Five Players Under Pressure as Nations League Kicks Off International Break
The short version
- The 2026-27 UEFA Nations League begins Thursday amid a three-week international break.
- Ronaldo, 41, was retained by Portugal despite World Cup criticism and a last-16 exit to Spain.
- Wirtz and Tonali have struggled to justify big-money moves to Liverpool and Tottenham respectively.
- Alexander-Arnold and Hall were recalled by England after missing the World Cup squad.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Florian Wirtz and Sandro Tonali are among the big names looking to make an impact when the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League begins Thursday.
European club football pauses for a three-week international window, with the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League opening Thursday. Several high-profile players head into the break facing scrutiny at club or international level.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, drew criticism for his showings at the summer World Cup, where Portugal fell to Spain in the round of 16. He was nonetheless named in the squad by Jorge Jesus, who coached him at Al-Nassr last season, and will aim to show he still belongs at this level.
Florian Wirtz is in his second season at Liverpool after a club-record £116 million transfer from Bayer Leverkusen, and pressure is building despite backing from manager Andoni Iraola. Sandro Tonali, a £100 million summer signing from Newcastle United, has started all five of Tottenham's Premier League games without a win in any of them.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Lewis Hall were both left out of England's World Cup squad for the tournament in the United States. Alexander-Arnold has been recalled by Thomas Tuchel, while Hall, a Manchester United target over the summer whom Newcastle refused to sell, also returns to the fold.