Goals, assists and clean sheets: Fonseca smiles as Milan stars shine on international duty

AC Milan had a number of internationals in action over the recent break, and there were some performances to celebrate that should bring some added confidence.

There were 18 different Milan players called up to represent their country at various age levels, and the headlines certainly belong to two players above all: Tijjani Reijnders and Christian Pulisic.

We start with the Dutchman, who scored in the first game they played in the UEFA Nations League against Bosnia, also registering an assist and hitting the crossbar playing a bit further forward as the most advanced of a midfield three.

After less than two minutes he provided an encore against Germany, collecting a pass from Ryan Gravenberch and finishing with the composure of a striker having found himself through on goal facing Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

It may also provide Paulo Fonseca with some food for thought given that he played in a slightly different more advanced position than he usually does at Milan, though Ismael Bennacer’s injury is likely to mean Reijnders is needed in the engine room alongside Youssouf Fofana.

Moving on to Pulisic and Yunus Musah, the first game did not go to plan for the United States as they lost on home soil to Canada which is very much a rarity. In a 4-3-3 system the winger was used on the left and the midfielder as the right-sided mezzala.

The caretaker manager Mikey Varas then fielded a 4-4-2 formation against New Zealand that saw Musah start in the centre, and then in the second half he brought Pulisic on, taking Haji Wright’s place on the left wing.

Less than 15 minutes after coming on, Pulisic got a goal that moves him up in the USMNT scoring charts. He collected a feed on the left side of the box before steadying himself and finding the far corner with a composed finish.

There were three Frenchmen in action too as Les Bleus lost 3-1 to Italy in the first game and then beat Belgium 2-0 in the second. Mike Maignan drew praise in particular for his hand in the clean sheet on Monday night, while he also got good ratings for the Italy game too despite three goals going in.

Theo Hernandez and Youssouf Fofana meanwhile started the Italy game and were criticised for their lack of contribution in a losing effort, while they both lost their starting spot for the Belgium match though Fofana did come on in the final minute.

Rafael Leao certainly had a mixed experience away with Portugal. He was taken off at half-time by Roberto Martinez in an eventual 2-1 win over Croatia, though some believe that to be a harsh decision.

Nonetheless he was named in the XI against Scotland a few days later and he repaid the trust of his coach by providing an assist for Bruno Fernandes which brought them back level, and eventually they would again get a 2-1 win.

What stood out in addition to the aforementioned was Strahinja Pavlovic’s performance against Spain. He started the game playing on the left of a three-man defence and thus came up against Lamine Yamal, neutralising the Barcelona sensation.

Jovic could have been the hero for Serbia in that game could have climbed out of a difficult moment in the process, but he missed a glorious chance and instead his dark week continued. Both players started but didn’t do anything noteworthy in a 2-0 defeat to Denmark on Tuesday night.

Samuel Chukwueze’s struggles to start the season continued as he started twice for Nigeria in a 3-0 win over Benin and a 0-0 draw with Rwanda. In the first game he failed to get a goal involvement and came off just after an hour, and in the second game he made way at half-time.