INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP: PART TWO

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Senior men begin qualification process as U21 internationals gear up for EUROs this summer

2023-03-29T09:56:14.924Z

INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP: PART TWO

Senior men begin qualification process as U21 internationals gear up for EUROs this summer

2023-03-29T09:56:14.924Z

Senior men begin qualification process as U21 internationals gear up for EUROs this summer

13 Clarets have been away on international duty representing their respective countries across the globe over the last week and a half.

All 13 are now heading back to East Lancashire as the international break comes to an end, so here’s a round up of how they’ve fared.

There were wins for nine Clarets at senior international level, with the other remaining unbeaten, and our three U21 stars helped their countries to gear up for this summer’s European Championships in Romania & Georgia.

Arijanet Muric (Kosovo)

Kicking off our international round-up today is goalkeeper Muric, who helped Kosovo to consecutive 1-1 draws, away against Israel on Tuesday and at home against Andorra respectively.

In June, Alain Giresse’s side host Romania and travel to Belarus in the next of their EURO 2024 Qualification group stage matches.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell (NI)

After a win in San Marino, Peacock-Farrell and Northern Ireland returned home to Windsor Park against Finland on Sunday when Benjamin Källman’s first half goal was enough to seal the three points for the visitors.

The Green and White Army are next in action away against Denmark in June.

Connor Roberts (Wales)

Full-back Roberts played the full 90 minutes in both games as Rob Page’s side began their qualifying campaign with four points from a possible six.

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The Dragons netted a late leveller in Croatia on Saturday night to take a point from a 1-1 draw and last night beat Latvia 1-0 back on home soil courtesy of Kieffer Moore’s goal. Armenia are next up for Wales in the summer internationals.

Hjalmar Ekdal (Sweden)

Sweden’s EURO 2024 Qualifying campaign also started with three points from six, and defender Ekdal played a part in both games. After defeat at home to Belgium, ‘Blågult’ beat Azerbaijan 5-0 in Stockholm on Monday night.

Ekdal played 45 minutes in the latter game, and Janne Andersson’s side next host New Zealand in a friendly in the summer.

Jordan Beyer (Germany U21)

Following a full 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw with Japan on Friday, defender Beyer completed a 75-minute stint last night as Die Mannschaft’s youngsters played out a goalless draw with Romania.

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Their group at the U21 European Championships this summer consists of Israel, the Czech Republic and England.

Ameen Al-Dakhil (Belgium U21)

Fellow centre back Al-Dakhil played 90 minutes across two friendly games as Belgium’s U21s prepared for the European Championships this summer.

Starting both, the January recruit helped the young Red Devils to a goalless draw against Czech Republic and a 3-2 win over Japan, both away from home. Georgia, the Netherlands and Portugal are the three teams in their group at the EUROs this summer.

Ian Maatsen (Netherlands U21)

Preparing for the same group in the same tournament, both of the Netherlands’ U21s warm-up games came on home soil and like Al-Dakhil, Maatsen featured for 45 minutes in both.

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Coming on at half time, the full-back helped his nation to a 3-0 win over Norway on Saturday evening before starting in a 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic on Monday.

Josh Cullen (Republic Of Ireland)

At senior level, having been an unused substitute for a friendly win against Latvia, midfielder Cullen started for the Republic of Ireland as they took on FIFA World Cup runners-up France on Monday night.

The Bhoys in Green put up a spirited performance to start off their EURO 2024 Qualifying campaign, but lost out 1-0 to a Benjamin Pavard goal. Stephen Kenny’s side return to action in June with a trip to Greece.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Iceland)

Midfielder Gudmundsson helped to ensure Iceland would put points on the board in their qualifying group for the same tournament at the second time of asking.

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Following a 3-0 defeat in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he played 45 minutes on Sunday in a thumping 7-0 victory over Liechtenstein. ‘Strákarnir okkar’ next host Slovakia.

Darko Churlinov (North Macedonia)

Churlinov enjoyed two wins with North Macedonia over the international break, scoring the winner against Malta in their opening game of EURO 2024 Qualifying.

The versatile forward also played the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 friendly victory at home against the Faroe Islands on Monday evening.

Michael Obafemi (Republic Of Ireland)

Frontman Obafemi had played just over an hour of Ireland’s win against Latvia in a midweek friendly while club and national teammate Josh Cullen watched on from the bench.

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The roles reversed on Monday when France visited the Aviva Stadium as Obafemi was named amongst the substitutes and Cullen played the full 90. The striker did however appear in the closing stages of the 1-0 defeat to the two-time European champions.

Lyle Foster (South Africa)

Foster struck twice on Friday night as South Africa drew 2-2 with Liberia in the striker’s home city Johannesburg.

He was then an unused substitute on Tuesday in the reverse fixture between the pair across the continent in Liberia. South Africa ran out 2-1 winners, and are now 2nd in their AFCON Qualifying group, behind Anass Zaroury’s Morocco.

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Anass Zaroury (Morocco)

While South Africa and Liberia played out their two games between each other in the three-team AFCON group, Morocco were left to play two friendlies over this international break.

Claret Zaroury was an unused substitute in Tangier on Saturday evening as the Africans shocked Brazil with a 2-1 win, and in Madrid on Tuesday he came off the bench for the final half-an-hour in the Atlas Lions’ goalless draw with Peru. South Africa are next up for Walid Regragui’s side back in AFCON Qualification.