Yup, it's that time already. Kevin McDonald could make his first appearance for Scotland during the upcoming international period, after being named in Gordon Strachan’s squad for the World Cup Qualifier against Malta on Sunday 4th September. And despite dipping out of the Olympic team, Lasse Vigen Christensen is in the Denmark Under-21 party for their European Qualifiers against Wales in Wrexham, and at home to Romania in Aalborg.
Glad to see McDonald got a call up to the Scotland squad, definitely the sort of player we need in our midfield. Tom Cairney played for Scotland at U21 level, would liked to have seen him get a call up to the senior squad, hes definitely better than some other players that have been called up.
And no call up for Ross McCormack or Jordan Rhodes. Would love to see Cairney getting a chance FAB. Maybe needs to be more consistent in his performances and not sure he's superior at the moment to the likes of Ritchie and Snodgrass.
Not surprised at McCormack or Rhodes not getting called up, neither seem to be favourites of Strachan. For some reason Strachan really likes Steven Fletcher and always calls him up, personally I'm not a fan and would much rather see McCormack in the squad.
Our two young stars from last night get a call up: "Dennis Adeniran and Tayo Edun have been called up for England duty ahead of the upcoming international period. Adeniran will join up with the Under-18 group as they begin their campaign with a mini tournament in Lancashire. They face Italy in Fleetwood on Thursday 1st September, before heading to Morecambe four days later where they’ll meet Israel. Meanwhile, Edun is in the Under-19 squad that has a home and away double header against the Netherlands and Belgium. Keith Downing’s side will take on the Dutch at Telford United on the same day the Under-18s face Italy, before travelling to Brussels for their second fixture the following Sunday 4th September." Meanwhile Nigeria are still hopeful on tapping the pair: "The exciting Nigerian teen duo of Tayo Edun and Dennis Adeniran, were instrumental in helping Championship side Fulham knock Middlesbrough out of the Football League cup. Fulham came from behind to shock Boro 2-1 after extra time, thanks to an unfortunate own goal scored by Julien De Sart, who deflected a Scoot Malone strike into his own net. Adeniran, 17 and Edun,18, were on from start to finish, with striker Adeniran booked in the game during the first half of the cup tie. Talented Adeniran only recently made his first team debut for Fulham, although he started training with the first team at the age of 16. He is already an England youth international but qualifies to represent Nigeria as well, as his father is from the West African nation. The versatile Edun, who can play in the defence and midfield, bossed the game with the authority of a seasoned professional even though he only made his first team debut on the 9th of August. However, just like Adeniran he has also represent England at youth level, but still can represent Nigeria if he agrees to a switch of nationality." Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2016/08/2...fulham-dump-middlesbrough-out-of-league-cup/?
Luca Ashby-Hammond (U18 Taye's younger brother) was in goal for England U16s yesterday in a 3-1 away to Romania. Highlights -
Stefan Johansen has scuppered the Gaffer's plans for spending the International break integrating the newbies. He's off to join the Norwegian squad for their friendlies.
The Club say Kevin McDonald will no longer be joining up with the Scotland squad but don't give an explanation. The most obvious reason is injury, so fingers crossed. Here's the full list of the boys off on duty: Senior squad Stefan Johansen – Norway (Friendly & World Cup Qualifier) Jesse Joronen – Finland (Friendly & World Cup Qualifier) Tomas Kalas – Czech Republic (Friendly & World Cup Qualifier) Neeskens Kebano – Democratic Republic of Congo (Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier) Ragnar Sigurdsson – Iceland (World Cup Qualifier) George Williams (out on loan) – Wales (World Cup Qualifier) Under-23s Mattias Kait – Estonia (International Challenge Trophy) Under-21s Lasse Vigen Christensen – Denmark (UEFA U21 Qualifiers) Mattias Kait – Estonia (UEFA U21 Qualifier) Sean Kavanagh – Republic of Ireland (UEFA U21 Qualifiers) Marek Rodák – Slovakia (Friendly & UEFA U21 Qualifier) Under-19s Atli Andrason – Iceland (Friendlies) Tayo Edun – England (Friendlies) Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson – Iceland (Friendlies) Under-18s Dennis Adeniran – England (Friendlies) Mikolaj Kwietniewski – Poland (Friendlies)
Game time: "Tomas Kalas played the second half of the Czech Republic’s 3-0 home friendly win over Armenia .yesterday. Goals from Ladislav Krejci and Vaclav Kadlec had put the hosts in control of proceedings, with Kalas then entering the action at the break as a replacement for Marek Suchy. Fellow half-time introduction Jan Kopic added a third late on as the Czechs finished in style ahead of their World Cup Qualifier against Northern Ireland on Sunday. Elsewhere, Stefan Johansen played the entirety of Norway’s 1-0 defeat by Belarus in Oslo. The home side had the better of the play but ended up going down to Sergey Krivets’ second half effort. That fixture was just a friendly, but they host Germany in a World Cup Qualifier at the weekend."
Still no explanation and it doesn't look like an injury - unless the Gaffer was doing "a Fergie" - 'cos our Kevin is trotting along nicely in the Training Gallery of photos posted on the Club site.
And another two of 1st Team were playing for England earlier today (isn't that a strange but pleasing thing to say!) Tayo Edun started for England U19's in their penalty shoot-out win (9-8) over the Netherlands after the game had finished 1-1 while Dennis Adeniran started for England U18's who beat v Italy 2-1.
This afternoon Lasse Vigen Christensen captained Denmark U21s to a thumping 4-0 win over Wales. So a wee bit of consolation after missing out on the Olympics, Our young, old boy Jordan Evans was at left back for Wales. And despite having a stormer of a game Marek Rodak was at the other end of a thumping as Slovakia U21s went down 3-0 to Germany. Apparently even the German commentator was singing Marek's praises.
Goal for Martin, put on a plate for him really with a brilliant ball into the box from Matt Richie. Glad hes scored but been quite frustrated by Martin so far, he seems to come short for the ball a lot but when he gets it doesn't do much with it and loses it most of the time. I'd prefer him just to stay forward and be the target man.
His GOAL Then the PENALTY that he "won" http://www.skysports.com/iframe/wid...uA3QXZN#ooid=B0cjhwNTE6FY-U9x8D_Gx15G6uA3QXZN Then he was subbed - so no injury worries. Scotland ended up winning 5-1
Apart from Chrs Martin and 'Copa' Kebano (from the AFC thread) we had a fair number playing over the weekend. "Stefan Johansen captained Norway in Oslo, but couldn’t prevent them slipping to a 3-0 defeat by current world champions Germany. Thomas Muller broke the deadlock with quarter of an hour played when he reacted quickest after his initial shot was blocked by Alex Tettey, a lead that Joshua Kimmich doubled on the stroke of half-time with his first international goal. Johansen picked up a yellow card * soon after the break for a foul on Muller, who made sure of the result with a header on the hour mark. The new Fulham signing then made way for Ruben Yttergaard Jenssen in the 67th minute, as Norway ended the day bottom of Group C. [* a wee bit of forewarning there? seen it mentioned a few times that picking up cards is a regular feature] At Under-19 level, Tayo Edun came on for the final quarter of an hour of England’s 1-0 friendly defeat by Belgium in Tubize. The Young Lions had a good chance to take the lead in the first half, but captain Tom Davies sent his penalty over the bar, with the hosts then grabbing the only goal of the game shortly after through Jorn Vancamp. Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson started and Atli Andrason was a substitute as Iceland Under-19s beat their Welsh counterparts 2-1 in a friendly at Dragon Park. Mani Hilmarson put the visitors in front, before Sveinn Aron Gudjohnsen – son of former Fulham loanee Eidur – extended the advantage after the break. Tyler Roberts did pull one back in the 66th minute, but Wales were unable to force an equaliser in front of the watching Chris Coleman and Kit Symons *." [* Yup he's got his old job as Assistant to Cookie back]
Tayo Edun came on for 15 minutes as England U19s were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Belgium tonight. please log in to view this image And also tonight Dennis Adeniran played the second half as England U18s beat Israel 5-1. Not a lot he could do about it but the Israel goal was from a shot that deflected off Dennis.
And the other guys out on display last night: "Ragnar Sigurdsson played the full 90 minutes as Iceland’s World Cup qualifying campaign began with a 1-1 draw in Ukraine on Monday. The Euro 2016 Quarter-Finalists made a superb start in Kiev when Alfred Finnbogason netted with just six minutes played, but the hosts restored parity through Andriy Yarmolenko shortly before half-time. Ukraine could have snatched in late on when they were awarded a penalty, but Yevhen Konoplyanka hit the post with his 83rd minute spot-kick. The result means there’s nothing to separate Group I, with each team on one point after all the opening matches finished in a draw." [That's a very decent result for the Thunderclappers] "At Under-23 level, Mattias Kait came off the bench to score twice in Estonia’s 3-3 International Challenge Trophy draw with Ukraine in Tallinn. Goals from Oleksandr Zubkov and Ivan Zotko had given the visitors an assertive half-time lead, but Kait pulled one back shortly after his introduction at the break. Zubkov restored the two-goal advantage, but Svjatoslav Jakovlev responded, before Kait was on target again with seven minutes remaining to ensure the spoils were shared."
