Real Madrid players seeking passage to 2022 World Cup

This month's international break has left Carlo Ancelotti without half of his squad - twelve Real Madrid players are with their respective national teams and 10 of them will be hoping to book their ticket for World Cup Qatar 2022. With Dani Carvajal's recall, Madrid have recovered part of their quota with the Spain squad. There were no Madrid players in Luis Enrique's last three lists. Spain are in action on Thursday against Greece and will be playing for first place in their group in their final qualifier, against Sweden in Seville on Sunday night.

It's looking a little easier for Benzema, Courtois and Hazard. France and Belgium top their groups with the Belgians guaranteed a top-two finish. A win from either of their last two games would be enough for both of them, although for the reigning world champions a draw against Kazakhstan on Saturday would see them through if Finland drop points against Bosnia.  Croatia and Luka Modric will finish either top or second in Group H and will decide who wins the section when they take on Russia in the final qualifier in Split on Sunday.

For Jovic, Bale and Alaba, the situation is a more complicated. Serbia will be guaranteed of making the play-offs if Portugal end up taking top spot in Group. Wales, who are in the same group as Belgium, sit third, level of 11 points with the Czech Republic and could finish second or third - depending on what results they can get in their games against Belarus and Belgium. In the worst case scenario, they could enter the play-offs as champions of their Nations League group if Spain and France top their groups. Austria are looking at a similar route as they have no chance of  clinching either of the top two places in their group - they need to wait to see what happens with Spain, France and Wales to enter the play-offs via the Nations League route.

In the CONMEBOL South American qualifiers, Brazil, who top their group, will book their place at Qatar with six games left to play if they beat Colombia. Three Madrid players will be involved - Militão, Casemiro and Vinicius who will be aiming to get back in time for the league meeting with Granada on 21 November.

2023 Euro U21 qualifiers

The only Madrid player who has been called up but is not involved in any of the World Cup qualifiers is Camavinga who is with France's Under-21 squad - they have games against Armenia and North Macedonia in the qualifying round for Euro 2023 in the category.