With the domestic season over, it’s about time our players got a well deserved break from the pressures of the Premiership, Champions League and regular football. But not just yet you don’t! There’s still some meaningless summer friendlies and Euro 2008 qualifiers to get out of the way before the summer holiday begins. Here’s the latest from some of the Redmen on international duty this week…

Xabi Alonso (pictured) is not ruling out the possibility of Latvia causing an upset when Spain travel to Riga to take on the Latvians this Saturday. Alonso says, ‘œThere is always the possibility of a surprise. We hope that does not happen. And the playmaker admitted coach Luis Aragones had done his homework on Saturday’s opponents.’

Following Ryan Giggs’ announcement regarding his retirement from international football after this Saturday’s home Euro 2008 qualifier against the Czech Republic, Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy has been given the nod by manager and former Liverpool legend John Toshack to succeed Giggs as Wales captain.

Making the announcement, Toshack said, “Craig is something of a character, but I have complete faith in him as Wales’ new captain on a permanent basis.”

Meanwhile more painstakingly annoying news for Reds fans came from the English F.A. today who announced that just days into the new Premiership season, England will face Germany at Wembley Stadium. The game will take place on August 22nd and will be the first chance the F.A. gets to disrupt Premiership club’s start to the new campaign.

We’ll bring you more on our Reds on international duty over the next week.

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