The longest autumn international break has come to a close, making way for the club battles in the Premier League. October's Nations League matches and friendlies have sharply divided European football into victors and those whose egos or age are dragging their teams down.
Winners
Portugal
Jorge Jesus has accomplished what Roberto Martinez could not — freeing the national team from dependence on Cristiano Ronaldo. In the absence of the 41-year-old veteran, Portugal showcased fluid, fast-paced football, confidently overcoming Denmark and thrice dismantling Norway. The Portuguese became the first team to secure their place in the Nations League quarter-finals. Gonzalo Ramos enjoyed a particularly strong window, allowing the midfielders to express themselves and elevate the team's creative play.
Michael Olise
The French winger is producing football of the highest calibre. It's no wonder that even Zinédine Zidane has publicly sung his praises.
Elliot Anderson
With a hefty price tag of £116 million hanging over him, Anderson faced immense pressure but delivered a stellar international break for England. Amidst the illustrious company of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, the Manchester City midfielder remained remarkably calm, effectively linking play and dictating the tempo without hogging the limelight.
Greece
Greek football is enjoying a bright renaissance. A new wave of talents, led by Konstantinos Karentzis (Borussia Dortmund), Christos Tsolis (Arsenal), Charalampos Kostoulas (Brighton), Giannis Konstantelias, and Konstantinos Koulierakis (Roma), are already making their mark in Europe’s top five leagues. The Greeks are unbeaten in four matches, having taken down Germany in Augsburg and establishing themselves as dark horses for the upcoming Euro 2028.
Troy Parrott
Parrott's decision to move to Real Betis instead of West Ham proved pivotal for his career. The Irish striker netted a sensational slalom goal against Austria, making him the leading scorer for Ireland at this stage of his career, surpassing legendary Robbie Keane.
Northern Ireland
A shocking 3-0 victory over Ukraine sent waves of surprise, especially considering that only one player in the Northern Irish starting XI was over 25 — Kiaron Brown from Oxford United. The team currently tops their group, boasting a strong defence that hasn't conceded a single goal in four matches.
Victor Djuric
In Arsenal, Mikel Arteta's position for the Swedish forward appears shaky, with critics quick to write him off. However, he has been unstoppable for Sweden, scoring in all four October matches and extending his Nations League goal streak to seven games.
Losers
Cristiano Ronaldo
The forward emerged as the biggest loser of the break. His stubborn pursuit of the 1000-goal milestone has damaged the national team at three successive major tournaments. His sulk, refusal to represent his country under Jorge Jesus, and comparisons of himself to Pele and Diego Maradona have revealed the toxicity of the superstar. The federation is no longer willing to pander to his whims.
Croatia
The collapse of the 'shakhtsi' signals the end of a golden era for Balkan football. Following a devastating loss to Spain, they suffered an embarrassing 0-7 defeat to England. The 41-year-old Luka Modric looked utterly helpless against England's dynamic midfield, while 37-year-old Ivan Perisic struggled to keep up. Mateo Kovacic even made a bizarre miss on an open goal. This generation appears to have run its course.
Declan Rice
Despite being regarded as an elite British box-to-box destroyer, Rice risks losing his monopoly in the holding midfield area. The debut of Alex Scott showed how much sharper and progressive the England midfield could be when a central midfielder advances the ball quickly rather than resorting to sideways passes.
Scotland
Sebastian Pocognoli’s debut gathering ended in a painful fiasco. After taking the lead against Slovenia at Hampden Park, the team completely collapsed in the second half, suffering a disappointing defeat that exposed a lack of depth in their new cycle.
Cole Palmer
The Chelsea star declined an invitation to join the England squad, citing 'load management' as the reason, despite enjoying a full summer break and his club not participating in European competitions. His decision drew heavy public criticism from Thomas Tuchel, while the England attack proved capable and effective even without Palmer.
Turkey
Under Vincenzo Montella, the Turkish squad faced dismal performances, struggling against France, Italy, and Belgium in the group stages. With talents like Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız, they currently sit at the bottom of their group and risk being relegated to a lower division in the revamped Nations League.
San Marino
The football minnow came agonisingly close to a historic triumph in Albania, only to concede a penalty on 93 minutes, succumbing to a 2-1 defeat.
