Real international round-up: Ronaldo, Bale, Ramos, Kovacic...
The majority of Zinedine Zidane's squad were out on international duty during the break. How did the Real Madrid squad get along representing their nations?
Sergio Ramos (Spain)
Ramos hasn’t had much luck this international break. The defender conceded the penalty that earned Italy a 1-1 draw in Turin and then injured his knee against Albania and faces six weeks on the sidelines.
Marco Asensio (Spain under-21)
Asensio played both of La Rojita’s victories against San Marino and Estonia, scoring two cracking goals in the process.
Lucas Vázquez (Spain)
Vázquez was an unused substitute in both of Spain’s qualifying fixtures. In the course of the last two international breaks the winger has played just 16 minutes for Spain, in the friendly against Belgium.
Dani Carvajal (Spain)
Carvajal started the match against Italy and played well, his attacking incursions causing the Azzurri some discomfort. Did not play against Albania as Julen Lopetegui switched to the three at the back.
Nacho (Spain)
Came off the bench in Turin to replace the injured Jodri Alba and put in a decent performance on the left of defence. Was back on the bench in Albania as Nacho Monreal’s pace was preferred.
Isco (Spain)
Isco is getting used to the bench and spent most of the international break on it, coming on for 13 minutes against Albania.
Álvaro Morata (Spain)
Morata played for 24 minutes in Turin but didn’t get much of a chance to test Gianluigi Buffon. Watched the 2-0 win in Albania from the bench with Diego Costa ahead of him in the pecking order at the moment.
Gareth Bale (Wales)
Wales were held to two draws in their quest to qualify for Russia 2018 but Bale was once again the best player on the pitch against Austria and Georgia. Bale assisted both goals in Vienna and scored in Cardiff with a bullet header.
Raphael Varane (France)
In good news for Zinedine Zidane, Varane played the full 90 minutes against Bulgaria (4-1) and was instrumental in keeping the Netherlands at bay in Amsterdam as France won 1-0, a game where he also lasted the 90 without any physical problems.
Keylor Navas (Costa Rica)
Navas returned between the sticks for his country after recovering from injury but conceded three times in a 4-3 friendly win over Russia. He couldn’t do much about Russia’s first and third but might have kept the second out.
James Rodríguez (Colombia)
Another disagreement between Madrid and Colombia as the midfielder was diagnosed with a muscle injury by his club only to be called up by his country, travel over 20,000 kilometres and not play a minute of the qualifiers against Paraguay and Uruguay.
Mateo Kovacic (Croatia)
Croatia were without Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, leaving Kovacic to drive the midfield in victories against Kosovo and Finland.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
A breath of fresh air for Ronaldo, who scored five goals in four days for his country after managing only three for Madrid so far this season. Ronaldo scored twice in 190 seconds against Andorra and went on to hit his first four-goal tally for his country and then added another against the Faroe Islands. Both games ended 6-0 to Portugal.
Pepe (Portugal)
Good news for Madrid as Pepe picked up two unnecessary cautions against limited opposition and will miss the next qualifier against Latvia.
Toni Kroos (Germany)
Kroos score done of his trademark goals against the Czech Republic and was involved for 90 minutes in the victory over Northern Ireland.