International Break | Vital Football

International Break

Of the most interest to us is that Joe Rodon and Connor Roberts are in the Wales senior squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Slovakia and Croatia.

Bersant Celina is in the Kosovo squad and Kristoffer Nordfeldt has been included in the Sweden squad, but what came as a surprise was that Sam Surridge and Ben Wilmot have been called up to the England Under-21 squad, as they haven’t had much game time.

During this two weeks of Swans inactivity it will be a welcome diversion so as not to dwell too much on the recent Swans v Stoke debacle, and it will also be of some interest to follow these players as they try to impress on the International stage.
 
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Rodon and Roberts came through unscathed as Wales drew their game in Trnava, Slovakia 1-1.

New boy, 6’5” Keiffer Moore of Wigan, opened the scoring on 25’ with a headed goal from a James cross, but Slovakia equalised after a headed clearance from Roberts went straight to Kucka who spectacularly volleyed home on 53’.

Wales conceded possession 70% - 30% but had more shots on target 4-6.

Yellow Cards were 1-4, until Gyomber got sent off on 88’ with a second yellow.

Giggs termed this match ‘a must not lose’, and after the match he said the display was ‘a step forward’. We had a good shout for a penalty turned down, Bale hit the bar from a Roberts cross, and Rodon almost scored with a deft header that was deflected away from goal by Gyomber, and an overhead kick that went a whisker wide.

Two current Swans - Connor Roberts and Joe Rodon played, three ex-Swans - Ben Davies, Joe Allen, and Dan James played, and another two ex-Swans were on the bench - Ashley Williams and Neil Taylor. Surprisingly Charlton’s Tom Lockyer made his debut in preference to the fit and in form Ashley Williams, and it was Lockyer who was dispossessed by Rusnak on 10’, luckily the resultant shot was spectacularly blocked on the line by Ampadu to save a certain goal.

The draw means Wales stay fourth in Group E on 7 points, but are still in with a chance to qualify. They are two points behind Hungary on 9 points, who lost 3-0 to group leaders Croatia last night.

Slovakia are 3 points above Wales on 10 points, and a point above third-place Hungary, but Wales have a game in hand and a superior head-to-head record over Slovakia.

Matches left for Wales:

Wales v Croatia 13/10 19:45 (S4C)

Azerbaijan v Wales 16/11 17:00

Wales v Hungary 19/11 19:45
 
Aidy Boothroyd, a former colleague of Steve Cooper in the England set up, is in charge of England’s Under 21’s, and has called up the Swans on loan pair, Sam Surridge( Bournemouth) and Ben Wilmot (Watford) for the following games (and what a good advert this is for attracting potential England players to come to Swansea on loan):

Under 21 International:
Slovenia U21 v England U21 Fri 11/10 TBC

UEFA Under 21 Championship Qualifier:
England U21 v Austria U21 Tue 15/10 19:45 (Stadium MK)
 
Bersant Celina will probably play for Kosovo in the UEFA Euro Qualifiers:

Kosovo v Montenegro Mon 14/10 19:45


Kris Nordfelt is in the squad for Sweden in the UEFA Euro Qualifiers:

Malta v Sweden 12/10 19:45

Sweden v Spain 15/10 19:45

Nordfelt is not a happy bunny and could be on his way in January.
In an interview with the Swedish Press he had this to say:

First asked how he felt about his game time, he answered “How do you think I feel?” to which the journalist replied that can’t feel great. “Then we pretty much agree”.

He was then asked if a move away was possible.
“That question isn’t up to me at all, it’s up to Swansea, but I’m not happy and I don’t suppose they think it’s good that I’m sitting where I’m sitting either, if you can put it like that”.

He admitted there was interest in his services out there.
“I’m open to most things. I have no preference about where my next club is. It’s more about being at a club that shares the playing philosophy I think suits me”.

He has only played in the League Cup so far this season, Cooper preferring on loan Woodman in goal, and he was not even on the bench for the Stoke game, Mulder replacing him.
 
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In their friendly match in Maribor, Slovenia, England’s U21’s Eddie Nketiah (Leeds loanee from Arsenal) scored from a penalty on 39’, and Sam Surridge (Swans loanee from Bournemouth) came off the bench on 46’ to replace Nketiah to make his debut as a second-half substitute for Aidy Boothroyd's side and scored on 70’.

Ben Wilmot (Swans loanee from Watford), who had also also come on as sub on 46’ replacing Dwight McNeil (Burnley), hit the post with a header, and Surridge latched on to the rebound to put the Young Lions 2-0 up. Despite dominating the game, England surrendered their advantage to draw 2-2, conceding two late goals in the 82’ and 90’.
 
Wales recovered from an early goal on 9’, a Vlasic shot in off the post, with an excellent goal from Bale on 45’, assisted by a great through ball from ex-Swan Ben Davies. Final score 1-1.

Weak refereeing allowed Croatia to get away with some cynical rough house tactics. There were 4 yellow cards for Croatia to 3 for Wales and Allen consequently misses the Azerbaijan match.

To qualify for Euro 2020 Wales need to win their last two games, away to Azerbaijan and home to Hungary, then hope Slovakia don't win both of their last two games away to Croatia and home to Azerbaijan.

Failure of that scenario and it's the last chance play-offs next March.
 
Surprising news from Alan Nixon writing in the Sun newspaper, which the rest of the media have run with, is that the Swans owners Kaplan and Levien are prepared to sell the club for a cut price £38m, plus a further £15m add on if the club regain their PL status within 5 years, with apparently plenty of worldwide interest.

How true this story is, who knows, but we await with interest for further news on the subject.
 
It seems Bersant Celina played a key role in Kosovo’s win, with an assist for the first goal and several other assists tonight.

10’ Goal - Kosovo 1, Montenegro 0. Amir Rrahmani (Kosovo) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Bersant Celina with a cross following a corner.

32’ Attempt saved. Vedat Muriqi (Kosovo) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bersant Celina.

34’ Goal - Kosovo 2, Montenegro 0. Vedat Muriqi (Kosovo) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner following a fast break.

62’ Attempt blocked. Vedat Muriqi (Kosovo) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bersant Celina with a cross.

73’ Attempt blocked. Milot Rashica (Kosovo) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bersant Celina.

79’ Attempt missed. Mergim Vojvoda (Kosovo) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Bersant Celina with a cross.

90’+3 Substitution, Kosovo. No.8 Florent Hasani replaces No.9 Bersant Celina.

90’+4 game ends
 
On a high from their 1-2 win against England at Wembley last Friday in the Euro Qualifiers, Chzech Republic went and lost 2-3 in a friendly at home to Northern Ireland, albeit with 10 changes, and they were 0-3 down at half time. Four subs after the break and they made a come back with two goals but just couldn’t get the third goal.

Meanwhile England hammered Bulgaria out in Sofia 0-6, racist chants marring the match.
 
In Group F of the Euro Championship Qualifiers last Saturday, it was Malta 0 Sweden 4 (two pens and an own goal). Swans goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfelt was on the bench. Ex-Swan and Swedish International left-back Martin Olsson is still without a club after being released by the Swans 1/7/19, so is his brother, left-winger Marcus Olsson, released by Derby County at the same time.
 
UEFA Under 21 Championship Qualifier:
England U21 5 -1 Austria U21
Swans loanees Surridge and Wilmot had to be content with being on the subs bench tonight, although Surridge replaced hat trick hero Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal - on loan to Leeds) on 86’. Nketiah also missed a penalty.

Euro Championship Qualifiers Group F
Sweden 1 - 1 Spain
Swans goalkeeper Kris Nordfelt was on the subs bench again tonight for Sweden, as Spain qualified for the Finals with a last gasp equaliser on 92’
They join Belgium, Italy, Russia, Poland and Ukraine for next year’s tournament.
 
Great round up there Keith, thanks. Some great performances from swans players during the break. Hopefully Celina will play in the middle soon after a superb performance there for his country. I feel Roberts is not up to his usual standard this season while Rodon must be attracting interest after being very solid for Wales.
 
The third International break this season is upon us, so here is a round up of matches involving Swans players:

Connor Roberts has been called up for the latest Wales matches in the UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifiers.
Azerbaijan v Wales Sat 16 Nov 17:00 Bakcell Arena, Baku
Wales v Hungary Tue 19 Nov 19:45 Cardiff City Stadium

Sam Surridge has withdrawn from the England Under-21 squad with a knee injury picked up during his substitute appearance in the draw at Sheffield Wednesday, and is scheduled to have a precautionary scan in the next few days. The on-loan Bournemouth forward, who has scored five goals this season, had been included in Aidy Boothroyd’s party for the latest games against Albania and the Netherlands.
Ben Wilmot misses out this time around on an England U-21 call up.

Andre Ayew will skipper Ghana Black Stars in their AFCON Qualifier
against Bafana Bafana of South Africa at Ghana’s Cape Coast Stadium this Thursday 14 Nov.

Bersant Celina will play for Kosovo in their latest Euro Qualifying matches
Czech Republic v Kosovo 14/11 Struncovy Sadi Stadion-Plzen 19:45
Kosovo v England 17/11 Prishtina City Stadium 17:00

Kris Nordfelt is in the squad for Sweden’s Euro Qualifiers
Romania v Sweden 15/11 Arena Nationala-Bucharest 19:45
Sweden v Faroe Isles 18/11 Friends Arena-Solna 19:45

The Euro Finals 2020 draw takes place in Bucharest on 30 Nov 2019
 
Andre Ayew captained Ghana to a 2-0 win over South Africa last night in Group C of the 2021 AFCON Qualifiers.

Goals from Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid) and 19 year old Mohammed Kudus (FC Nordsjaelland) decided the fixture at Ghana’s Cape Coast Stadium. Andre’s brother and ex-Swan Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) also played.

The Black Stars next Group C match is against the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe at Estadio Nacional, São Tomé, on Monday 18/11 at 16:00. (São Tomé and Príncipe are the two main islands of an archipelago 150 miles off the west coast of Gabon, Central Africa, they gained independence from Portugal in 1975)
 
Bersant Celina played for Kosovo last night as they went down 2-1 to Czech Republic in their latest Euro Qualifying match.

Kosovo took the lead in the 50’ through Sheffield Wednesday forward Atdhe Nuhiu, but the Czech’s bounced back with 71’ and 79’ goals to seal the win and move into second place behind England in Group A.

Nuhiu and Celina played against each other last Saturday for their respective clubs.
 
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Kris Nordfelt was an unused sub for Sweden tonight as they beat Romania 0-2 to move into second place behind Spain in Group F.
 
Wales are guaranteed a Euro 2020 play-off spot after Sweden beat Romania 0-2.
They can still qualify automatically though, with games against Azerbaijan in Baku on Saturday and Hungary in Cardiff on Tuesday.
 
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Group E European Championship Qualifiers

Azerbaijan 0 - Wales 2 (Moore 10’ Wilson 34’)

Croatia Pl8 Pts 17
Hungary Pl 7 Pts 12
Wales Pl 7 Pts 11
Slovakia Pl 7 Pts 10
Azerbaijan Pl 7 Pts 1

Wales have to win against Hungary at Cardiff on Tuesday night to qualify. If they lose Hungary qualify. If Wales draw, Slovakia could go through if they beat Azerbaijan, that match is also on Tuesday.
Wales lost their away match against Hungary 1-0 in June this year.
 
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