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International round-up: Kvaratskhelia and Embolo on target

There were plenty of Ligue 1 McDonald's players in action over the weekend, as we round up the action.
L. ENTWISTLE
Published on 09/08/2025 at 14:00
3-minute read
PSG's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia found the net in a 3-0 win for Georgia.

There were plenty of Ligue 1 McDonald's players in action over the weekend, as we round up the action.

Morocco secure World Cup place

Morocco wrapped up their place in next summer's FIFA World Cup with a comprehensive 5-0 win over Niger. PSG defender Achraf Hakimi started the match, as did new Marseille signing Nayef Aguerd. In a fortnight, the pair will face off in the highly anticipated Classique, however, they were on the same side on Friday night as they eased to victory. 

New Lille signing Hamza Igamane came on during the match, as he did for his Dogues' debut last weekend. He netted a brace on that occasion, and he made his presence felt again, netting one of the five goals. Former Marseillais Azzedine Ounahi also netted, whilst former Monaco forward Eliesse Ben Seghir also started the encounter. 

Kvaratskhelia nets in Georgia win 

Another Ligue 1 McDonald's player was on the scoresheet in a World Cup qualifier as Georgia came up against Bulgaria. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia captained the former and netted the opener as they eased to a 3-0 victory. Saint-Étienne's Zuriko Davitashvili also featured in the forward line, alongside a former Ligue 1 McDonald's player in the form of Georges Mikautadze. 

Mikautadze left Lyon on transfer deadline day, after saying an emotional goodbye to the OL fans just hours earlier, following a win over OM. He left to join Villarreal. 

Large PSG contingent in Portugal win

As is often the case, there was a significant PSG contingent on display for Portugal over the weekend. They registered a 5-0 win over Armenia in World Cup qualifying. The likes of Vitinha, Joao Neves, Nuno Mendes, and Goncalo Ramos all featured, with all bar the latter starting the encounter. 

There weren't any Parisiens on the scoresheet. Cristiano Ronaldo netted twice to take his international tally to 140, whilst Joao Felix (x2) and Joao Cancelo also netted for the Iberian side.

Embolo celebrates move with Switzerland brace

Breel Embolo had a busy transfer deadline day, joining Rennes from Monaco. The centre-forward celebrated that move by netting twice in a 4-0 victory for Switzerland over Kosovo. A former teammate at the Principality club, Denis Zakaria, also came off the bench in what was a comfortable victory. 

Meunier nets in comprehensive Belgium win

Elsewhere, Belgium comfortably dispatched Kazakhstan. Lille defender Thomas Meunier made his presence felt off the bench, netting in an impressive 6-0 victory. Lyon's Malick Fofana came off the bench, but Strasbourg's Diego Moreira, who made his debut for the Red Devils earlier in the international break in a 6-0 win over Liechtenstein, did not make an appearance this time around.

Weah and Balogun on losing side for USMNT

In a game without consequence, the UMSNT lost 2-0 to South Korea in an international friendly. Marseille's Timothy Weah started the game, whilst Monaco's Folarin Balogun came off the bench in the defeat in New Jersey. PSG's Lee Kang-in, who came off the bench was, however, on the winning side. 

READ MORE 

>> France begin World Cup qualifying with a win

>> Monaco's Folarin Balogun rediscovering his form in crucial World Cup year

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