Plenty of Premier League stars were in action right across the globe yesterday, giving Fantasy managers much to fret about. While David Silva’s owners wait anxiously for news on a possible hamstring problem, England’s game with Poland this afternoon is set to cause further apprehension:
Croatia 2 Wales 0
Gareth Bale, Chris Gunter, Ashley Williams, Ben Davies, David Vaughan and Steve Morison all started for the visitors. Morison made way for Reading’s Simon Church just after the hour mark, while fellow Royal Hal Robson-Kanu also came off the bench with eight minutes remaining. Nikica Jelavic was an unused sub for Croatia.
Czech Republic 0 Bulgaria 0
There was only one Premier League player in action in this one, as Chelsea’s Petr Cech played the full 90 minutes between the sticks for the hosts.
Cyprus 1 Norway 3
Fulham duo Brede Hangeland and John Arne Riise both started for the visitors. Hangeland scored for the second game in a row this past week – the Cottagers centre-half also grabbed the equaliser in a 1-1 draw in Switzerland last Friday.
Bosnia 3 Lithuania 0
Asmir Begovic and Edin Dzeko played the full 90 minutes for the hosts. The City forward produced a goal and assist, while Begovic returns to Stoke having kept a clean sheet in both his nation’s games over the international break.
Macedonia 1 Serbia 0
City pair Aleksandar Kolarov and Matija Nastasic were both handed a 90 minute run out for the away side. Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic saw action with 22 minutes remaining for Serbia.
Hungary 3 Turkey 1
West Brom’s Zoltan Gera squared up to Liverpool’s Nuri Sahin here. Both played the 90 minutes, with Gera emerging victorious after firing home his side’s third from the spot.Reading’s Jem Karacan was an unused sub for the away side.
Iceland 0 Switzerland 2
A north London pair were on opposite sides for this clash. Gylfi Sigurdsson managed the full game for the hosts, as did John Djourou for Switzerland.
Slovakia 0 Greece 1
Only one Premier League player started this match. Martin Skrtel began for the hosts, though Fulham’s Giorgos Karagounis was introduced for a 24 minute second-half sub appearance.
Belgium 2 Scotland 0
A total of 16 Premier League players featured, with seven taking part for the hosts. Jan Vertonghen, Thomas Vermaelen, Moussa Dembele, Vincent Kompany and Christian Benteke all started, with the latter two both finding the net. Eden Hazard replaced Dembele at half-time and produced the assist for Kompany’s goal, while Kevin Mirallas was given a run-out in the second half, with 55 minutes gone. Sunderland’s Simon Mignolet was an unused sub.
James Morrison, Steven Fletcher, Danny Fox, Gary Caldwell, Darren Fletcher, Alan Hutton, Shaun Maloney and James McArthur started for Craig Levein’s side, while Jamie Mackie introduced at the break. Morrison and Steven Fletcher were also subbed off on 79 and 76 minutes respectively, while Charlie Adam and Russell Martin were unused subs.
Italy 3 Denmark 1
Mario Balotelli recovered from the flu bug that kept him out of last week’s win in Armenia to take his place in Italy’s starting XI. The City forward grabbed a goal and assist and was subbed off on 89 minutes, while Daniel Agger played the full match for the visitors.
Germany 4 Sweden 4
Arsenal pair Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski both featured for the hosts. The former managed 90 minutes and also scored his side’s third just before the break, while Podolski was afforded a three minute sub appearance towards the end of the match.
Sweden fielded three Premier League players. Jonas Olsson and Seb Larsson both started and Alex Kacaniklic came on at half-time. The Fulham man provided an assist for the Swedes third in a sensational comeback – they were 4-0 down with just 35 minutes left to play.
Spain 1 France 1
David Silva was subbed off after just 13 minutes with a possible hamstring injury for the hosts, although it’s also being reported as a possible ankle problem – Fantasy managers are eagerly awaiting any injury updates after many chose to draft him in over the last couple of weeks. Santi Cazorla replaced the City playmaker, while Fernando Torres also featured; he came on for Andres Iniesta on 75 minutes. Pepe Reina was an unused sub but there are unconfirmed reports that he may have picked up a muscle problem during the half-time kickabout – any possible injury only adds to the worries at Liverpool just now.
Hugo Lloris, Patrice Evra, Laurent Koscielny and Yohan Cabaye all started for Les Bleus, with the latter fit again after missing out against Japan on Friday with a stomach problem. Lloris saved a Cesc Fabregas penalty, while another north London protagonist, Olivier Giroud, climbed off the bench with just three minutes left to grab a last-gasp equaliser. Gael Clichy was an unused sub for Didier Deschamps’ side.
Latvia 2 Liechtenstein 0
Just the one Premier League player in action in this game. Reading’s Kaspars Gorkss played 90 minutes at centre-half for the victorious hosts.
Romania 1 Holland 4
Having been rested for last week’s win over Andorra, Robin Van Persie returned to the Dutch starting XI last night with a goal last night. Van Persie lasted 90 minutes, as did Ron Vlaar and Jonny Heitinga. Gabriel Tamas didn’t have the best of games for the hosts – the West Brom defender conceded a penalty and resultantly picked up a yellow card.
Portugal 1 Northern Ireland 1
Nani played the full 90 minutes for the hosts and supplied the assist for Helder Postiga’s equaliser. The outstanding Jonny Evans played the entire game for the away side, as did Fulham pair Chris Baird and Aaron Hughes.
Faroe Islands 1 Republic of Ireland 4
Kieren Westwood, John O’Shea, Seamus Coleman, Marc Wilson, James McCarthy, Jon Walters and Robbie Brady were amongst the starters for the away side, while Shane Long was given the final ten minutes. Wilson returned a goal and assist, while fellow Potter Walters also found the net for Giovanni Trapattoni’s side. Stephen Kelly and Ciaran Clark were both unused subs.
Bolivia 4 Uruguay 1
Luis Suarez played the full 90 minutes and grabbed Uruguay’s consolation goal, while Liverpool team mate Sebastian Coates was an unused sub.
Venezuela 1 Ecuador 1
United’s Antonio Valencia managed the full 90 minutes for the visitors, showing no side effects from his recent ankle injury.
Chile 1 Argentina 2
City pair Pablo Zabaleta and Sergio Aguero faced off against Wigan’s Jean Beausejour and West Brom’s Gonzalo Jara. Aguero lasted 86 minutes before being subbed off, while the other three played the full 90.
United States 3 Guatemala 1
Clint Dempsey, Geoff Cameron and Tim Howard all managed 90 minutes for the hosts. Dempsey had a hand in all three of his nation’s goals; he bagged a brace and provided an assist as the US came from behind. Maurice Edu climbed off the bench for the US with 12 minutes remaining.
Costa Rica 7 Guyana 0
Just the one Premier League player was in action. Everton’s Bryan Oviedo lasted the full 90 in a stroll for the hosts.
Mexico 2 El Salvador 0
United’s Javier Hernandez was afforded 30 minutes as a second-half substitute and grabbed Mexico’s second with five minutes remaining.
Honduras 8 Canada 1
Wigan’s Maynor Figueroa lasted the full 90 for the hosts in an emphatic win. Norwich’s Simeon Jackson started for the visitors but was subbed off later in the game.
Iran 1 South Korea 0
Arsenal fringe player Park Chu-Young played the full match for the defeated visitors.
Iraq 1 Australia 2
Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer and Villa’s Brett Holman played from start to finish for the visitors. Former Everton star Tim Cahill was amongst the goals as Australia sealed a late win.
Japan 0 Brazil 4
United’s Shinji Kagawa played the full 90 for Japan, while Southampton’s Maya Yoshida also started the match. Yoshida was subbed off with a minute remaining, while Ryo Miyaichi was afforded a game time late on from the bench. Chelsea trio David Luiz, Ramires and Oscar all started for Brazil. While Luis lasted 90 minutes, the latter two were subbed off as the game moved into injury time, with Spurs’ Sandro replacing Ramires in central midfield.
