Theo Walcott withdraws from the England squad with a pelvic injury. Gareth Bale claims his half-time substitution in Wales’ win over Scotland was down to illness, while Steven Fletcher is stretchered off after just four minutes of the Hampden Park match. With another batch of internationals taking place on Tuesday, Fantasy managers have enough to fret about already – here’s a quick synopsis of the matches involving Premier League regulars last night.
Scotland 1 Wales 2
Gareth Bale was withdrawn at half-time with what was believed to be an ankle problem but later on in the evening, the Tottenham winger kindly took to twitter to shed more light on the matter. Bale revealed the illness which had prevented him training all week prior to the Hampden Park clash was the cause of his substitution – easing the fears of Fantasy managers who were under the assumption the problem was an ankle issue.
“Just clearing the air… nothing wrong with my ankle. I came off at HT due to the stomach virus I’ve had all week. Should be ok for Tuesday”
Bale’s words, however, completely contradict Wales boss Chris Coleman, who had informed the press post-match that the ankle was the real issue.
“He’s had a crack on the ankle. He’s probably a little bit weak, or not in terms of physical levels, but he said he was good enough to play so we trusted that. He looked a little bit heavier tonight, which you understand because he’s had a tough week. He’s not trained; had half a session yesterday, been ill and bad ankle. And then he had a crack on his ankle, which he was feeling so we couldn’t take the risk and that’s why we brought him off. It won’t be easy, it’ll be a toughie [to get him fit]. But we’ve got 72 hours or there or thereabouts to try and get him back and see what he’s like. But we’ll see.”
Certainly, the winger did receive a knock to the ankle in the first period and, having sustained a similar problem in Tottenham’s defeat at home to Fulham on Sunday, it’s clear Coleman is prepared not to take any chances either way. While there still remains doubts over his availability for Wales’ next international next midweek, Bale’s comments certainly allay any fears of a potential absence for next weekend’s trip to Swansea as Spurs look to get their bid for a fourth place finish back on track.
Steven Fletcher’s Fantasy owners look to have greater cause for concern. The Sunderland striker was carried off just four minutes into the match with what appeared to be an ankle injury – Scotland boss, Gordon Strachan, has already ruled him out of Tuesday’s trip to Serbia, with Fletcher set to return to Sunderland to be assessed.
“His ankle buckled. Fletcher was a bit shocked, but he is more relaxed now. He is getting assessed and he will get assessed by his club.”
Any absence for Fletcher would be a major blow for Martin O’Neill and could see Connor Wickham handed a chance up top alongside Danny Graham if O’Neill persists with his recent move to 4-4-2; alternatively, Stephane Sessegnon may move back to “the hole”, with Adam Johnson shifting back to the right flank and James McClean afforded a chance on the opposite flank.
In terms of other Premier League participants, Wigan’s Gary Caldwell was joined by team mate James McArthur for the hosts, with Graham Dorrans, Robert Snodgrass and Shaun Maloney were also selected by Strachan. Dorrans was replaced by Stoke’s Charlie Adam just after the hour mark, while Snodgrass received his marching orders and will miss Tuesday’s match.
For Wales, the likes of Ashley Williams, Ben Davies, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Collison and Hal Robson-Kanu also started alongside Bale. Collison was subbed off on 58 minutes, while Ramsey and Robson-Kanu grabbed the goals – the Arsenal man will also be sidelined on Tuesday after seeing red late on.
Croatia 2 Serbia 0
City pair Aleksandar Kolarov and Matija Nastasic both started alongside Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic for the visitors. All three managed the full 90 minutes, though Everton’s Nikica Jelavic was an unused sub for the hosts moved to 13 points after five matches.
Macedonia 0 Belgium 2
Elsewhere in Group A, Marc Wilmots named six Premier League players in his starting XI. Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen, Mousa Dembele, Christian Benteke, Eden Hazard and Marouane Fellaini all got the nod. All but Benteke played the full 90, with the Villa man subbed off five minutes from the end, while Hazard continued his recent form by slotting home a spot-kick just after the hour mark. The likes of Vincent Kompany, Simon Mignolet, Kevin Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku were all unused subs for the visitors.
Czech Republic 0 Denmark 3
Chelsea’s Petr Cech squared up to Liverpool’s Daniel Agger in this one, with both players managing the full 90. Cech travels to Armenia on Tuesday evening, while Agger braces himself for the visit of Bulgaria.
Kazakhstan 0 Germany 3
Arsenal duo Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski were both in the visitors’ squad for this one. The former started at centre-half, while Podolski recovered from an ankle problem to climb off the bench on 19 minutes, replacing the injured Julian Draxler. Germany now play host to Kazakhstan on Tuesday, with rest and rotation a definite possibility.
Sweden 0 Republic of Ireland 0
Sunderland’s Seb Larsson and West Brom’s Jonas Olsson were named in Sweden’s XI, while as many as eight Premier League players took their place in Giovanni Trapattoni’s first-team. Seamus Coleman, John O’Shea, James McCarthy, Shane Long, James McLean, Jon Walters, Marc Wilson and Ciaran Clark. Larsson, Long and McLean were all subbed off in the final 10 minutes, while Norwich’s Wes Hoolahan was given a brief run out with less than 15 minutes remaining. The Republic now entertain Austria on Tuesday, with a win good enough to lift them into second spot in Group C behind the Germans.
Austria 6 Faroe Islands
West Ham’s Emanuel Pogatetz played the full match for the hosts, while Villa’s in-form forward Andreas Weimann climbed off the bench with 27 minutes left on the clock.
Holland 3 Estonia 0
Robin Van Persie and Jonathan de Guzman were named in the hosts starting line-up, with the United forward grabbing his side’s second in a straightforward win. Van Persie played the full 90 while de Guzman was subbed off with five minutes remaining – Villa’s Ron Vlaar and Swansea stopper Michel Vorm were unused subs. The Dutch are now five points clear in Group D but with a home game against Romania up next, Van Persie looks unlikely to be omitted from the first XI, given that Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is currently injured.
Slovenia 1 Iceland 2
Tottenham’s Gylfi Sigurdsson maintained his recent rise to form by bagging both goals for the visitors as they came from behind to secure victory. Sigurdsson’s played the full 90 minutes but can now return to White Hart Lane, with Iceland having just one fixture over the fortnight break.
Norway 0 Albania 1
Fulham duo Brede Hangeland and John Arne Riise were both named in the starting XI for the hosts. Similarly to Sigurdsson, they also had just a single qualifier over the two weeks and will return to domestic duties unscathed, as Martin Jol’s side edge towards double Gameweek 33.
Slovakia 1 Lithuania 1
Liverpool centre-half Martin Skrtel played the full 90 for the home side. The result leave his country just two points behind Greece in the race for second spot in Group G, with Skrtel now set for a friendly against Sweden on Tuesday evening.
Bosnia 3 Greece 1
Three Premier League stars were involved in this one, as City’s Edin Dzeko and Stoke stopper Asmir Begovic squared up to Fulham’s veteran midfielder Giorgos Karagounis. The trio all played the full 90 minutes, though it was Dzeko who had a night to remember, scoring twice as his country tightened their grip on Group G. Neither country has another fixture in the fortnight.
Poland 1 Ukraine 3
Southampton’s Artur Boruc was Poland’s preferred keeper of choice, with Wojciech Szczesny warming the bench for the hosts. The Poles look down and out already in the group, though will be confident of picking up points when San Marino come calling on Tuesday evening.
San Marino 0 England 8
Theo Walcott’s withdrawal was the main talking point prior to last night’s hammering. The Arsenal winger was reported to have picked up a groin problem and is possibly set to sit out the Gameweek 31 home clash against Reading, though post-match, Roy Hodgson revealed that scans have shown he has sustained a slight tear in a pelvic muscle – a prognosis from the Emirates is eagerly anticipated, with any length of injury signalling significant sales, bearing in mind the Gunners have a double Gameweek 33 on the horizon.
Onto the game itself, then, and Daniel Sturridge shrugged off a thigh problem to start on the bench. The Liverpool forward was one of six different scorers for the visitors, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and Ashley Young also scoring once, while Jermaine Defoe bagged a brace and Leighton Baines popped up on Fantasy radars after providing three assists. Hodgson’s side travel to Group H leaders Montenegro on Tuesday looking for the win that would take them a point above their hosts at the summit.
England Starting XI: Hart, Walker, Lescott, Smalling, Baines, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cleverley (Osman 56) , Lampard (Parker 67), Young, Defoe, Rooney (Sturridge 56).
Spain 1 Finland 1
Santi Cazorla and David Silva both started the game for the defending champions, while Juan Mata was afforded a brief 14 minute sub appearance towards the end in a shock draw. The likes of Nacho Monreal, Cesar Azpilicueta, Javi Garcia, Pepe Reina and David De Gea were all unused subs for Vicente Del Bosque’s side, who now travel to France in a crucial top of the table clash on Tuesday.
France 3 Georgia 1
As many as five Premier League stars were involved as France won at a canter. In the starting XI, Gael Clichy was preferred to Patrice Evra at left-back, Olivier Giroud led the line (and grabbed the opener), while Hugo Lloris continued between the posts. Loic Remy and Moussa Sissoko were both handed 24 minute sub appearances, with Evra, Yohan Cabaye and Laurent Koscielny all stayed on the bench.
Japan 2 Canada 1
United’s Shinji Kagawa and Southampton defender Maya Yoshida both featured for the full 90 minutes in a friendly run out that took place in Qatar. Japan now travel to Jordan to play a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
New Zealand 2 New Caledonia 1
West Ham’s Winston Reid completed the full 90 minutes for the hosts in a crucial win and also faces a trip to the Solomon Islands on Tuesday.
Honduras 2 Mexico 2
Wigan’s Maynor Figueroa and United’s Javier Hernandez were both involved in this one. Figueroa played the full 90 minutes, while Hernandez grabbed both his nation’s goals before his withdrawal on 66 minutes. Mexico entertain the USA on Tuesday night, while Figueroa faces a trip to Panama.
Uruguay 1 Paraguay 1
Luis Suarez played the full 90 minutes and was again amongst the goals but Paraguay’s late equaliser means the hosts have won just three of their 10 matches and have it all to play for in Tuesday evening’s testing trip to Chile. Southampton’s Gaston Ramirez was named as a sub for the home side but climbed off the bench on 67 minutes.
Argentina 3 Venezuela 0
Pablo Zabaeleta was the only Premier League player in action in Argentina’s convincing victory – the City man played the full 90 minutes. Team-mate Sergio Aguero, meanwhile, was back home, working on his fitness having been withdrawn from Argentina’s squad. Zabaleta and Argentina take on Bolivia in their second qualifier on Tuesday.
Peru 1 Chile 0
Wigan’s Jean Beausejour was on the losing side by a single goal in Peru. The Latics winger played the full 90-minutes and fell victim to Jefferson Farfan’s winner for the hosts. Chile take on Uruguay on Tuesday.
USA 1 Costa Rica 0
Tottenham’s Clint Dempsey struck the winner for the USA as they saw off Costa Rica in Denver. Dempsey converted after 16 minutes, with Villa’s Brad Guzan and Stoke’s Geoff Cameron completing the match alongside him. Fulham’s Bryan Ruiz completed the 90 minutes for Cost Rica. Ruiz will face Jamaica on Tuesday, while the USA make the trip to Mexico.
Jamaica 1 Panama 1
Reading trio, Adrian Mariappa, Jobi McAnuff and Gareth McCleary were all in the starting lineup for the home side as they played out a 1-1 stalemate with Panama in Kingston. McAnuff was eventually replaced on 78 minutes while McCleary came close to clinching a late winner: firing an effort just wide in injury time. Jamaica travel to Costa Rica on Tuesday.
