Chris Martin has been named in the Scotland squad for Scotland's World Cup qualifying double header with Lithuania and Slovakia. They face Lithuania at Hampden Park on the 8th October, followed by a trip to Trnava to face Slovakia three days later. In case you weren't aware, Scotland currently sit atop group F, ahead of England on goal difference. And no, I'm not going anywhere near a Big Sam comment.
Here's the full list of our guy's on call-up: Senior squad Stefan Johansen – Norway (World Cup Qualifiers) Jesse Joronen – Finland (World Cup Qualifiers) Neeskens Kebano – Democratic Republic of Congo (World Cup Qualifiers) Chris Martin – Scotland (World Cup Qualifiers) Ragnar Sigurdsson – Iceland (World Cup Qualifiers) Under-21s Lasse Vigen Christensen – Denmark (UEFA U21 Qualifiers) Sean Kavanagh – Republic of Ireland (UEFA U21 Qualifier) Marek Rodák – Slovakia (UEFA U21 Qualifiers) George Williams (out on loan) – Wales (UEFA U21 Qualifier) Under-20s Luca de la Torre – United States (Friendlies) Marlon Fossey – United States (Friendlies) Under-19s Atli Andrason – Iceland (UEFA U21 Qualifiers) Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson – Iceland (UEFA U21 Qualifiers) Under-18s Mikolaj Kwietniewski – Poland (Friendlies) Under-17s Dennis Adeniran – England (Friendlies)
No idea why the Club haven't included them in that list but Ryan Sessegnon and Tayo Edun are both in the England U19 squad for games against Croatia and Bulgaria. Slightly surprised at Wycombe as the venue for the Bulgaria game. Although the clue might be in the entrance fee - £3 or £1.50 if you're a Youngster/Golden Oldie please log in to view this image
And the Club got it a bit wrong in that Dennis Adeniran is in the England U18 squad, not the U17s. Playing in a double header against Sweden.
Thunderclapper does it again: "Ragnar Sigurdsson scored a 95th minute winner to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory for Iceland over Finland in Reykjavik on Thursday. please log in to view this image Teemu Pukki had nodded the visitors in front after 20 minutes, but former Rotherham United man Kari Arnason equalised with a header of his own. Robin Lod’s volley restored Finland’s lead just before the break, and Gylfi Sigurdsson squandered the chance to equalise five minutes after the restart when he hit the crossbar with his penalty kick. Iceland eventually got the equaliser their play deserved when Alfred Finnbogason netted in the final minute of normal time, before Sigurdsson bundled home a free-kick at the death to cap a thrilling evening in the capital. Despite the result, Iceland drop down to second in Group I following a heavy win for Croatia, while Finland – for whom Jesse Joronen was an unused substitute – remain fifth. Meanwhile, there wasn’t such a favourable result for Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson and Iceland’s Under-19 team, with the Fulham man sent off in a 2-0 defeat in Ukraine. Yevhenii Smirniy and Mykola Shaparenko netted moments either side of Thorsteinsson’s 80th minute dismissal for two yellow cards, to send Iceland to the bottom of Group 13 in the qualifying round for the Under-19 European Championship. Atli Andrason was an unused substitute. On Wednesday, Luca de la Torre and Marlon Fossey both started for the United States Under-20s as they were beaten 1-0 by Germany in Manchester. A penalty in the 14th minute was all that separated the sides in what was a well-matched encounter."
Bit of controversy over Ziggy's goal. Have a look in this link and see what you think: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/4961/international-football/2016/10/07/28256972/-?
Mattias Kait scores for fun in the U23s and tonight he did the same for Estonia. Here's his goal: The 18 year old got a second with a volley in the 70th minute as Estonia went on to beat Gibraltar 4-0. This was the young midfielder's second full Internation game but he's way down the Gaffer's pecking order back home.
please log in to view this image And over in Croatia earlier on, Ryan Sessegnon made his debut for England U19s and got 2 assists in their 3-1 win.
Sorry, should have added that Tayo Edun also played the full match in that England U19 game. And Dennis Adeniran was out for England as well - this time for the U18s in Sweden. He came on in the 83rdminute for Neil Dewsnip’s side who went down to a second-half goal in the first of their two games with Sweden. And last but by no means least, Sean Kavanagh came on in the 79th minute as The Republic of Ireland’s U21s conceded three goals in the final 25 minutes on the way to a 3-1 defeat to Serbia at their game in Waterford.
Strachan has apparently been singing his praises, although Scottish fans were more akin to using the word "jobbie" in their social media comments. Here's how a reporter from the Scotsman paper analysed his performance: RECEPTION The Hampden crowd gave Martin a lukewarm welcome as his name was read out before kick-off but he nearly had them cheering when he came close with his first chance after 25 minutes. James McArthur rescued a point for Scotland but that was not enough to save Martin and the rest of his team-mates from copping a torrent of boos at full-time. LINK-UP PLAY The lone frontman was not involved much in the opening stages as Lithuania crowded him out. He came into the action more as Edgaras Jankauskas’ team dropped off, winning knock-downs and flick-ons for the likes of Matt Ritchie and Oliver Burke. The addition of Griffiths late in the game opened up space but Martin did not have the mobility needed to take advantage. WORK-RATE The basic requirement for anyone picked for a Gordon Strachan side is that they put an almighty shift in. Martin, though, has a languid style which sometimes gives the impression he is not always moving at top speed. He closed down Georgas Freidgeimas and Edvinas Girdvainis on the odd occasion but never looked like he has any serious intention of putting the pair under pressure. GOAL THREAT Had a couple of sniffs at goal but left Strachan pulling his hair out as neither attempt hit the net. His first came midway through the first period when he did well to hold off visiting right-back Egidijus Vaitkunas to get on the end of Robert Snodgrass’ deep cross. He could only steer his shot the wrong side of the far post while he was just as close with a header from Andy Robertson’s centre 10 minutes after the break. Source: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/footb...martin-performed-against-lithuania-1-4252990?
He's a frustrating player to watch, seems to be a very limited footballer. Worse than useless with the ball at his feet and just about competent in the air but still not great. Definitely needs a partner upfront, we had players trying to support him but still not nearly enough. Watching him last night also makes me wonder how he fits into Fulhams style and formation, he clearly can't play as a lone striker.
In another European qualifier, Stefan Johansen came on for the final five minutes of Norway’s disappointing 1-0 defeat in Azerbaijan. Maksim Medvedyev scored the game’s only goal early on, although results elsewhere actually saw Norway – for whom Johansen was booked in the last minute – move off the foot of the table. And in an U19 qualifier, Atli Andrason came on in the 56th minute of Iceland’s 2-1 defeat by Turkey. Ilker Yüksel opened the scoring 10 minutes in, and after Turkey squandered the opportunity to double their lead when Berkay Ozcan missed his penalty, Axel Andresson equalised. But Yusuf Arslan had the final say, meaning Iceland’s chances of qualifying for the Elite Round are now over.
The Thunderclap keeps rolling along. Ragnar Sigurdsson played the full 90 minutes on Sunday as Iceland made it two wins from two in the current international period. Following Thursday’s late dramatics against Finland, it was slightly more routine this time in Reykjavik against Turkey, as an Omer Toprak own goal and Alfred Finnbogason strike in quick succession before half-time secured a 2-0 victory. The win keeps Iceland second in Group I with seven points from three matches, the same as current leaders Croatia, who happen to be their next opponents in a month’s time. In Täby, near Stockholm, Dennis Adeniran played the entirety of England Under-18s’ 2-1 win over hosts Sweden. Goals from Chelsea duo Mason Mount and Martell Taylor-Crossdale put the Young Lions in control before the break, and they held on for the victory despite Sweden pulling one back early on in the second half.
Ryan Sessegnon and Tayo Edun both came on for the last half hour in the England U19's 2-1 victory against Bulgaria last night in Wycombe. As the game looked to be over Edun whipped in a superb free-kick which was met by the head of Dujon Sterling and England walked away with a well deserved victory. Old boy Pat Roberts was in the the England U20 side that beat USA 2-0. Turning out for the Yanks, Luca de la Torre played the whole match and Marlon Fossey came on as a late sub. Despite his two goals in the last match Mattias Kait sat out Estonia's World Cup Qualifying match against Greece on the bench. His side lost 2-0, with another old boy, Kostas Stafylidis, scoring one of the Greek goals with a wonderfully hit free-kick. Our other Kostas (Mitroglou) was in their side as well.
Ah well, Scotland (and their fans) can't blame last night's 3-0 defeat on Chris Martin - he sat the game out on the bench (Steven Fletcher replaced him and he in turn was subbed by McGinn). For the rest of the lads it was better news, results wise at least: "Lasse Vigen Christensen was captain as Denmark ended their excellent qualifying campaign for the Under-21 European Championship with a 4-1 victory over Luxembourg on Tuesday. They needed a late rally to win the game, though, with all four goals arriving in a nine minute spell in the final quarter of the match. Marcus Ingvartsen broke the deadlock 71 minutes in, with Andrew Hjulsager and Emiliano Hansen soon putting the game to bed. An Enes Mahmutović own goal made it four, although Luxembourg did grab a stoppage time consolation through Glenn Borges. Denmark’s place at next summer’s Finals in Poland was already secured, but the victory – of which Christensen played the full 90 – sees them top Group 5 by a huge 11 points, having won nine and drawn one of their 10 fixtures. In the same group, out-on-loan George Williams played the first 65 minutes of Wales Under-21s’ 3-1 win in Armenia. Ellis Harrison had given the visitors a half-time lead, and Armenia netted at either end in quick succession shortly after Williams’ withdrawal to make it 2-1. Thomas O'Sullivan then made sure of the result in the final minute of normal time, but the result was never going to have any bearing on Wales’ fourth place finish. At Under-17 level, Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson and Atli Andrason helped Iceland pick up their first points in their ultimately unsuccessful European Championship qualifying campaign. Sveinn Aron Gudjohnsen put them in front against Latvia, and although Thorsteinsson saw his penalty saved early on in the second half, Axel Andresson’s late strike secured a 2-0 victory. Thorsteinsson played the entirety of the game, while Andrason came on for the final nine minutes."
