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Just three days after the Premier League’s craziest day, a host of Sunday’s stars were involved in international duty on Wednesday night – and success was very much varied.
In a cluster of friendlies across Europe, a total of 33 players from the English top-flight were involved for their countries, with world champions France the shining light in a thrashing of Ukraine in Paris.
But with 15 Premier League players involved in Portugal’s contest against Spain, Virgil van Dijk captaining Holland versus Mexico and a Chelsea outcast starting for Germany, there are opportunities for some which are not available for their clubs as the international break got underway.
Wolves winger Adama Traore came on to make his Spain debut versus Portugal on Wednesday
Rui Patricio, in goal for Portugal, was excellent throughout the goalless stalemate in Lisbon
KEPA AND PATRICIO STAR IN PORTUGAL-SPAIN STALEMATE
Ousted as Chelsea No 1 by the signing of Edouard Mendy, his confidence shredded following a spate of mistakes, Spain goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was handed a lifeline by his national team manager on Wednesday.
The out-of-form 26-year-old started against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Lisbon and despite the hosts flirting with the crossbar on two occasions, a first clean sheet since July 14 does Kepa’s chances of a club recall no harm at all.
In fact, in a star-studded contest which involved a grand total of 15 Premier League players, it was the keepers who stole the show, with Kepa’s opposite number Rui Patricio of Wolves pulling off a string of fine saves in an entertaining goalless stalemate.
For Kepa though, after a nightmare few months in-between the sticks, the faith showed in him by Luis Enrique will be of extreme comfort.
Mind you, he rode his luck. Though the Chelsea keeper looked assured under the high ball and dominated his penalty area astutely, he was soundly beaten twice only for his crossbar to save him.
Kepa Arrizabalaga kept an impressive clean sheet for Spain against Portugal on Wednesday
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo started for the hosts but could not score against Spain
Joao Felix somehow missed with the goal at his mercy in the last minute of the contest
First, it was Ronaldo with a piercing left-footed drive which cannoned off the underside of the crossbar, before Renato Sanches had Kepa beaten all ends up only for the woodwork to save the Spain keeper again.
He had his moments though, as he reacted quickly to quell an opportunity for Joao Felix late on. Then again, the Atletico Madrid striker should have bagged a last-minute winner, but he somehow missed the ball from a yard out, goal gaping.
Sometimes, that’s all you need to kickstart some much-needed momentum – a stroke of good fortune. Kepa will certainly hope Wednesday marks a turning point.
Whether he starts in the Nations League clash against Switzerland on Saturday though, with David de Gea waiting in the wings, remains to be seen.
Elsewhere amongst the outfield stars on show at the Jose Alvalade stadium, four of Spain’s back-five play on English shores, with Man City’s Eric Garcia, Leeds’ Diego Llorente and Tottenham’s Sergio Reguilon all contributing towards the visiting clean sheet.
Further ahead, Arsenal’s Dani Ceballos was secure in midfield, Leeds forward Rodrigo saw a fine first-half effort smartly saved by Patricio and Adama Traore – who has been toying about who to represent at international level with Mali interested – made an exciting debut for Spain in the closing stages.
On the Portuguese side, there was no substitute appearance for Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes but Liverpool’s £43m summer signing Diogo Jota did appear with 10 minutes to go.
Wolves’ Nelson Semedo and City’s record signing Ruben Dias were also second-half substitutes.
But the most influential replacement was Bernardo Silva, with the City playmaker neatly triggering Portuguese attacks in the second period. His spurt of quality should have resulted in a victory for the hosts.
Amongst the starters, Wolves pair Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho were their usual sturdy-selves in the centre of the park, while City’s Joao Cancelo – who scored a rocket for his country last month – was solid at right back.
GIROUD’S TIME TO SHINE ON CAP NUMBER 100
Elsewhere, on a night of numerous international friendlies, with a total of 33 Premier League players involved, it was the turn of the forgotten man to shine on his 100th cap.
For Olivier Giroud, this was a night to remember and perhaps one of the proudest of his career. He brought up a ton of France appearances with two goals against an overpowered Ukraine side, in a 7-1 victory at the Stade de France.
In a way too, both his goals encapsulated the 34-year-old and his style of play superbly.
So often a man capable of inspiring moments – see 2017 scorpion kick versus Crystal Palace – his first goal was a stunning left-footed curler into the top-corner, while his second was a diving header following a spill from the goalkeeper.
Olivier Giroud scored twice on his 100th cap for France in a 7-1 win against Ukraine in Paris
Everton left back Lucas Digne started for France in a dominant victory for the world champions
That brings his France tally to 42 goals. Not half bad for Chelsea’s third-choice striker and a man so often underrated and underused by his managers at club level.
Clearly still valued on the international stage though by Didier Deschamps, Giroud is now only nine behind Thierry Henry in France’s record goalscoring stakes. Age is not on his side, but Giroud may just catch him.
NO RETURN TO WINNING WAYS FOR DUTCH TRIO
Meanwhile in Amsterdam, there was disappointment for the trio of Dutch stars in action against Mexico.
Raul Jimenez, who recently signed a new four-year contract to stay at Wolves, fired home a 60th minute penalty to give his country victory against Virgil van Dijk, Gini Wijnaldum and Donny van de Beek.
All three Dutch stars started at the Johan Cruyff Arena , potentially still reeling following heavy defeats for their clubs on Sunday.
Donny van de Beek (left) and captain Virgil van Dijk started for Holland against Mexico
But Wolves’ Raul Jimenez’s netted a second-half penalty which won the contest for Mexico
HAVERTZ SETS UP TWO… AND DON’T FORGET ABOUT RUDIGER
There was better success for a Premier League player in Germany though, as Chelsea’s £73m man Kai Havertz set up two goals for his country in an action-packed 3-3 draw against Turkey.
Havertz laid on goals for Julian Draxler and Florian Neuhaus in Cologne, though Arsenal No 1 Bernd Leno conceded a last-minute equaliser for the hosts.
Interestingly, despite being frozen out at Stamford Bridge, Antonio Rudiger started in defence for the Germans. Still highly-rated by Joachim Low, it will be fascinating to see if the centre back can retain his place in the national team squad after failing to secure a move away from the Blues this summer.
Chelsea’s Kai Havertz recorded two assists for Germany in a 3-3 draw against Turkey
WEST BROM OUTCAST NETS HAT-TRICK AS POLAND SKIPPER
Elsewhere across Europe, Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka, of Arsenal, also grabbed an assist in a 2-1 defeat against Croatia – which saw Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic start for the victors – while Kasper Schmeichel, Jannik Vestergaard and Andreas Christensen all featured in a 4-0 Danish win against the Faroe Islands.
However, perhaps the finest moment from a Premier League player on Wednesday night came from a completely unknown quantity.
Kamil Grosicki, who plays for West Brom, scored a 19-minute hat-trick for Poland in Gdnask
Winger Kamil Grosicki has only scored once for West Brom since joining them in January, but netted a superb 19-minute hat-trick for Poland against Finland in Gdansk.
Captaining his country with no Robert Lewandowski present, Grosicki has scored four goals already in the 2020-21 campaign – all at international level. But he is yet to play in the Premier League this season.
Currently winless and languishing perilously close to the relegation zone, Slaven Bilic should perhaps take note.
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