INTERNATIONAL TOTW: WHO MADE OUR TEAM THIS WEEK?

Featured Image Credit: AS English

GK - Ibrahim Sehic (Boznia & Herzegovina)

Boznia & Herzegovina managed a very surprising point against the Netherlands in group A1 of the Nations League and they can give a huge thanks to their man in between the sticks. 

Ibrahim Sehic martialled the Bosnian backline brilliantly all night and crucially made two saves late on. The first at his near post keeping out Frenkie De Jong and the second a superb sprawling save to keep out Luuk De Jong. 

Right back - Jere Uronen (Finland) 

Ryan Giggs Wales may be sitting pretty at the top of Group B4 but Finland are hot on their tales and they picked up another three points at the weekend beating Bulgaria 2-0.

Teemu Pukki played his part in the result grabbing an assist but it was actually Jere Uronen who put in a man of the match performance. 

The full-back who earns his trade at Genk was defensively sound all game and even set up Fredrik Jensen who scored Finland’s second, killing off any hope of a comeback for Bulgaria. 

Centre Back – Antonio Rudiger (German) 

Despite not keeping a clean sheet it was a quiet night defensively for the German centre halves either side of Nicolas Sule. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for the Bayern defender who conceded a second-half penalty. Luckily for him though the players either side of him made sure he wouldn’t return to Germany embarrassed.

Antonio Rudiger found space on the right side of the box and delivered a precise cross into the path of Matthias Ginter who had a simple tap-in. The latter was booked on late in the game which means the Chelsea defender earns a spot in my very prestigious team of the week.

Left Centre Back – Martin Hinteregger (Austria) 

Somehow Austria only managed the one goal in an extremely dominant victory over Northern Ireland. Michael Gregoritsch scored the only goal of the game and Christoph Baumgartner should’ve made the result more resounding.

The lack of presence from the hosts upfront allowed Martin Hinteregger to drift forward and he was instrumental in Austria’s dominance down the left putting in a delightful cross for Gregoritsch to head home. 

The central defender also put in a solid shift at the back making three clearances and one pivotal interception.

Left Back Robert Skov (Denmark)

England’s hard-fought victory over Belgium wasn’t the only action from group A2 in the Nations League. Denmark comfortably beat Iceland by three goals to nil and there were some great performances from Kasper Hjulmand’s side.

Robert Skov put in an excellent shift at left-back keeping the Iceland attack quiet for most of the game and also got himself in the scoresheet with a wonderful curling effort with his weaker right foot to complete the victory.

Left Central Midfielder - Christian Eriksen (Denmark) 

As well as Skov’s starring performance at full-back there was another Danish player who unsurprisingly was at the heart of everything that Denmark did well.

Christian Eriksen hasn’t had the best impact domestically in the season that has just past, but whenever the playmaker puts on a Denmark shirt, he seems to rediscover his best form.

The Inter Milan midfielder showcased his brilliant passing ability, registering five key passes in the 90 minutes with a passing accuracy of 86.2% and scored the 2nd goal for the visitors. 

An Iceland corner ricocheted towards him and the former Spurs man practically ran the length of the pitch before clinically finishing past the Iceland goalkeeper. 

Central Midfielder - Anastasios Bakasetas (Greece)

Greece continued their dominance at the top of group C3 in the Nations League with a routine victory over Moldova.

The Greeks were helped by Veaceslav Posmac’s sending off before half time, which led to Anastasios Bakasetas converting the penalty.

Bakasetas then went on to provide Petros Mantalos with the second goal for Greece giving them a cushion to see out another three points which keep them just above Slovenia in the group.

Right Central Midfielder - Nikola Vlasic (Croatia) 

Luka Modric dominated the game in midfield but he was definitely helped by another midfielder in Nikola Vlasic constantly being a threat in the Sweden half.

For Croatia’s first Modric intercepted an Iceland forward pass, the 2018 World cup runners up then worked the ball into the Sweden box and Vlasic had a simple side-footed finish. 

Vlasic was causing problems all evening for Sweden, laying on four key passes for his teammates. 

Right striker - Erling Braut Haaland (Norway) 

Erling Haaland was the hottest property in Europe when Borussia Dortmund secured his signature and despite being around slightly less well-known players for Norway, the lethal forward just can’t stop scoring goals.

He managed to get himself on the scoresheet three times but he could’ve easily had double that, and the Romanian defenders were probably very grateful to hear the referees full-time whistle.

The 20-year-old put away two smart finishes with his unstoppable left-foot either side of a simple tap in, capping off a brilliant hat-trick for the talisman.

Central striker – Alexander Sorloth (Norway)

Although Haaland will get the headlines for his goals, the other Norwegian attackers played their part as well. Martin Odergaard was supplying defence splitting passes all game but Alexander Sorloth who partnered Haaland up front, seemed to do a lot of the leg work for his fellow Norwegian. 

The new RB Leipzig forward made a disguised run which allowed more space for Odergaard to pick out Haaland for Norway’s first. He then got on the end of Birger Meling cross to double their advantage and even had time to set up his partner for his hattrick late into the second half. 

Left striker - Rauno Sappinen (Estonia)

In a game that went quite under the radar, Estonia and North Macedonia played out a very entertaining three all draw, with Rauno Sappinen starring for Estonia.

The sole striker earned himself a first half brace, and could’ve had a third if he had not been replaced on 70 minutes. Sappinen converted two of three attempts he had at goal helping Estonia to their first point in the group. 

Manager – Zlatko Dalic (Croatia)

Croatia earnt their first points of the group stage thanks to a late goal from Andrej Kramaric against Sweden. Dalic made the decision to bring on the Hoffenheim forward and Filip Bradaric with 15 minutes of the game remaining after Sweden equalised.

Kramaric repaid his managers decision excellently by scoring the winner. Dalic and Croatia could’ve easily crumbled when Emile Forsberg’s equaliser came completely against the run of play, but instead they remained calm knowing another opportunity would come.

Alongside this Dalic also made the slightly obscure decision to play Luke Modric in the number ten role, but the Real Madrid man dominated the first half with his incisive runs and accuracy for a killer pass.