Manchester United were well represented during the November international break.
Things at Old Trafford continue to look bleak domestically, amid uncertainty over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's future and the dismal run of form that has seen them reign victorious in the league just once in their last six.
The final break of the calendar year — and for four months — saw World Cup qualification on the line for many, and a week off for those who failed to get selected for their respective nations.
Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood and Jesse Lingard were among the absentees from the England squad, while Donny van de Beek missed out on Louis van Gaal's Netherlands squad who secured World Cup qualification in their last group game against Norway.
Here, MEN Sport looks at the United winners and losers from the action-packed international break:
WINNERS
Harry Maguire
Two in two for the under-fire United captain saw him remain in the spotlight after a run of dismal performances for Solskjaer's side.
The 28-year-old shot into the Three Lions history books becoming the most prolific defender in the nation's history, surpassing John Terry with his back-to-back goals for Gareth Southgate's side.
If you were a betting person and had Maguire on as a first goalscorer in both games you would be very wealthy, after he nodded England in front against Albania and San Marino as England netted 15 goals in the two games.
Maguire did come into criticism for his exuberant celebration against the Albanians as he wheeled away cupping his ears before knee-sliding in front of the ecstatic England fans.
Former United captain Roy Keane was one of the first to criticise Maguire.
All in all, the former Leicester City defender was among the winners in the United ranks, showing no sign of poor form as he dusted himself down in England colours.
Anthony Elanga
The 18-year-old showed age was just a number as he starred for Sweden's U21s.
It wasn't to be for Elanga and Sweden's 100 per cent record in November as they suffered defeat to the Republic of Ireland in their final match of the year.
But it was the United youngster who steered the Swede's past Bosnia and Herzegovina in their previous clash as he scored twice to send them top of their U21 group stage.
He was delighted with his Sweden showing and rightly so.
Fred
With Brazil's qualification for the World Cup already in the bag, they still had two difficult outings against Colombia and Argentina.
The United midfielder started both games and registered two solid displays to boost his confidence.
LOSERS
Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo
Both of United's Portuguese attacker's featured in their disappointing conclusion to World Cup qualifiers.
Fernandes was ineffective in his 75-minute showing at the Arriva Stadium against the Republic of Ireland as the goalless draw saw Fernando Santos' side move top.
In that match, Ronaldo couldn't beat Gavin Bazunu in the Irish goal, and he hit the headlines for his involvement at the full-time whistle when an 11-year-old pitch invader entered the pitch and acquired the 36-year-old's shirt.
The draw saw them move above Serbia — their opponents in the final match.
Aleksandar Mitrovic's late winner shocked Portugal and resigned them to the play-offs, where they will need to be successful to make it to Qatar.
Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure, as he did against the Serbians last time out, while Fernandes could only muster a late cameo with the game firmly in the balance before Mitrovic's decisive late winner. Diogo Dalot, the other United man in the Portugal squad, didn't feature against Serbia.
Paul Pogba
As quickly as Pogba entered the France squad, the sooner he departed as his time with Didier Deschamps' side was cut short.
In his first training session with the squad, he dragged a shot wide and pulled up with a quad injury, which forced him not only out of the session and the international break but could sideline him until the new year.
France have qualified for the World Cup and Pogba will be vying for a place in the squad, though he won't feature for United until January — when he could depart the club with his contract running down.
Eric Bailly
Despite just two starts with United this season, Eric Bailly was rewarded with a place in the Ivory Coast squad as they looked for World Cup qualification.
Although he didn't feature in the win over Mozambique, he did play 90 minutes against Cameroon.
But it was heartbreak for the central defender as Karl Toko Ekambi's goal proved to be a crucial one as it earned Antonio Conceicao's side the win and ultimately knocked the Ivorian's off top spot sealing their place in the World Cup in Qatar.
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