The latest international break saw eight senior squad members and five more from the youth academies participating an international play. Following the conclusion of the action, this is how the Toffees got on with their respective national teams.
Seamus Coleman: Seamus did not feature in the squad in Ireland’s 3-2 friendly victory over Latvia, but played a full 90 minutes in their Euro qualification match against France. In the 0-1 loss, Coleman won 50% of his ground duels, 67% of his tackles, and recorded an interception and a clearance while only being dribbled past once in a match that France controlled.
Jordan Pickford: England’s number one played a full 90 minutes in both of the three lions’ victories in Euro qualification. Between the 1-2 victory against Italy and the 2-0 victory against the Ukraine, Pickford did not have to make any saves. However, he showed his passing acumen well in a comfortable victory against the Ukraine, and commanded his box well in the close affair with the Italians.
Vitalli Mykolenko: Mykolenko played 62 minutes in the 0-2 loss to England in Euro qualification. With the Ukrainians up against it for most of the match, he completed 74% of his passes, won 4/6 of his duels, and had 8 total clearances as he attempted to stem the tide.
Amadou Onana: Amadou had a busy break, playing a full 90 minutes for Belgium in their 0-3 victory against Sweden and their 2-3 victory against Germany in Euro qualification. Highly rated in both matches, Onana completed 87% of his passes, won a vast majority of his tackles, and shone in a star studded midfield. Onana captained Belgium for the last 10 minutes of their 3-2 win over Germany. It was a bright showing for the young Belgian that should keep him firmly in Belgium’s starting XI.
Alex Iwobi: Iwobi played the full 90 minutes in both of Nigeria’s matches against Guinea-Bissau in qualification for the African Cup of Nations. He completed the most passes in the first match a 0-1 loss, where he sent 13 balls into the box and completed 5/6 of his long balls. While away on International duty Iwobi was awarded with Nigeria’s Midfielder Of The Year Award also. Nigeria would get their revenge in the second match, a 1-0 victory where they once again controlled the game. He once again completed the most passes in the match and was influential in driving his side forward. He connected the lines well as he played spark plug in what was a knock down drag out two matches.
Idrissa Gueye: Idrissa played the full 90 minutes twice for Senegal in their qualification matches for the African Cup of Nations against Mozambique. In the first match, a 5-1 victory, Gueye contributed to the attack well contributing the most completed passes in the match and a 100% accuracy on his long balls. The win over Mozambique was also Gueye’s 100th cap for Senegal. The second match, a much more cagey 0-1 victory, saw Idrissa once again prove influential with his passing. He was also hard to beat in the midfield posting seven recoveries along with two interceptions and two clearances.
Nathan Patterson: Patterson made two brief cameos for Scotland in Euro qualifications as he continues to return for injury. He played 10 minutes in Scotland’s 3-0 win against Cyprus, and 8 minutes in a 2-0 win against Spain. The right-back’s involvement bodes well as the blues look to get Nathan back to full strength ahead of a crucial end of the Premier League season.
James Garner: Garner featured in 2 matches for England’s U21 squad over the break, playing 18 minutes in a 4-0 victory against France’s U21’s and 90 minutes in their 2-1 loss against Croatia. Garner’s involvement for the U21s bodes will help to keep his match fitness as Dyche considers his squad options for he remaining run in of Premier League matches.
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