After an exciting start to the new season, you can forgive some football supporters for becoming frustrated with the break in domestic action to make way for international football.

We're so often left underwhelmed by international friendlies, but a number of players stood out this week with impressive displays for their country.

Below, Sports Mole takes a look at three players who stole the show for their respective sides in midweek.

1. Angel di Maria

Manchester United fans will be sitting slightly more comfortably this week following their side's business in the latter stages of the transfer window. Radamel Falcao was the last player to arrive at Old Trafford, but it could be Di Maria who plays the biggest role for United.

The former Real Madrid midfielder will have no problems adapting to the Premier League if he can produce performances similar to the one he showed in Argentina's 4-2 victory over Germany on Wednesday night.

Di Maria, quite simply, was fantastic throughout his stay on the pitch in Dusseldorf. Argentina were looking for a slice of revenge following their loss to the same opponents in the World Cup final earlier in the summer, and Di Maria helped Gerardo Martino start a new era with a win.

The 26-year-old was the best player in the match by some distance as he provided three assists for his teammates before earning Argentina a 4-0 lead early in the second half with a goal of his own. Luckily for Di Maria, his side held on for the win on an excellent night for the energetic midfielder.

2. Paul Pogba

Watching Paul Pogba dominate as France beat Spain 1-0 on Thursday night, it's no surprise to hear how highly rated the Juventus midfielder is in the world of football.

Pogba's display inside the Stade de France showed spectators everything that's fantastic about the former Manchester United youngster as he terrorised the Spaniards with his runs from deeper positions, leaving the likes of Sergio Busquets and Koke struggling just to bring the 21-year-old down.

When Pogba wasn't storming forward with the ball at his feet, he was breaking up play with crucial interceptions, or starting attacks with his excellent range of passing as his French teammates reaped the benefits of his all-round display.

In the closing stages it was starting to get embarrassing for Spain. It may have only been 1-0 to the hosts, but Pogba still managed to find time to dip into his bag of tricks late on to the delight of the French supporters.

3. Raheem Sterling

Is there an English player with a higher stock than Sterling right now? England returned to action on Wednesday following a miserable World Cup, and there wasn't much to get excited about in an uninspiring 1-0 victory over Norway at Wembley apart from Sterling's performance.

The 19-year-old appears desperate to continue improving for both club and country after a superb breakthrough campaign with Liverpool last season, and he offered another viewing of his obvious quality against Norway.

It was hardly surprising to watch England struggle to entertain once again, but every supporter of Roy Hodgson's side would have enjoyed seeing Sterling playing a starring role for the hosts. When operating on the wing, Sterling was eager to take on the Norwegian defence as much as possible, and he was always a threat with the ball at his feet.

However, the most pleasing aspect of his performance may have been his ability to shine in central areas behind the strikers. We've seen Brendan Rodgers ask him to play at the tip of a diamond on a few occasions, and he certainly seems ready to do the same for his country. Winning the penalty for Wayne Rooney to secure the victory was a perfect way to cap off another promising display.