From Algeria to Uzbekistan, our writers and contributors from around the world assess the state of the 48 nations to qualify for the World Cup
“There’s more talent and potential than in 2022,” Kylian Mbappé said ominously this week after France had beaten Brazil 2-1 despite having Dayot Upamecano sent off after 55 minutes. He may well be right. For the second game of this window, against Colombia, Didier Deschamps changed the entire starting XI but was still able to field an attack of Marcus Thuram, Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki and Maghnes Akliouche. Doué scored two in a comfortable 3-1 victory. “I’m well aware that there are some very good players that I won’t be bringing because, in my opinion, there are even better ones,” Deschamps said. Marcus Christenson
World Cup fixtures: Senegal, New York New Jersey; Iraq, Philadelphia; Norway, Boston
The European champions had to change their plans after the Finalissima against Argentina, due to be held in Qatar, was cancelled because of the war in the Middle East. Instead they played friendlies against Serbia (3-0 win) in Villarreal and Egypt in Barcelona (0-0). The latter was overshadowed by chants from Spain fans that police are investigating for Islamophobia and xenophobia and Lamine Yamal said: “To those who sing these things: using a religion as a form of mockery on a pitch shows you up as ignorant and racist.” On the pitch Luis de la Fuente’s team were surprisingly toothless against Egypt – despite having 25 attempts – while Mikel Oyarzabal scored two good goals against Serbia. One potential winner from this window? Víctor Muñoz, who scored Spain’s third on his debut against Serbia. Real Madrid sold the speedy 22-year-old winger (with a buy-back clause) to Osasuna last summer. Billy Munday
