leon Bailey, who’s on duty with Jamaica.
Bailey and the Reggae Boyz are in the inter-confederation play-offs and beat New Caledonia 1-0 at the end of last week. Bailey came off the bench in the middle of the first half.
Next up, it’s a 10.00pm BST kick-off against DR Congo on Tuesday. The winner goes to the World Cup.
John McGinn (Scotland)
Scotland have already qualified for the World Cup so it’s a couple of friendlies in the current international window. Villa captain John McGinn played a little over an hour in their home defeat against Japan on Saturday.
On Tuesday, they’ll play against Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans (Belgium)
Belgium also have two friendlies, which began with a second-half blitz against the United States last week. Villa midfielder Amadou Onana scored the second goal in a 5-2 win in Atlanta, playing the first 70 minutes.
Youri Tielemans played the last 20 minutes as he continues his return to fitness. Both could be involved again as Belgium take on Mexico in Chicago in the early hours of Wednesday UK time.
Lucas Digne (France)
Villa left-back Lucas Digne didn’t feature in France’s friendly against Brazil last Thursday but started and indeed finished Sunday’s 3-1 win over Colombia in the United States.
Emiliano Martínez (Argentina)
World champions Argentina had their Finalissima fixture cancelled last week, winning 2-1 in a friendly against Mauritania instead. Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez played the full 90 minutes in Friday’s friendly.
The subsequent planned friendly against Qatar was cancelled too. Instead, Argentina will take on Zambia just after midnight UK time.