finn azaz is one of six Southampton first-team players heading out on international duty this March, with three involved in World Cup qualifying play-offs and others traveling for friendlies and U21 fixtures. The squad departures come as Championship action pauses, sending players to fixtures across Europe and beyond. Southampton faces a busy week monitoring players away for crucial knockout games and long-haul preparation matches.
Finn Azaz and Manning head to Prague
Republic of Ireland duo Finn Azaz and Ryan Manning will travel to the Czech Republic for a World Cup qualifying semi-final match set for 7. 45pm GMT in Prague, seeking a place in the final against the winner of Denmark or North Macedonia on 31st March at 7. 45pm BST. The pair’s result in Prague would determine whether they return for a home tie in Dublin later in the week. Also in the play-off mix, Shea Charles will join Northern Ireland in Italy for a parallel World Cup qualifying semi-final kicking off at 7. 45pm GMT, with a potential final against Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina on 31st March at 7. 45pm BST.
Startling air miles for Southampton’s six
Six Saints will cover major distances over the break: the club’s in-form Israeli goalkeeper Daniel Peretz faces an approximate 4, 600-mile round trip to Tbilisi for a friendly with Israel, while striker Cyle Larin will undertake a 7, 528-mile round trip as Canada prepare with friendlies against Iceland and Tunisia. The Republic of Ireland pair travel a shorter route to Prague — a round trip estimated at 1, 873 miles — but with the high stakes of a World Cup play-off. Overall, the six first-team players will accumulate a combined total of over 20, 000 air miles during the international window, placing workload and travel management squarely on the club’s agenda.
Young guns and goalkeeper duties: the full list
Alongside Finn Azaz, Ryan Manning and Shea Charles, Daniel Peretz joins Israel for a friendly in Georgia, Joshua Quarshie is involved in Under-21 European Championship qualifying with Germany U21s and Northern Ireland U21s fixtures, and Cyle Larin links up with Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for two friendlies as part of their build-up to a home World Cup. Specific match timings listed by the clubs show Peretz’s friendly at 5pm GMT, the Ireland and Northern Ireland play-offs at 7. 45pm GMT, and the Germany U21 fixture at 5pm GMT, with return scenarios set for 31st March where winners will contest final or third-place play-offs at 7. 45pm BST.
What’s next for club and internationals
Attention now turns to the outcomes in Prague and Italy and to whether playoffs on 31st March will extend the international stints for players such as Finn Azaz. The club will track recovery and travel plans after Peretz’s long haul to Georgia and Larin’s transatlantic trips for Canada’s friendlies, and will plan reintegration depending on results and any further fixtures. Managers and medical staff at the club are expected to monitor minutes and workload closely before Championship action resumes, with contingency planning in place for players returning from decisive international ties.
