Every international break is an opportunity for several talents who have played in the Sud Ladies Cup to make their senior national team debut. The last few days have been no exception. Here's the lowdown.
Jade Le Guilly, Lou Bogaert, Kelly Gago, Margaux Le Mouël (France)
The four former Sud Ladies Cup participants made their senior debuts under new Les Bleues coach Laurent Bonadei. Margaux Le Mouël was the first to celebrate her first cap, having started against Jamaica last Friday in a friendly (3-0). It was also a first for Kelly Gago, who came on as a second-half substitute. The second match against Switzerland four days later (1-2) gave Le Guilly, Bogaert and Gago their first senior caps, the latter even scoring her first goal despite the defeat.
Alice Soto, Ana Mendoza, Montserrat Saldivar (Mexico)
After defeating Venezuela (3-0) and Thailand (4-0) in a friendly, the Mexicans had a successful October get-together. Among them were three players who had featured in the Sud Ladies Cup and who were making their first appearance at the highest international level. Saldivar was the first against Venezuela on Saturday. Soto and Mendoza followed on Tuesday, coming on in the second half against Thailand. The first-named even had the luxury of scoring twice, including a goal just seconds after coming on, in her first senior appearance.
Maya Hijikata (Japan)
Having played in the Sud Ladies Cup just five months ago, the young striker has already made her debut for Japan's senior team. Tokyo's Verdy Beleza made her international debut when she came on against South Korea on Saturday (4-0).
Nina Nijstad (Netherlands)
A start, a brace and a win... 15-0 ! Nina Nijstad could hardly have dreamt of a better senior debut for the Netherlands. The Dutch player, who played in the Sud Ladies Cup in 2022, celebrated her first senior cap in the finest possible way over Indonesia.
Julie Piga (Italy)
Six years after taking part in the Sud Ladies Cup with France, the defender made her first international appearance for... Italy. The AC Milan player since two seasons was in the starting line-up for the 5-0 win over Malta on Friday. She then came on four days later against Spain (1-1).
Karla Torres (Colombia)
From the Sud Ladies Cup to the Colombian senior national team in just five months. That is the meteoric rise of Karla Torres. After featuring in Colombia's first appearance at the tournament last May, the midfielder made her senior debut in a friendly against Brazil. After drawing the first match (1-1), the Colombians lost the second (1-3), and Torres' entrance failed to reverse the trend.
Aaliyah Gil (Panama)
Like Hijikata and Torres, the Panamanian also experienced her first senior appearance just a few months after taking part in the Sud Ladies Cup. The defender came on as a substitute in her team's 1-0 win over Costa Rica on Sunday.