International Scout Notes – Thursday

A late Harry Kane goal spares a dreadful England, while the complexities of qualification in South America could have a knock-on effect when the Fantasy calendar resumes in eight days’ time.

Here are the notes from last night’s World Cup matches.

Kane again to the rescue

Harry Kane scored for the fourth consecutive match to win a woeful match for lifeless England.

The Spurs striker now has 14 goals from his last nine matches in all competitions, with a late winner against Slovenia confirming England’s qualification for next year’s World Cup in Russia.

His 37.5% Fantasy Premier League ownership will now be hoping that Sunday’s dead rubber in Lithuania will tempt England boss Gareth Southgate to rest Kane, but that seems unlikely should the forward retain the captain’s armband.

Man City’s Kyle Walker provided the assist on a night when England laboured to break down their well-organised opponents.

His club team-mate Raheem Sterling covets a central role in Pep Guardiola’s side and was handed a chance to prove he was worthy of just that when Southgate elected to play him behind Kane.

But Sterling fluffed his lines, too often caught in possession in key areas, although he was unlucky not to open the scoring as England finally came to something approaching life in the second-half.

Few players impressed on the night, although the in-form Marcus Rashford caught the eye before the break with a display of pace and intent from the left-wing, and Joe Hart ended up with the man of the match award for a fine double save towards the end of an otherwise unedifying night.

England will travel to Russia with the hopes of a nation towards the past caring end of the scale.

Fantasy managers will be rather more invested in Sunday’s trip to Vilnius as it provides Southgate with a chance to experiment with his line-up and rest key assets for what will be a busy October once the domestic, and then European, schedule kicks in again.

Kane’s pitch time could be all the more pertinent with Romelu Lukaku now
ruled out of Belgium’s clash with Bosnia on Saturday.

The Man United striker has failed to train all week due to an ankle complaint but is optimistic of making Tuesday’s encounter with Cyprus.

It is thought that the issue is the same injury that cast doubt over Lukaku’s start against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 7. Reports state that the striker had painkilling injections to overcome the problem and he completed 90 minutes against the Eagles. Manchester United are said to be in constant contact with the Belgium FA over the Lukaku’s condition.

However, Fantasy managers are now left with a situation where there are doubts – of varying degrees – over the availability of the three top-scoring FPL forwards – Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Morata and Lukaku – ahead of next weekend’s deadline.

South American Plot Twists

A number of Premier League stars, most notably Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez and Man City defender Nicolas Otamendi, are in for a fraught final World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning.

With the top four South American teams going through automatically to the finals in Russia, and the fifth into a play-off against New Zealand, only Brazil have already qualified.

Six teams below them are now fighting it out for the four places remaining.

Uruguay, at home to Bolivia next, need just a draw to guarantee their place. Chile and Colombia also have their fate in their own hands, but the former must travel to Brazil and the latter to Peru, with both needing a win to secure qualification for sure.

Argentina are currently out of the qualification places, and will have to win at altitude in Ecuador. If they do, they will be assured of at least a play-off place. Draw and they’re relying on other results to go their way, lose and they’re out.

All of that sets up a huge night for Sanchez’s Chile in Brazil.

The Arsenal midfielder scored the winner in a 2-1 win over Ecuador last night, adding to his back-to-back assists over the last couple of Gameweeks. Although he’s back in action on Wednesday morning, Sanchez’s trip to Watford isn’t until next Saturday evening, giving him a little more time to recuperate.

Otamendi is in for a do or die tie in Ecuador before travelling back for a 3pm home match against Stoke City two Saturdays from now. He played the full 90 minutes, as did Man United’s stand-in keeper Sergio Romero, as Argentina were held to a goalless draw at home to Peru last night.

Whatever the outcomes for their national teams, both Sanchez and Otamendi are likely to be drained by a fraught international break.

Brazil drew 0-0 in Bolivia, with Man City’s Gabriel Jesus playing the full 90 minutes of a match played at altitude.

Philippe Coutinho had a poor evening and was subbed off after 66 minutes, Chelsea’s Willian replacing him.

Fernandinho was given an eight-minute run-out towards the end of the fixture, while Roberto Firmino was an unused sub, as was Ederson.

David Ospina and Davinson Sanchez played the full 90 minutes in Colombia as they lost 2-1 to Paraguay.

Spurs defender Sanchez has started the last four matches for his club but might struggle to make that a fifth, at home to Bournemouth next Saturday, as he will have been involved in a winner-takes-all clash in Peru early on Wednesday morning.

West Brom striker Salomon Rondon started and finished Venezuela’s 0-0 draw at home to Uruguay.

Elsewhere…

Bournemouth’s Josh King scored twice and provided an assist as Norway romped to an 8-0 win in San Marino.King was, however, forced off with a knock, with the Norwegian media reporting that he had an ice pack on his knee after his withdrawal.

Spurs playmaker Christian Eriksen got the winner in Denmark’s 1-0 victory in Montenegro. Both he and Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel played the full 90 minutes.

Germany eased past Northern Ireland 3-1, with Leroy Sane and Emre Can given second-half run-outs. Shkodran Mustafi and Antonio Rudiger were unused substitutes.

Gareth McAuley, Jonny Evans, Chris Brunt and Steven Davis played the full 90 minutes for Northern Ireland, with McAuley providing the assist for the home side’s late consolation goal.

Scotland’s last-gasp win over Slovakia included 90 minutes for Andrew Robertson, James Morrison and Matty Phillips. Darren Fletcher played 78 minutes before being replaced by James McArthur.

Brighton keeper Matty Ryan and Huddersfield midfielder Aaron Mooy started and finished Australia’s 1-1 draw with Syria.

Bournemouth striker Lys Mousset scored as France’s U21 side won their Euro U21 qualifier 2-1 against Montenegro.