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As of tonight, all current AC Milan players have completed their international obligations of the post-season. Here's a summary of the Rossoneri representing their national teams:
Mister Nicolato's Italy Under 20 qualified for the quarter-finals of the World Cup category. The Azzurri won 1-0 against Poland, the hosts .
— Milan Echo ⚫ (@africa_milan) June 2, 2019
Another good performance for the Milanese goalkeeper Alessandro Plizzari , decisive with a couple of good interventions. pic.twitter.com/YHJ84T0Ubl
Alessandro Plizzari - U-20 World Cup
Plizzari had a breakout display at the U-20 World Cup in Poland. The 19-year old Milaninsti was astounding throughout the tournament and turned heads with his incredible command and maturity that played a monumental role in Italy’s deep run. Plizzari kept two clean sheets in five games at the tournament by making some acrobatic saves and by holding his ground well. Moreover, he showed his nerves of steel when he saved two penalties against Ecuador and Mali to win Italy key games. Italy managed to finish 4th in the tournament.
#stats Les chiffres de Matteo #Gabbia prêté la saison dernière à la Lucchese. Le défenseur central né en 1999 est pressenti pour intégrer l'équipe première
— AC Milan (@ACMilanFRA) June 14, 2019
29 matchs
1 but
3 matchs au Mondial avec les U20, demi-finale pic.twitter.com/Vn7cdG8un6
Matteo Gabbia - U-20 World Cup
Gabbia spent the last season on loan at Lucchese but has returned to Milan now. He was a key fixture for Italy in the U-20 World Cup at Centre-back. Gabbia swapped between a back-three and back-four and was a huge part of Italy’s impressive defensive record. He showed good anticipation and reading of the game to hold down the starting spot. Gabbia also got to lead the team as the Captain in the 3rd place play-off game in the absence of Andrea Pinamonti. He was a leader for the team.
⌚️ Thirty minutes of action for Patrick Cutrone in Italy's #U21EURO win over Spain!
— SempreMilan (@SempreMilanCom) June 16, 2019
⚫️ pic.twitter.com/RkUOnZpcvc
Patrick Cutrone - U-21 Euros
Cutrone played in each of the three games for Italy’s U-21 at the Euros. He came on as a substitute in the first game against Spain (eventual winners) and immediately had an impact on the game with some great hold up play to earn a key pass to Fiorentina’s Federico Chiesa setting up a goal. Cutrone started the next two games and managed to score a stunning header to break his 6-month duck. Italy failed to exit their group coming in second.
Ricardo Rodríguez has now scored each of his last five penalties for Switzerland, last missing against San Marino in 2014.
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) June 5, 2019
Rui Patricio nearly kept this one out, though. pic.twitter.com/dhP1fySb3U
Ricardo Rodriguez - UEFA Nations League
Ricardo Rodriguez had two games in the UEFA Nations League, a semi-final encounter with Portugal and a 3rd place play-off game. Rodriguez has consistently performed well for his national team and looked clean defensively as a left centre-back in a back-three. Rodriguez scored from the penalty spot against Portugal but the Swiss lost the game 3-1. Against England, Rodriguez played as a left midfielder in a 3-4-2-1 and tussled with Alexander-Arnold all game. Switzerland finished 4th.
Franck Kessie has been a vital player for the Ivory Coast, can he inspire them to victory over Mali tonight?#AFCON2019 pic.twitter.com/dxsmJQYpMe
— SuperSport ⚽️ (@SuperSportTV) July 8, 2019
Franck Kessie - Africa Cup of Nations
Kessie had an amazing showing in Egypt at the AfCON. Kessie gave an interview showing his determination to win silverware for his country and he contributed to the cause immensely. Cote d’ Ivoire had mixed performances throughout and managed to get to the quarter finals before losing to Algeria 4-3 on penalties. Kessie was commanding and creative in his role as a defensive midfielder in a 4-2-3-1. He provided three assists in a single game against Namibia and converted his penalty in the shoot-out with Algeria. Much to my surprise as a Milan fan, he was brilliantly nuanced in his passing and needs to bring that form back to Italy.
Uruguay - Ecuador 4-0
— Virgil Van Dijk (@RFVVD94) June 17, 2019
A fantastic all round performance by Uruguay who looks like a team who could go all the way. Ecuador didn't really challenge Uruguay because of an early red card. Diego Laxalt, Luis Suarez and Cavani all deserved to be MOTM today!#CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/Hnl7csfW2W
Diego Laxalt - Copa America
Laxalt had a bright start to his Copa America campaign with a good performance in Uruguay’s 4-0 demolition of Ecuador in their opening game. Laxalt was a great support in the attacking phase of the game with piercing overlaps and he was steady in defence too. However, in Uruguay’s second game against Japan, Laxalt pulled his hamstring in the 25th minute when he allowed Miyoshi to accelerate past him and to score at the near post. Laxalt’s campaign ended in game two but Uruguay managed to get to the Quarter Finals where they lost to Peru on penalties.
Lucas Paqueta - Copa America
Lucas Paqueta was the only Milan player to bag some silverware in the post-season. Paqueta was part of a resurgent Brazilian side that took the Copa America by storm winning their 9th title. Paqueta was unable to break into the starting XI given the focus on wingers in Tite’s system. Paqueta only got 5 minutes of playing time in a 0-0 draw with Paraguay. His highlight from the tournament was beating a drum in the dressing room as the squad celebrated knocking out Messi and Argentina in the Semi-Final. Nevertheless, Paqueta adds his first international trophy to his cabinet.