The first international break TOTW of the game brings a somewhat underwhelming side. There are still a few players worth packing though with Putellas, Hakimi and Camavinga standing out.
TOTW 5 Predicted Starting XI
GK: Predrag Rajkovic (Al Ittihad) - 78 OVR -> 82 OVR:
If EA continues to favour penalty-saving goalkeepers, Rajkovic would be an easy inclusion this week. With four saves and a penalty save to his name, he was pivotal for Serbia during their 2-0 win.
RB: Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan) - 82 OVR -> 84 OVR:
Hungary has been an impressive side for a while now, recording several big wins. So an away point is not particularly disappointing for the Netherlands. Dumfries scored their only goal from RB, and with limited defensive options, I can see him sneaking in.
CB: Phillip Lienhart (Freiburg) - 79 OVR -> 84 OVR:
It was a strong week for Austria, who recorded two wins from two matches. Lienhart found himself on the scoresheet during both fixtures, making him a strong candidate for the featured TOTW 5 player.
RB: Achraf Hakimi (PSG) - 84 OVR -> 86 OVR:
For an international TOTW, this is underwhelming, to say the least, so a couple of big-name players are likely to be included. One of those could easily be Hakimi, after the Moroccan scored one of their five goals during a convincing 5-0 win.
LW: Leandro Trossard (Arsenal) - 83 OVR -> 85 OVR:
Look away if you recently evolved Trossard, as it seems he is likely to receive an IF this week. Belgium went two goals down to Italy, but a goal and an assist from the Arsenal man ensured they came away from the match with something.
CM: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) - 82 OVR -> 84 OVR:
L'Équipe's MOTM during an international break often gets included. With Guendouzi not playing enough minutes to receive a rating, I’m taking a punt on Camavinga, who would be a well-received IF. Scoring one of France's four goals, he helped guide the team to a 4-1 away win.
CM: Franck Kessie (Al Ahli) - 82 OVR -> 84 OVR:
The Saudi division continues to receive significantly more cards compared to previous seasons, and the addition of squad foundations will only increase that demand. Kessié looks like an easy inclusion this week after scoring twice from the midfield for Ivory Coast.
RW: Amaiur Sarriegi (Real Sociedad) - 81 OVR -> 84 OVR:
While the men's side of the game saw an international break, the women still had a set of domestic fixtures. Sarriegi is the first of those to be included after she scored twice during a 4-0 win over Betis.
CM: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona) - 90 OVR -> 91 OVR:
Onto the biggest player of the week now with Putellas. Barcelona recorded yet another impressive victory (7-1), with Putellas scoring twice and providing an assist off the bench. Pajor scored three, but with her first IF coming just two weeks ago, I feel it is too soon for another, leaving the door open for Putellas.
ST: Khadija Shaw (Man City) - 86 OVR -> 87 OVR:
Khadija Shaw was denied numerous IFs last year, with EA's preference for female options seemingly much lower than it is now. With two goals, including a late winner during City's 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Sunday, I feel she is hard to ignore this week.
ST: Serhou Guirassy (Dortmund) - 84 OVR -> 86 OVR:
Onto the easiest selection of the week with Guirassy with the Guinea international being the only gold to score three this week. It was Guniea's first win of their qualification campaign and will hope to build upon that result moving forward.
TOTW 5 Predicted Subs & Reserves
RB: Vladimir Coufal (West Ham) - 78 OVR -> 82 OVR:
Chory is an option after scoring both Czech goals during a 2-0 win over Albania, but since he is a silver playing in a division I am unsure can receive an IF, I am instead opting for Coufal, who provided an assist and contributed to the clean sheet.
CB: Radu Dragusin (Tottenham) - 75 OVR -> 81 OVR:
Dragusin could easily be the featured upgrade this week, but since he is 50/50 in terms of receiving the IF, I opted for a different route. Dragusin scored one of Romania's three goals as they beat Cyprus 3-0.
RM: Faustine Robert (Fleury) - 80 OVR -> 83 OVR:
By the looks of things, there will be three or four female IFs per week. With limited games, I would expect that to be on the higher side this week. Robert scored once and assisted another two during Fleury's 4-1 home win over Guingamp.
CM: Santi Cazorla (Real Oviedo) - 75 OVR -> 81 OVR:
A little bit of a blast from the past now with Santi Cazorla, especially with the pace increases that EA applies to slower IFs. Providing two assists during Oviedo's 3-2 home win, he stands a strong chance of receiving the IF.
LW: Said Benrahma(Lyon) - 78 OVR -> 82 OVR:
Algeria made it three wins from three to start their qualification campaign with a convincing 5-1 win at home to Togo. Benrahma scored both the first and second goals after falling one behind.
ST: Deniz Undav (Stuttgart) - 81 OVR -> 84 OVR:
Similar to L'Équipe, Kicker's MOTM from international breaks also often makes the side. Undav is the easy choice here after Kicker awarded him a 1.5 for scoring both German goals during a 2-1 away win over Bosnia.
ST: Vangelis Pavlidis (Benfica) - 80 OVR -> 83 OVR:
England were humiliated by Greece on Thursday, with the 2-1 scoreline flattering England, in truth. Pavlidis scored both Greek goals, including a late winner.
LB: Silke Demeyere (Le Havre) - 74 OVR -> 80 OVR:
There were two strong candidates from this match: Demeyere, who managed a goal and an assist from LB, and Cance, with two goals and an assist from ST. EA has shown a preference for defensive options in the first four weeks, though, so I am opting to continue that trend here.
LB: Robbie Brady (Preston) - 67 OVR -> 80 OVR:
Another LB now, probably more nailed on. Brady provided both a goal and an assist during Ireland's 2-1 win over Finland.
RM: Nahki Wells (Bristol City) - 68 OVR -> 80 OVR:
A bit of a random fixture to feature now, with Dominica hosting Bermuda, but one with one of the strongest IF candidates in Wells. With three goals and an assist from RM, he is as straightforward as it gets
CAM: Alexandru Matan (Columbus) - 68 OVR -> 80 OVR:
The MLS IFs continued last week, and I expect the same again this time. Thankfully, that decision was made easy with Matan scoring three times from CAM during a 4-0 win.
ST: Mathew Stevens (Wimbledon) - 64 OVR -> 80 OVR:
With the inclusion of McClean last week, it shows that EA will consider League 1 again after a year of ignoring the division. Stevens scored three for Wimbledon this week, which should make it two from two for inclusions from League 1
That concludes this week's Team of the Week predictions! What do you make of these predictions? Is there anyone else who should have made the TOTW? Let us know below!
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