If the build-up to the Nations League has mostly been focused on the touchlines with star coaches like Zinedine Zidane and Jurgen Klopp making their international debuts, the most important action will nonetheless still take place on the pitch.
With many countries boasting new bosses and playing for the first time since the World Cup, the extended international break is a prime opportunity for budding young talents to lay down a marker as they seek to cement their place at international level.
AFP Sport looks at five players hoping this round of Nations League matches will be their breakthrough into the international big time:
Lennart Karl (GER)
Bayern Munich’s teenage sensation Karl already boasts three Germany caps at the age of 18 but an untimely muscle tear cost him his place in Julian Nagelsmann’s World Cup squad this summer.
Now recovered, he is in Klopp’s squad for the former Liverpool boss’s opening two Nations League matches against the Netherlands and Greece.
With Germany floundering after yet another bitterly disappointing World Cup, attacking midfielder Karl will know now is his chance to grab the reins and establish himself as Germany’s playmaker.
Ruben van Bommel (NED)
The son of former Netherlands international and now Belgium coach Mark van Bommel is a 22-year-old left winger at Dutch Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven.
Two goals and four assists in his opening nine matches in all competitions this season have resulted in Van Bommel earning his maiden call-up as part of Xavi Hernandez’s first Oranje squad.
Van Bommel will be in with a chance of tasting his first senior international action when the Netherlands host bitter rivals Germany on Thursday.
Alessandro Romano (ITA)
The 20-year-old midfielder on loan at Cagliari from Roma has enjoyed a fine start to the season, which has him sitting fourth in Serie A with the Sardinian side and also earned him a first call-up to Roberto Mancini’s Italy squad.
Born in Switzerland to parents of Italian origin, Romano represented his country of birth at underage level until deciding to opt for the Azzurri, where he could make his debut on Friday at home to Belgium.
Italy find themselves on the rocks after missing out on qualifying for the last three World Cups and with their supporters dispirited by this lack of success, new, hungry young players like Romano could help win back over fans.
Charalampos Kostoulas (GRE)
The Greek 19-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough early season in the Premier League, supplying a goal and an assist in each of Brighton’s last two matches, including in the Seagulls’ impressive 3-0 defeat of reigning champions Arsenal.
On the back of that form, Kostoulas will hope to add to his four international caps when Greece get their Nations League campaign underway in Serbia on Thursday.
Lucas Da Cunha (FRA)
The Como captain may not be all that young anymore at 25 years of age, but the road to the top is not always linear and the French central midfielder had a nomadic career until finding his feet on the banks of Lake Como.
Since arriving at the then Serie B outfit in 2023, Da Cunha has become a central pillar of Como’s rise to the Champions League, his patience and work ultimately being paid off with a phone call from Zidane when the 1998 World Cup winner was compiling his first squad since taking over from Didier Deschamps as Les Bleus boss.
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