Everton manager Roberto Martinez said that the timing of the latest international break came at the wrong time for the Toffees after a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Arsenal.
The Blues boss would have wanted nothing more than to get back on the training ground and work with his players. Instead, the bulk of his squad joined up with their respective national sides for international friendlies and World Cup qualifiers.
Funes Mori plays in crucial game for Argentina, while Niasse nets against Niger
Twenty seven Everton players were in action over the international break, but it was defender Ramiro Funes Mori who had arguably the most crucial fixtures of the Everton contingent as he headed back to South America for important 2018 World Cup qualifiers. The 24-year-old played 90 minutes in Argentina's 2-1 victory over Chile.
Also in competitive action this week was goalkeeper Tim Howard and striker Oumar Niasse. Howard completed the full 90 minutes for the USA, who lost 2-0 to Guatemala in their World Cup qualifier. He was then unused in the reverse fixture on Tuesday as the USA triumphed 4-0.
Meanwhile, Niasse has played just 26 minutes since joining the Toffees in January for £13.5million, but he scored his third senior international goal gaining his seventh cap for Senegal on Saturday helping his national side to a 2-0 victory over Niger.
Lukaku nets in Belgium defeat, while trio feature for England
Romelu Lukaku continued his rich vein of scoring form by netting for Belgium in their 2-1 defeat away at Portugal. The Everton striker converted a cross from his younger brother, Jordan, to score his 12th goal for Belgium, while Kevin Mirallas was an unused substitute.
Ross Barkley played the final 19 minutes of England's 3-2 win over Germany, but played the full game in the Three Lions' 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands on Tuesday night alongside John Stones. Everton captain Phil Jagielka came on with 20 minutes to go, taking over the captain's armband from James Milner for the final stages.
Seamus Coleman captained Republic of Ireland to a 1-0 victory over Switzerland on Friday night. The Everton right-back played the full match, while James McCarthy played 29 minutes in the victory. McCarthy then played the full game as Ireland drew 2-2 with Slovakia on Tuesday evening, with Coleman an unused substitute.
In a battle of two Everton players, Muhamed Besic got the better of Shani Tarashaj (on loan at Grasshopper Zurich) in Switzerland as Bosnia eased to a 2-0 win. Besic played 67 minutes of Bosnia's friendly 3-0 friendly win over Luxembourg on Friday night.
Elsewhere, Gerard Deulofeu may not have enjoyed much game time at Everton recently, but for Spain's Under-21 side he remains key. The winger captained the Under-21s against Norway on Monday night and scored a superb goal to take his total to 14 goals in 26 appearances.
First starts for Blues duo
There may have been no first England Under-21 cap for Brendan Galloway, but Joe Williams and Anthony Evans both made their first start in an England shirt.
Everton Under-21 captain Williams played 80 minutes in the Under-20s friendly against Canada, while defender Mason Holgate made his seventh appearances for the Young Lions playing the full contest. Evans, meanwhile, scored on his first start for the Under-18s in a 4-1 victory over Republic of Ireland.
Fellow Blues Tom Davies and Nathan Holland were also involved for the Under-18s, with Davies playing 85 minutes and Holland coming on for the closing stages.
Gethin Jones captained Wales Under-21s as they were defeated 2-1 in Romania to taste their first defeat in European Championships qualifying, while Jonjoe Kenny was a late substitute for England Under-19s as they reached the Euro finals for their age group with a fine 2-0 win over reigning champions Spain.