Internationals: Friday Roundup
It was a busy day in international competition on Friday -- catch up on how the stars of Ligue 1 McDonald's got on with their countries in our roundup.
Europe: Ukraine get vital win in Iceland
In Group D alongside France, Ilya Zabarni of Paris Saint-Germain helped his Ukraine side prevail on the road to Iceland, winning 5-3 to leapfrog the hosts, for whom Haakon Haraldsson (LOSC) played ninety minutes in midfield. Switzerland kept up their perfect record in Group B, beating Sweden on the road with Breel Embolo (Stade Rennais) leading the line. Belgium, meanwhile, were frustrated at home in a scoreless draw against North Macedonia, with both Malick Fofana (Lyon) and Thomas Meunier (LOSC) coming off the bench.
Africa: Auba hits four for Gabon
After a busy day to start the break, it was more of the same in CAF, with a star turn by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang helping Gabon to a 4-3 win in Gambia, the Olympique de Marseille striker scoring all of his side's goals before being sent off in a Group F clash. In Group B, Senegal and DR Congo each won to keep a tight race for top spot alive, while Aiyegun Tosin (FC Lorient) scored Benin's only goal to keep them atop Group C ahead of South Africa and Nigeria.
SuperBalogun 🇺🇸 https://t.co/xkjwSYLUF9
— AS Monaco EN 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco_EN) October 11, 2025
Friendlies: Balogun on target for USMNT
In Austin on Friday evening, a trio of Ligue 1 players were in the eleven for the United States in a one-all draw with Ecuador. AS Monaco's Folarin Balogun scored the hosts' only goal, while Tim Weah (Olympique de Marseille) and Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyonnais) were also included from the off and Mark McKenzie (Toulouse FC) came off the bench. For La Tri, both Kendry Paez (RC Strasbourg) and Willian Pacho (Paris Saint-Germain) were in the eleven.
Elsewhere, Lee-Kang In (PSG) and South Korea were hammered 5-0 by Brazil, while Japan drew two-all with Paraguay at home, as all of Takumi Minamino (AS Monaco), Ayumu Seko (Le Havre) and Keito Nakamura (Stade de Reims) all were on the teamsheet for the hosts. Finally Nicolás Tagliafico and Leonardo Balerdi both helped Argentina keep a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Venezuela, for whom Cristián Casseres played ninety minutes.
