Nine stars who could make their international debuts this week

As we approach the start of a new international cycle after last year’s World Cup, all nations will have high hopes for future success.

After the tournament in Qatar, some nations are looking to break it all after a disastrous experience: see Belgium.

Others are only hoping to evolve a bit after positive displays that ultimately ended in disappointment, such as Portugal and England.

Elsewhere, some nations are extremely happy and just trying to keep up with the next generation of talent – ​​check out World Cup winners Argentina.

However, the first international break since Lionel Messi lifted the iconic trophy has seen a host of new faces called up to teams around the world as new teams chart the beginning of their path to glory.

This includes Brentford star Ivan Toney, who is expected to make his highly anticipated international debut for England.

In light of that, Sportsmail have taken a look at nine other players who could make their international goals this week.

Brian Brobbey (Ajax) – Netherlands

After a World Cup campaign in which the Netherlands lacked an absolute striker, with Memphis Depay, Cody Gakpo and Steven Bergwijn among those forming a makeshift front, Ronald Koeman potentially has the next great Dutch striker at his disposal.

Brian Brobbey has been promoted to the senior team after an impressive comeback of six goals in 12 games for the Under-21s.

With 11 goals in 25 Eredivisie games, the Ajax striker is enjoying a prolific season and, at the age of 21, Koeman is likely to integrate Brobbey into his Euro 2024 qualifying period, especially with Cody Gakpo. leaving his team due to a virus in the camp.

Mateo Retegui (Tigre on loan from Boca Juniors) – Italy

Despite the much-publicized shortage of Italian forwards, the call-up of a non-capped Argentine striker who only qualifies for Italy due to his grandfather hailing from Sicily came as a huge surprise.

However, the addition of Mateo Retegui to Roberto Mancini’s options is likely to be a shrewd move, as the Tigre striker is Argentina’s current top scorer after topping the goalscoring table last season.

Italy’s limited attacking options include underdog West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca, meaning Retegui could be thrown directly by the former Manchester City boss.

Joselu (Spanish) – Spain

In what would surely be shocking news for fans of Newcastle and Stoke City, where he has scored just 11 goals in 79 games, striker Joselu, 32, has received his first cap for the Spain squad.

The Espanyol striker has been in top form this season, with 12 LaLiga goals, a tally surpassed only by Robert Lewandowski and Enes Unal.

Despite his age, the Premier League flop could be a short-term fix for Spain manager Luis de la Fuente as he looks to deal with his seemingly chronic goal-scoring woes.

Kevin Schade (Brentford) – Germany

In perhaps a surprise decision by Hansi Flick, Kevin Schade, who joined Brentford on loan ahead of an expected permanent move for a club-record fee of £20m in the summer, was picked up by Germany this month.

With just one assist in eight games for the Bees, it’s another sign of how highly rated Schade is after Brentford committed to such a major deal for the winger.

Flick’s squad includes only Serge Gnabry as an experienced winger and after eight goals in 14 games for Germany’s youth teams, Schade could make his first goal this week.

Romeo Lavia (Southampton) – Belgium

In a difficult season for Southampton, Romeo Lavia has been one of their brightest sparks since moving from Man City this summer.

The 19-year-old Lavia has already attracted interest from several big clubs including Chelsea and is destined to be a star of the future.

He received his first call-up from Belgium and as boss Domenico Tedesco looks to start a new era after the disintegration of his ‘Golden Generation’ following a disastrous World Cup, Lavia could well be a key part of it.

Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting Lisbon) – Portugal

The latest talented young Portuguese star, 21-year-old centre-back Goncalo Inacio, will be familiar to Arsenal fans after helping knock them out of the Europa League last week, where he scored in a penalty shootout.

Despite his tender age, he has already amassed over 100 caps for Sporting Lisbon and also as a left-footed centre-back, that only adds to his appeal.

With Portugal’s defensive options still including the 40-year-old Pepe, Inacio has a great opportunity to establish himself as a key pillar of Roberto Martínez’s team in the next international cycle and beyond.

Khephren Thuram (Nice) – France

We have already seen a son of legendary French defender Lilian Thuram burst onto the international scene in recent years, with Marcus Thuram making an impact at Les Bleus during the World Cup in Qatar.

Now Khephren, four years younger than Marcus at 21, has been picked up by Didier Deschamps following impressive performances for Nice this season in Ligue 1 and their run to the Europa Conference League quarter-finals.

With seasoned stars like Hugo Lloris and Raphael Varane having withdrawn since the tournament in Qatar, there is now a chance for the next generation of French players to step up as they seek to recover from their World Cup heartbreak.

Maximo Perrone (Man City) – Argentina

After winning the Copa América and the World Cup in successive years, there is no doubt that a difficult task awaits Man City’s young Máximo Perrone as he attempts to break into the Argentina squad.

However, for the midfielder, who moved to the Etihad for £8m in January from Argentine side Vélez Sarsfield and made his debut against Bournemouth last month, a call-up to La Albiceleste’s senior squad is yet another sign of how highly valued he is. what is through the globe.

In an expanded group of 33 men selected by Lionel Scaloni, he can give minutes to some of his younger members.

This includes fellow Brighton midfielder Facundo Buonanotte as Scaloni keeps an eye on the next generation of talent coming his way.

Andrey Santos (Vasco da Gama – on loan from Chelsea) – Brazil

One of Chelsea’s nine signings in January, he would be forgiven for losing Andrey Santos among them with the Brazilian yet to join Chelsea’s first team after being denied a work permit.

A star in Brazil who broke through at Vasco da Gama, Santos scored six goals in this year’s South American Under-20 Championship as captain in the Selecao’s triumph, before returning to his former club on loan until the summer.

Forecasted to be one of the best midfielders of his generation, interim head coach Ramón Menezes has selected just six midfielders on his squad, four of them without limit, and Santos is likely to get minutes.