Leeds United on course to take eight players to Euros - and could there be more?

A sixteen-year absence from the country’s top flight naturally led to a lack of honours when it came to representing countries.

The Whites still had their share of internationals between 2004 and the end of 2019 yet not on a widespread level.

But the return to the Premier League has led to a new era at Elland Road and Leeds United Football Club are currently on course to have eight players at next year’s European Championships, and there could even be more.

Three Whites players were one game away from seeing that dream ended as part of a hugely dramatic few hours of international football on Thursday night.

Yet Whites skipper Liam Cooper plus Stuart Dallas and Gjanni Alioski are now just one fixture away from booking their spots at the 2021 European Championships which are set to be held one year later due to the ongoing global battle against coronavirus.

That meant an empty stadium at Hampden Park as Cooper’s Tartan Army held their nerve to progress past Israel on penalties to set up a winner-goes-through clash away at Serbia next month.

Dallas and Northern Ireland were also taken to penalties in Thursday’s play-offs semi-final at hosts Bosnia and Herzegovina and a one-off clash at home to Slovakia is now all that stands between Ian Baraclough’s side and qualification.

It’s the same scenario for Alioski and his North Macedonia outfit who progressed without the need for spot kicks with Thursday’s 2-1 victory at home to Kosovo.

An away clash at Georgia now stands between them and the Euros and November 12 will be a huge night for three of United’s internationals.

In the meantime, four other nations featuring Whites internationals have already sealed their place at Euro 2021 and the battle for those players will be to keep their places in their respective squads - and stay fit.

In a true sign of the changing times at Elland Road, Leeds had not one but two starters for the Spanish national team in last Wednesday’s international friendly in Portugal with summer recruits Diego Llorente and Rodrigo both excelling in a goalless draw in Lisbon.

The Whites duo were then unused substitutes in Saturday evening’s Nations League clash at home to Switzerland.

Robin Koch also started for Germany in Wednesday night’s friendly in Turkey and played the full 90 minutes with the centre-back also an unused substitute for Saturday evening’s 2-1 victory in a Nations League clash against hosts Ukraine.

Mateusz Klich, meanwhile, is a key part of the Poland squad that have already qualified for the Euros with the midfielder coming off the bench in the second half of last Wednesday’s 5-1 friendly victory against Finland.

Klich then played 70 minutes of last night's Nations League clash at home to Italy.

And then there is United's proud England international with Kalvin Phillips becoming the club’s first Three Lions player since Alan Smith in 2004 when playing 76 minutes of last month’s Nations League clash in Denmark which ended in a goalless draw.

Phillips also played the full 90 minutes of Thursday evening’s 3-0 friendly at home to a Wales side featuring United’s Tyler Roberts who have missed out on qualification for the Euros.

There has been much debate about Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate’s formation and whether Phillips is truly suited to playing as one of two holding midfielders, or whether Phillips, Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson or Harry Winks should get the nod there.

But Phillips was given another 34 minutes off the bench in Sunday night's Nations League win at home to Belgium and a strong season for Leeds would likely have him in the squad for next summer’s Euros with the same true of United’s other Championships hopefuls - and who is to say there cannot be more?

Southgate said at the weekend that the door was definitely still open for new players to force their way into his squad for the Euros and, from a Leeds perspective, thriving winger Jack Harrison could potentially force his way in.

The Three Lions are not exactly blessed with left-sided options and Harrison already has caps at England youth level for the under-21s.

The last of those came back in October 2017 and Harrison is now 23 years old but Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin has suddenly burst on to the England scene at the same age.

For strikers, as Calvert-Lewin found out, goals can be rewarded with international recognition and Whites no 9 Patrick Bamford has also suddenly been facing questions about the prospects of himself bagging a call up whilst Luke Aying's form has also seen him mentioned in some quarters.

It doesn't end there, could Helder Costa force his way back in with Portugal? Could Illan Meslier continue his progress to such a degree that he makes the leap from France's under-21s to their senior squad?

Longer term, there are also a host of young current youth internationals bubbling below the surface with Charlie Cresswell, Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood all part of the current England under-19s squad and Stuart McKinstry with Scotland’s under-19s.

Cody Drameh is also away with the Three Lions under-20s and Alfie McCalmont with Northern Ireland's under-21s.

One month into life back in the Premier; Leeds are thriving on both domestic and international fronts and on course to take close to a ‘full team’ to Euro 2021.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-midfielder-kalvin-phillips-secures-third-england-cap-three-lions-beat-worlds-top-ranked-side-2999899https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/patrick-bamford-hails-leeds-uniteds-international-representation-and-reflects-training-during-october-break-2999844https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/yorkshire-evening-post-launch-leeds-united-only-digital-subscription-ahead-premier-league-campaign-2967964A message from the Editor:

Leeds has a fantastic story to tell - and the Yorkshire Evening Post has been rooted firmly at the heart of telling the stories of our city since 1890.

We believe in ourselves and hope you believe in us too. We need your support to help ensure we can continue to be at the heart of life in Leeds.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/why-yorkshire-evening-post-needs-your-support-laura-collins-yep-editor-2913382

Subscribe to our website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app.

With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Click here to subscribe.

For more details on our newspaper subscription offers click here.

Thank you Laura Collins