The English Premier League international break is never a quiet period for players, but teams and those players not involved do get a chance for a little break.
Bet365 Sport offers extensive Premier League betting throughout this international break and on every international break of the season.
Let's now recap some of the news from the EPL and the international scene over the last few days.
The English Premier League is currently on a pause due to the international soccer window. This break, designated by FIFA, allows national teams to play matches without the conflict of club commitments.
During this period, professional clubs must release players called up for national duties. The Premier League, like many other leagues, has therefore chosen to pause rather than continue without its star players.
This second international break of the season runs from October 7th to 15th, and the Premier League will resume on October 19 with a full slate of games, starting with Tottenham hosting West Ham United.
(Kick off 3pm unless stated)
Several international competitions are taking place during this international break. In South America, CONMEBOL is holding two rounds of World Cup qualifying matches. Meanwhile, 18 teams are still competing in the Asian World Cup qualifiers.
European teams are engaged in UEFA Nations League play, and the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying is also occurring.
For other national teams, friendly matches fill the schedule. For instance, the US Men's National Team (USMNT) will play against Panama and Mexico under their new head coach, Mauricio Pochettino.
Women's soccer will experience a similar international break soon, with their next international break from October 21st to 30th. During this time, the US Women's National Team (USWNT) will play Iceland twice and Argentina once. This break may affect USWNT players' availability for the final weekend of NWSL matches from November 1 to 3.
England's Lionesses will face Germany at Wembley on the 25th October, before they then take on South Africa at the Coventry Building Society Arena on the 29th.
Manchester City recently challenged the Premier League over rules they deemed unlawful. The Premier League accused Manchester City of breaking Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules 115 times, which the club denies.
If found guilty, Manchester City could face a number of severe sanctions and penalties, including points deductions to relegation from the Premier League and expulsion from European competitions.
However, complaints about rules are valid when those rules are unfair or illegal. Manchester City contested the Associated Party Transaction rules introduced by the Premier League in 2021. An arbitration panel sided with Manchester City on some of their grievances, agreeing that some of these rules were unlawful.
But the panel also decided that many of the current rules were fair and legal. Both the Premier League and Man City claimed a victory of sorts from the panel's decision.
Ben Chilwell, the out of favour Chelsea full-back, has been linked with a potential transfer to Napoli. The Serie A side has already signed Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour from the Premier League this season and the club is now interested in acquiring Chilwell.
Antonio Conte, the manager of Napoli, is reportedly a big fan of Chilwell, whom he managed when head coach at Chelsea. Chilwell could leave Chelsea on loan with an option for a permanent deal at the end of the season, if a permanent switch cannot be agreed immediately.
Several Premier League clubs, including Fulham, Manchester United, Crystal Palace, and Ipswich, are also rumoured to be interested in Chilwell and may pursue him in January.
Manchester City and England midfielder Phil Foden is struggling to replicate his outstanding Premier League form when playing for England. Foden is considered one of England's most talented players, known for his dribbling skills and goal-scoring ability. Yet he was anonymous in England's 2-1 loss to Greece and was back on the substitutes bench for the 3-1 win over Finland on Sunday.
It was not the most auspicious international break for the City superstar.
Since debuting for Manchester City in 2017, Foden has won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and the Champions League. Despite his club success, Foden's performances for the national team have not matched the consistency of those at Manchester City, frustrating England fans.
With Lee Carsley's experiment with five attacking midfielders and no central striker failing against Greece, Foden found himself the odd man out as Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer retained their place in the team against Finland.
When the next England manager comes into the fold, finding the right role for all these talented midfielders could be key.
The search for the next permanent England manager has raised more questions than answers, with several candidates being considered. For many England fans Man City boss Pep Guardiola is seen as a dream choice for the role, having been contacted by the Football Association (FA).
Guardiola will be a free agent in the summer and has an impressive record with Manchester City. Signing him for the role would be a real coup for the FA and a bitter blow for Manchester City.
The FA has also shortlisted former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel and made discreet inquiries to several candidates. Those believed to have been considered include Graham Potter, Eddie Howe and Steve Cooper.
Lee Carsley's initial position as favorite for the permanent role has diminished after a shocking performance against Greece, where a tactical change saw England struggle and eventually lose to the Greeks for the first time in their history.
That 2-1 loss means Greece now top the group, three points ahead of England with just two Nations League group games left. Next up, the Greeks face England in the return match in the next international break in Athens on the 14th November.
This is now a game that England must now win to stand any realistic chance of topping the group and regaining their spot in Nations League A.
This special international break article lists the top 10 dribblers in the Premier League so far for the 2024-25 season. Players from major clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City, and West Ham are featured.
Dribbling is considered a dying art by some, but these players counter that argument with their skills. The list ranks players based on successful dribbles and per-minute ratio when tied.
10. Jadon Sancho (Chelsea – 12 successful dribbles) – Known for his unique dribbling style since his time at Borussia Dortmund. Currently on loan at Chelsea from Man Utd, Sancho shows signs of regaining his best form. Averages a successful dribble every 21 minutes, which is the most frequent in this list.
9. Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa – 14 successful dribbles) – Made a strong start to the season with Aston Villa after joining from Middlesbrough in the summer. Considered a potential breakthrough star and is in line for possible future England call-up.
8. Kobbie Mainoo (Man Utd – 14 successful dribbles) – A standout player for Manchester United known for escaping tight spaces. Mainoo has the highest success rate of attempted dribbles at 73%.
7. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal – 14 successful dribbles) – The Arsenal star winger is leading Europe’s major leagues in assists due to excellent dead-ball deliveries. Described as a complete package and one of Europe's best players currently.
6. Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton – 15 successful dribbles) – Recovered from injuries and now performing well under Brighton's new manager Fabian Hurzeler. Mitoma previously wrote a university thesis on dribbling.
5. Iliman Ndiaye (Everton – 15 successful dribbles) – Despite many unsuccessful attempts, the Everton winger remains effective and seems unperturbed by losing possession.
4. Jeremy Doku (Man City – 16 successful dribbles) – Known for his frequent dribbling attempts – Doku attempts a dribble every nine minutes in matches. The end product is inconsistent and he is in and out of the City team, but he is a very skilful player.
3. Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town – 18 successful dribbles) – Formerly known as a “futsal king” at Arsenal; now fulfilling his potential at Ipswich Town despite the team struggles.
2. Adama Traore (Fulham – 21 successful dribbles) – Notorious for lacking end product but Traore remains an exciting player to watch with his direct style and incredible pace.
1. Mohammed Kudus (West Ham – 23 successful dribbles) – Topped Europe’s leagues last season in total successful dribbles; continues to excel even in an underperforming West Ham side.
The English Premier League is currently on hold due to the international break, but the excitement continues with various international competitions and transfer speculation. As the league prepares to resume, fans eagerly await the return of their favorite teams and players.
The ongoing search for the next England manager adds another layer of intrigue to the world of Premier League football, with several high-profile candidates in the running. As always, the Premier League remains a dynamic and ever-evolving spectacle, captivating audiences worldwide.
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