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International round-up: weekend Nations League and friendly results

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International round-up: weekend Nations League and friendly results

A number of Blucerchiati players were involved with their national teams over the weekend. Read on to find out how they fared.

Mikkel Damsgaard was an unused substitute as Denmark secured a last-gasp victory over Iceland. Two Christian Eriksen penalties (12, 90+2) did the job for the Danes after Vidar Orn Kjartansson had temporarily levelled the scores in the 85th minute. Denmark now have the chance to reach the Nations League Final Four if they can beat Belgium in Wednesday’s all-or-nothing clash.

After Norway’s friendly with Israel was called off due to Omar Elabdellaoui testing positive to COVID-19, so too was their Nations League match against Romania, scheduled for Sunday evening. It means Morten Thorsby will return to Genoa early and resume training with the team on Tuesday.

Kristoffer Askildsen meanwhile will be making the opposite journey after he was included in Norway’s new squad for their final Nations League match against Austria on Wednesday evening – a first senior call-up for the Samp youngster.

Bartosz Bereszynski‘s Poland were knocked off top spot in Nations League Group A1 after losing 2-0 to Italy in Reggio Emilia. Jorginho (27, penalty) and Domenico Berardi (83) were on target for the Azzurri while Poland were reduced to 10 men in the 77th minute when Jacek Goralski collected a second yellow card. The Samp defender played the full 90 minutes. Poland could still reach the Final Four if they beat the Netherlands and Italy lose in Bosnia on Wednesday.

There was joy for Jakub Jankto and the Czech Republic, however, as they triumphed over Israel to keep alive their hopes of earning promotion to League A. Vladimir Darida scored the only goal of the game in the 7th minute. The Doria midfielder played 82 minutes before being replaced.

Elsewhere Albin Ekdal helped Sweden clinch their first win of this year’s Nations League as they overcame Croatia 2-1 at Friends Arena in Solna. Dejan Kulusevski (36) and Marcus Danielson (47) gave the hosts a two-goal lead before Danielson’s 81st-minute own goal threw the Croats a late lifeline. Ekdal played the entire game and picked up a booking, which means he will miss Sweden’s last group match against France on Tuesday.

Maya Yoshida meanwhile captained Japan as they beat Panama 1-0 courtesy of Takumi Minamino’s 61st-minute penalty in a friendly played in Graz, Austria. The Doria centre-back played the full 90 minutes and went close to scoring himself late on. Japan play another friendly at Liebenauer Stadium on Tuesday, against Mexico.

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