Wrapping up Manchester United's international break

Good afternoon, Busby Babers, and welcome to the end of the international week.

We begin our round-up with England. Last Friday, England were comfortably defeated by Spain in Alicante; Phil Jones and Chris Smalling played most of the game as the central defensive partnership, which isn't particularly encouraging. Michael Carrick played 91 minutes and then crocked himself, and Wayne Rooney made a substitute appearance, as did Juan Mata for the opposition.

Then, a few short, terrible days later, England took on France in a game that was naturally overshadowed by the attacks in Paris. But it happened, and Manchester United players were involved: Jones got a small cameo; future Manchester United transfer rumour Dele Alli scored England's opener; and Rooney scored England's second. More to the point, he apparently played quite well.

Over on the French side of things, Morgan Schneiderlin played almost the entire game, and Anthony Martial played 67 minutes. The latter was later seen leaving Wembley on crutches, news that would ordinarily be the worst of the week but is, instead, absolutely nothing compared to the worst news of the week. Such is the strange place that football occupies.

Martial and Schneiderlin also played for France in last Friday's game against Germany, as did Bastian Schweinsteiger. France won 2-0, not that it mattered, and Schweinsteiger spent the night in the Stade de France along with the rest of Germany's squad. He then pulled out of their second game against the Netherlands, though the game was eventually cancelled anyway. Earlier in the week, Daley Blind played 90 minutes for the Dutch against Wales. And won! Three goals to two! Been a while since the Dutch managed that. Depay didn't get on.

Marouane Fellaini (unspecified injury) and Adnan Januzaj (better things to do) didn't make Belgium's squad, so weren't involved in their 3-1 win over Italy. However, Matteo Darmian was on the losing side of that game, and also played 90 minutes in their 2-2 draw against Romania. That's nine goals conceded by Smalling, Jones, Blind and Darmian over the fortnight. Hooray.

Good job Marcos Rojo's around, isn't it? United's Argentine helped his country to a 1-1 draw with Brazil, then played his part in a 1-0 win over Colombia, his country's first victory of their qualifying campaign.