Shane Ferguson (Northern Ireland), Jon Dadi Bodvarsson (Iceland) and Troy Parrott (Republic of Ireland U21) will all be packing their bags as they hope to propel their nations towards international success.
Young Millwall defender Danny McNamara, currently on loan in Scotland with St Johnstone, has also been called up to play alongside Troy Parrott for the Republic of Ireland U21 side.
Play-Off Game For Ferguson
Ferguson, who can play as a left-back or a left winger, has been called up by Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough for their crucial Euro 2020 qualifying play-off match against Slovakia in Belfast on Wednesday night.
A win for the Green and White army would send them through to next summer’s Euros, into a group with Poland, Spain and Sweden. Should they qualify, it would be just their second major tournament since 1986.
After the match against Slovakia, Ferguson’s side then have two UEFA Nations League matches against Austria (away) and Romania (home) later in the week, where wins are needed in both games in order to give Northern Ireland a fighting chance of avoiding relegation from League B.
Iceland In Budapest
Lions striker Bodvarsson has been called up to play for Iceland in what is also an important trio of games for them.
They too have a huge Euro 2020 qualifying play-off match on Wednesday night, this time against Hungary in Budapest. Qualification for next summer’s Euros would be just the third time Iceland have achieved qualification to a major tournament.
Bodvarsson has also been a part of the previous two, including their memorable Euro 2016 journey to the quarter-finals in France. Should they qualify, Iceland will be drawn into the ‘Group of Death’ alongside France, Germany and Portugal.
After the crunch match against Hungary, Iceland have two UEFA Nations League games to play over the next week against Denmark and England (both away).
Iceland’s relegation to League B for the next instalment of the Nations League has already been confirmed, but they’ll be determined to finish their international year off with some momentum heading into 2021.
Young Lions Duo Face Tough Competition
Republic of Ireland U21s will have two Millwall representatives over the next week for their 2021 Euro qualifiers. Lions striker Parrott, on loan from Tottenham, is in the squad as is Millwall academy product McNamara, who is having an impressive season on loan at St Johnstone.
The young Boys in Green face two massive matches in a bid to seal their qualification to the Uunder-21 Euros for the very first time.
They face Iceland at home before travelling to Luxembourg in what is the tightest group of the qualifying process by far, with the top four teams (Italy, Republic of Ireland, Sweden and Iceland) separated by just one point going into the final week of qualifying.
Only the first placed side are guaranteed to go through, with the five best runners-up from across the nine groups also qualifying for next summer’s tournament in Hungary and Slovenia.
