Eden Hazard was safely substituted at half-time during Belgium’s final match of the international break.
That will be comforting news for his 48% ownership ahead of Gameweek 9.
The Chelsea man’s exploits are the headline piece of news to come out of our latest Scout Notes article.
Information concerning African Cup of Nations qualifying matches is quite sparse so we have been unable to clarify exactly how many minutes each Fantasy option played in them.
UEFA Nations League
France 2-1 Germany
Hugo Lloris (£5.4m) – 90 minutes
N’Golo Kanté (£5.0m) – 90 minutes
Paul Pogba (£8.1m) – 90 minutes
Olivier Giroud (£7.8m) – 90 minutes
Leroy Sané (£9.2m) – 75 minutes
Germany and Joachim Löw looked to Manchester City’s Leroy Sané on Tuesday night as they tried and failed to get their Nations League campaign back on track. The 22-year-old lasted 75 minutes in Paris before Löw replaced him with Julian Draxler, although it was cross which led to a penalty after Presnel Kimpembe handled in the box. Sané’s place on the international scene remains up in the air after some mixed comments from Löw after the match.
“The young Leroy Sané and Julian Brandt were a breath of fresh air, but they missed a couple of good chances, maybe because of their inexperience. They need time to develop. We are still searching to set up a good balance between the experienced players and the young players.” – Joachim Löw
There were also 90-minute run-outs for Hugo Lloris, N’Golo Kanté, Paul Pogba and Olivier Giroud. The two midfield players sat deep in a 4-2-3-1 system, despite both of them operating further forward for their clubs this season. Pogba came under some criticism as it was his loss of possession that led to Germany’s only goal of the match.
Antoine Griezmann netted both strikes for the defending World champions.
Mamadou Sakho (£5.0m), Lucas Digne (£4.8m) and Kurt Zouma (£5.0m) were all unused substitutes for France, while Arsenal’s Bernd Leno (£4.8m) was on the bench for Germany.
Norway 1-0 Bulgaria
Mohamed Elyounoussi (£6.3m) – 90 minutes
Josh King (£6.4m) – 90 minutes
Stefan Johansen (£5.2m) – 78 minutes
Southampton’s Mohamed Elyounoussi was the scorer of Norway’s only goal as they beat Bulgaria. Having played just once in the last three league games, the midfielder managed another 90-minute outing for his country.
However, it was a night to forget for Bournemouth’s Josh King, who missed a golden opportunity to double Norway’s lead. The forward found himself two yards out in front of an open goal but swung for the air as the ball came across him. His 5.4% Fantasy ownership will be hoping he’s saving his shooting boots for the visit of Southampton this weekend.
Ukraine 1-0 Czech Republic
Andriy Yarmolenko (£6.8m) – 90 minutes
Oleksandr Zinchenko (£4.8m) – 4 minutes
Matej Vydra (5.9m) – 67 minutes
There were very few Fantasy talking points from this match. West Ham winger Andriy Yarmolenko was the only FPL asset to play the full 90 minutes, and he was not involved in the only goal of the match.
Meanwhile, Oleksandr Zinchenko made a four-minute cameo for Ukraine while Matej Vydra came off after 67 minutes for the Czech Republic.
Republic of Ireland 0-1 Wales
Shane Duffy (£4.5m) – 90 minutes
Jeff Hendrick (£5.4m) – 90 minutes
Harry Arter (£4.9m) – 90 minutes
Cyrus Christie (£4.3m) – 90 minutes
Matt Doherty (£4.7m) – 90 minutes
Kevin Long (£4.2m) – 56 minutes
Shane Long (£4.8m) – 34 minutes
Wayne Hennessey (£4.6m) – 90 minutes
Ben Davies (£5.6m) – 90 minutes
David Brooks (£5.0m) – 87 minutes
Matt Doherty lasted 90 minutes without picking up an injury as the Republic of Ireland were beaten 1-0 by Wales. That will be good news to his 12% ownership and the 341,000+ Fantasy managers who have signed him ahead of Gameweek 9. No player has been as popular in the transfer market as Doherty over the international break.
Fulham defender Cyrus Christie played further forward than usual, operating as a midfielder in Ireland’s 3-5-2 system. A doubt before kick-off, Shane Long made a return from injury with a 34-minute substitute appearance.
Ciaran Clark (£4.5m) pulled out of the Republic of Ireland squad with a thigh complaint.
Meanwhile, Wales were also short on options for the match.
Aaron Ramsey (£7.4m) missed the match due to family reasons after his wife gave birth to twins over the weekend. It is unknown as yet whether or not that will keep him from turning out for Arsenal in Gameweek 9, although the Gunners do not play until Monday night.
Armenia 4-0 Macedonia
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (£6.9m) – 90 minutes
Henrikh Mkhitaryan put in a man of the match performance against Macedonia. He scored the fourth and final goal of the night having set-up the first two.
Friendlies
Japan 4-3 Uruguay
Maya Yoshida (£4.2m) – 90 minutes
Lucas Torreira (£4.9m) – 74 minutes
Maya Yoshida returned to the Japanese starting XI after missing out in their most recent match. Despite a win for his nation, three goals were still conceded on his watch.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s Lucas Torreira last 74 minutes before coming off for Uruguay. That will be good news for anyone looking at Arsenal options for Gameweek 9, as he is considered a vital piece of the puzzle in north London.
South Korea 2-2 Panama
Ki Sung-yeung (£4.7m) – 90 minutes
Son Heung-min (£8.3m) – 90 minutes
Son Heung-min rounded off his international commitments for 2018 with an assist as South Korea drew with Panama. The Tottenham man should be encouraged by that after missing a penalty for his nation last week.
Interestingly for anyone with Son on their Fantasy radars, he will be getting a rest during next month’s international break. An agreement has been reached between his nation and Tottenham that his services will not be required for November’s friendlies against Australia and Uzbekistan.
Iran 2-1 Bolivia
Alireza Jahanbakhsh (£6.8m) – 90 minutes
Brighton’s Alireza Jahanbakhsh will be fighting to retain his starting berth in Gameweek 9. After getting on the team sheet for the first time this season in Gameweek 8, he has followed that up with a successful international break.
Jahanbakhsh registered 45 minutes last week and in a full 90-minute display against Bolivia, he scored the opening goal.
Argentina 0-1 Brazil
Sergio Romero (£5.0m) – 90 minutes
Nicolas Otamendi (£6.1m) – 90 minutes
Roberto Pereyra (£6.2m) – 23 minutes
Alisson (£5.6m) – 90 minutes
Roberto Firmino (£9.3m) – 90 minutes
Gabriel Jesus (£10.2m) – 65 minutes
Danilo (£5.1m) – 53 minutes
Fabinho (£5.6m) – 37 minutes
Richarlison (£6.8m) – 25 minutes
Benjamin Mendy‘s (£6.2m) Fantasy appeal was strengthened by another injury to Danilo in Brazil’s win over Argentina. The Manchester City full-back, yet to make a Premier League appearance in 2018/19, only recovered from an ankle problem last month and now has another one on his hands. Rolling his ankle in the second half, he had to be taken off in Saudi Arabia and is now a serious doubt for Gameweek 9.
Liverpool man Fabinho replaced him and played at full-back for the second time this international break.
Meanwhile, Roberto Firmino, despite lasting the whole game, was reportedly underwhelming even against a threadbare Argentina outfit.
Also, goalkeeper Alisson will have Jurgen Klopp worried once again after his overconfidence on the ball caused more problems. Dwelling on possession in the friendly, he was closed down by Angel Correa and was lucky to get away without conceding.
Fred (£5.7m), Lucas Moura (£7.4m) and Ederson (£5.7m) were among the unused substitutes for Brazil.
Belgium 1-1 Netherlands
Simon Mignolet (£4.8m) – 90 minutes
Toby Alderweireld (£5.9m) – 90 minutes
Eden Hazard (£11.3m) – 45 minutes
Romelu Lukaku (£10.9m) – 45 minutes
Nathan Aké (£5.0m) – 90 minutes
Patrick van Aanholt (£5.5m) – 29 minutes
Fantasy managers were delighted to see that Eden Hazard was taken off at half-time in Belgium’s 1-1 friendly draw with the Netherlands. As far as we know, the Chelsea man was withdrawn with no injuries and will be fresh and ready for the Gameweek 9 visit of Manchester United to Stamford Bridge.
His team-mate on the night, and opposite number this weekend, Romelu Lukaku was also given a rest and departed at half-time.
Vincent Kompany (£5.2m), Christian Kabasele (£4.5m) and Georginio Wijnaldum (£5.5m) were given the night off on their respective benches.
Denmark 2-0 Austria
Kasper Schmeichel (£5.0m) – 90 minutes
Jannik Vestergaard (£4.8m) – 90 minutes
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (£4.5m) – 90 minutes
Andreas Christensen (£5.0m) – 63 minutes
Mathias ‘Zanka’ Jørgensen (£4.5m) – 29 minutes
Sebastian Prödl (£4.2m) – 90 minutes
Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen had yet another match where he was substituted around the hour-mark. The Danish international has not made a Premier League appearance for the Blues this season but did demonstrate a new string in his bow against Austria as he was deployed as a holding midfielder.
Meanwhile, Marko Arnautovic‘s (£7.0m) absence from the squad was agreed last week, his return to West Ham not because of injury.
Sweden 1-1 Slovakia
Martin Dubravka (£5.0m) – 90 minutes
Martin Dubravka played the full game for Slovakia as they drew against Sweden.
Manchester United defender Victor Lindelöf (£4.9m) was an unused substitute.
AFCON 2019 Qualifying
Benin 1-0 Algeria
Steve Mounié (£5.8m)
Rachid Ghezzal (£5.3m)
Steve Mounié started again for his country as they beat Algeria, who this time lined-up with Rachid Ghezzal in the side and Riyad Mahrez (£8.6m) on the bench.
Rwanda 1-1 Guinea
Naby Keita (£7.2m)
Liverpool midfielder was substituted in Guinea’s 1-1 draw in Rwanda with a thigh injury, further adding to the list of doubts for Jurgen Klopp.
Sudan 0-1 Senegal
Cheikou Kouyaté (£4.8m)
Crystal Palace midfielder Cheikou Kouyaté was the only Fantasy option involved in this match after Sadio Mané (£9.9m) withdrew from the squad with a reported broken thumb.
Euro Under-21s Qualifying
Scotland Under-21s 0-2 England Under-21s
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.3m) – 90 minutes
Dominic Solanke (£4.8m) – 90 minutes
Reiss Nelson – 73 minutes
Phil Foden – (£4.7m) 19 minutes
Ryan Sessegnon (£6.1m) – 17 minutes
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.3m) – 3 minutes
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Dominic Solanke both registered 90 minutes as England Under-21s won again.
Reiss Nelson scored one of the two goals as he continues to push for a start in the Arsenal first-team.
Phil Foden, Ryan Sessegnon and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all made appearances from the bench.
Angus Gunn (£4.4m), Ademola Lookman (£5.1m) and Lewis Cook (£4.8m) were among the unused substitutes for England.
Denmark Under-21s 3-0 Faroe Islands Under-21s
Huddersfield midfielder Philip Billing (£4.5m) was ruled out for Denmark’s 3-0 win over the Faroe Islands with an injury.
Portugal Under-21s 4-2 Bosnia and Herzegovina Under-21s
Diogo Dalot (£5.4m) – 49 minutes
Diogo Jota (£6.1m) – 82 minutes
Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot managed 49 minutes for Portugal Under-21s as he continues to wait for his Premier League debut.
Wolves man Diogo Jota also featured in the win.
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