MARCH INTERNATIONAL BREAK REVIEW

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A look at how the Clarets on international duty got on over the past weeks

2024-03-27T16:00:00.000Z

MARCH INTERNATIONAL BREAK REVIEW

A look at how the Clarets on international duty got on over the past weeks

2024-03-27T16:00:00.000Z

OCTOBER INTERNATIONAL BREAK CALL-UPS - Image 1

10 Clarets have been on international duty around the world over the last seven days for their respective countries in EURO Qualifier play-offs, friendlies and U21 fixtures.

Zeki Amdouni (Switzerland)

Amdouni featured as a second-half substitute for Switzerland coming on just after the hour mark in their 0-0 draw with Denmark in Copenhagen last Saturday.

The forward then completed 90 minutes on Tuesday evening, as Murat Yakin's side beat Ireland 1-0 in Dublin in the second of their two March international friendlies.

Maxime Esteve & Wilson Odobert (France U21)

Esteve and Odobert were both named as substitutes in France's first friendly against the USA last Friday, with Odobert introduced in the first half and the young forward went on to score the equaliser in the second half with 'Les Bleus' going on to win 3-2 in Chateauroux.

Both Clarets started Thierry Henry's side's second friendly fixture against Ivory Coast, with both players completing a successful 90 minutes in the 2-2 draw.

Sander Berge (Norway)

Berge started and played 90 minutes in both of Norway's friendly fixtures over the break in Oslo. The first game saw the midfielder complete the most passes (65) in a 2-1 defeat to Czech Republic.

The 26-year-old then played the full game once again as Norway drew 1-1 with Slovakia and Berge's midfield presence stood out again, being the most accurate passer in the game (59 completed passes out of 61).

MARCH INTERNATIONAL BREAK REVIEW - Image 1

Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Iceland)

Gudmundsson missed Iceland's first UEFA Nations League Qualifier for the EURO's through injury, as the away side secured a 4-1 win over Israel in Budapest to tee up a play-off final tie with Ukraine on Tuesday night.

The midfielder then started in the crucial play-off fixture with a place in the EURO's on the line and Gudmundsson and his teammates were 1-0 up at half-time, before going on to lose 2-1 in the 84th minute as Ukraine booked their place in this summer's competition.

Hjalmar Ekdal (Sweden)

The centre-back was an unused substitute in both of Sweden's international friendly fixtures over the March break. Sweden took on Portugal in Guimaraes where the hosts ran out 5-2 winners.

Ekdal was then on the bench in Solna as the Scandinavian side edged out Albania in a 1-0 win to conclude their international programme.

James Trafford (England)

Trafford was initially included in the Young Lions' U21 team and started in their 5-1 win over Azerbaijan on Friday night before then receiving a first senior squad call up to Gareth Southgate's side.

The shot-stopper was an unused substitute at Wembley as England came from behind to draw 2-2 with Belgium.

MARCH INTERNATIONAL BREAK REVIEW - Image 2

Arijanet Muric (Kosovo)

Muric started in both of Kosovo's two international friendly fixtures. First up a 1-0 win in Armenia, where the goalkeeper played 82 minutes before making way for Ilir Avdyli in the 82nd minute.

The towering keeper' was back between the sticks on Tuesday night as Kosovo suffered a 2-0 defeat in Hungary to finalise their March fixtures.

Dara O'Shea & Josh Cullen (Ireland)

O'Shea and Cullen both started in Ireland's two friendlies. The pair lined up in Dublin against Belgium in the first fixture, which saw the two sides play out a goalless draw with both players playing 90 minutes.

The duo was then named once again in the starting XI, with O'Shea playing the full game whilst Cullen was replaced in the 87th minute in the 1-0 defeat to Switzerland.