Sergio Aguero comes off the bench to score for Argentina. Luis Suarez is rested for Uruguay. Nani grabs a goal in Portugal’s rout of Bosnia Herzegovina, while Nicklas Bendtner nets yet again for Denmark. Here’s a look at the main protagonists ahead of this weekend’s fixtures:
Good news for Fantasy owners of Sergio Aguero– he’s fit and in goalscoring form. Ahead of this weekend’s home clash with Newcastle, the Man City forward recovered sufficiently from a muscle strain to come off the bench and secure all three points for Argentina in Colombia last night. Although he faces a flight back from South America, Aguero has played just forty-five minutes of his country’s two games over the past week. Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko, on the other hand, have played 180 minutes apiece over the last few days and while Balotelli showed strong form in Italy’s win over Poland last Friday, Dzeko will be nursing a Euro 2012 hangover, after Bosnia were eliminated last night following a 6-2 thrashing in Portugal.
City skipper Vincent Kompany came through his second lot of 90 minutes last night in Belgium’s goalless draw with France but looks nailed-on, as always, to start this weekend. David Silva has been spared much of Spain’s game time over the past week- he was given 45 minutes against England on Saturday and came on as a 64th minutes sub last night, scoring in the 2-2 draw with Costa Rica. Like Aguero, he may face a long haul home but hasn’t been over-utilised by his country.
Joe Hart was subbed off at half-time last night against Sweden after playing the full game against Spain. James Milner came on for Jack Rodwell just before the hour mark last night and played 108 minutes over the two friendlies, while Adam Johnson, having featured for just 14 minutes against Spain, was an unused sub in the win over Sweden. Gareth Barry played the full 90 minutes last night and also came on just before the hour on Saturday against Spain, while Joleon Lescott was rested last night after starting against the World Cup winners at the weekend.
Nani grabbed a goal in Portugal’s demolition of Bosnia Herzegovina last night and was subbed off with just seven minutes left. The United winger also played the entire first leg last Friday and has had a frenetic last few days. Antonio Valencia played 90 minutes in both of Ecuador’s World Cup qualifiers and while this will help boost his fitness levels, has a lot more travelling on his hands before he arrives back at Old Trafford. Reports today suggest Ashley Young is on the mend from his recent toe problem and looks set to be included in the weekend squad for the trip to Swansea.
Phil Jones saw more game time than any England player this past week. He managed the full 90 minutes last night and also featured for 57 minutes against Spain, though United’s trip to the Liberty Stadium is an evening Saturday kick-off, giving him a few extra hours of recovery if necessary. Danny Welbeck will certainly be fresh, having featured for less than half an hour over the two internationals.
Steve Bruce will be delighted to have seen John O’Shea back in action. The full-back has recovered from a recent hamstring problem and played the full 90 minutes for the Republic of Ireland last night. O’Shea had limped out of the Black Cats gameweek 10 clash with Aston Villa due to the injury but, ahead of a strong run of fixtures, is set to return to the Sunderland first-team and bolster the back-line.
Nicklas Bendtner was amongst the goals yet again for Denmark last night. Having scored against Sweden last Friday, Bendtner helped his country clinch their second home friendly win on the trot, notching the winner in a 2-1 victory over Finland. With (FUL, WIG, wol, BLA) to come, he’s looking ripe for Fantasy investment. Seb Larsson played every minute of Sweden’s two games but can put his feet up this weekend- the midfielder is suspended for the home clash with Fulham.
Mick McCarthy watched three of his first-team start for Ireland against Estonia. Stephen Ward scored for the second game running as both he and Kevin Doyle played the full 90 minutes. Stephen Hunt was replaced just before the hour mark and will be the fresher of the trio, having played just over 15 minutes of the first leg. All three face a tricky trip to Goodison this weekend.
Having played 83 minutes of the first-leg, Jonathan Walters was given the night off for Ireland, much to Tony Pulis’ delight. The Stoke man was an unused sub, though team mate Glenn Whelan played the full match, to add to his 78 minutes from the 4-0 win on Friday. Walters’ firepower will surely be key this weekend, as Stoke –looking to bounce back from a run of three straight losses- host QPR. Asmir Begovic has played 180 minutes for Bosnia Herzegovina since Friday and will be looking for a pick-me-up after last night’s hammering in Portugal.
Emmanuel Adebayor’s return to the Togo fold was an injury-free occasion, with the forward playing in a 1-0 win over Guinea-Bissau. Luka Modric played the full 90 minutes for the second game running as Croatia eased through to Euro 2012 with a goalless draw at home to Turkey. Vedran Corluka was suspended. Scott Parker was rested last night for England’s game with Sweden, though Kyle Walker played the full 90 minutes.
The USA’s 3-2 win on Slovakia last night saw Clint Dempsey play 90 minutes for the second game running. The Fulham midfielder hasn’t had too much travelling to do, though- the previous friendly, last Friday, was in France and he looks in good shape ahead of a trip to Sunderland. Damien Duff played 70+ minutes in both the Republic of Ireland’s games against Estonia, though has been something of a peripheral figure of late under Martin Jol. Moussa Dembele, who has been keeping Duff out of the Cottagers first-team, has been used relatively sparingly by Belgium over the last week. Dembele played just over an hour against France last night and featured for 24 minutes on Friday at home to Romania. Bobby Zamora’s 70 minutes run-out against Sweden last night shouldn’t be an issue ahead of the Black Cats showdown.
The news that Luis Suarez was rested by Uruguay for their trip to Italy last night must have been a welcome relief for Kenny Dalglish. Suarez, of course, scored all 4 goals in his side’s demolition of Chile last Friday but was subsequently subbed off with a sore back. Suarez had declared himself fir for selection but national boss Oscar Tabarez decided not to risk him ahead of Liverpool’s crucial trip to Chelsea this Sunday. Daniel Agger played 90 minutes for the second game in succession last night, even grabbing a goal for Denmark in the win over Finland. Glen Johnson sat out England’s win over Sweden after featuring against Spain, though Stewart Downing featured heavily- he played the entirety of last night’s game and came on as a half-time sub against Spain.
Gary Cahill, having been an unused sub against Spain, played the full 90 minutes at home to Sweden last night and is in good shape ahead of Bolton’s weekend trip to West Brom.
Fabio Capello also used Darren Bent sparingly, with a 20 minute sub appearance last night following on from his 64 minutes against Spain, the Villa forward should be fine for Monday’s trip to Spurs. Both Shay Given and Richard Dunne were crucial to the Republic of Ireland’s 5-1 aggregate win over Estonia and will have plenty of time to nurse their hangovers.
Wojciech Szczęsny was an unused sub in Poland’s 2-1 home win over Hungary last night. Having previously played in the 2-0 defeat to Italy on Friday, he was replaced by fellow Gunner Lukasz Fabianski between the sticks. Robin Van Persie was rested for Holland’s game with Germany and will be fit and raring to go this weekend as Arsenal take a trip to Carrow Road. Having previously sat out the 3-3 draw in Ukraine, Per Mertesacker returned to the Germany starting XI last night and played the full 90 minutes in a comfortable 3-0 stroll.
It was the same story with Arsenal’s other two first-choice centre-halves this past week, with each picked for just one of their respective nation’s two games. Thomas Vermaelen turned for Belgium in France last night having been an unused sub against Romania on Friday, while Laurent Koscielny missed out for Les Blues, having debuted for Laurent Blanc’s side last Friday against the USA. Theo Walcott started both games for England but was subbed off early in both, with the Gunners’ lunchtime kick off at Norwich perhaps in mind.
Alan Pardew will no doubt be thrilled by Yohan Cabaye’s return from injury. The midfielder took no part in France’s match with the USA last week but managed the full 90 minutes against Belgium last night and looks likely to bolster the Newcastle midfield this weekend as Pardew’s side take their unbeaten record to Man City.
Juan Mata started for Spain in Costa Rica last night but was subbed off in the second half with his country 2-0 down. In total, Mata has played 90 minutes over the last week, having came on as a sub for David Silva in last Saturday’s loss to England. Joining him in a long flight back to London is Fernando Torres– El Nino will be even fresher than his Chelsea team-mate, with a couple of late second-half sub appearances over the last week to his name. With Andre Villas-Boas’ side not playing till Sunday, though, the pair should have plenty time to recuperate, as will Petr Cech who played both games for the Czech Republic against Montenegro.
Fabio Capello has been kind to the Blues this past week- Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard only featured in the game against Spain last Saturday, with the latter getting less than an hour, grabbing the winner before being replaced by Gareth Barry. John Terry played only one game, against Sweden last night, while Daniel Sturridge will be fresh for the weekend, with just over half an hour’s game time under his belt over England’s two games.
David Moyes will be glad his two Toffees came through unscathed for Everton last night. With Phil Jagielka playing no part and returning to the club after Saturday’s game with Spain, Leighton Baines and Jack Rodwell both started against Sweden. Baines sailed through the 90 minutes while Rodwell was replaced just before the hour and played 91 minutes over both England games- plenty of time to recover for the weekend game with Wolves.
