We continue our Fantasy-flavoured summaries of the European Championship qualifiers and international friendlies with a recap of Saturday’s fixtures.
We document the minutes played, injuries picked up and goals scored by any Fantasy Premier League assets on show for their national teams.
Subscribers can view data on some of the matches listed below in our Members’ Area, with details available here.
Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-1 Finland
- Teemu Pukki’s (£7.1m) – 90 minutes
- Sead Kolasinac (£5.4m) – 90 minutes
Teemu Pukki‘s (£7.1m) run without a goal stretched to four matches as Finland were put to the sword in Bosnia.
The Norwich City striker is the third most popular player in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), with a 40.2% ownership. But that figure, along with his price, is on the way down as the goals dry up and he is currently the most sold player heading into Gameweek 9.
He has not scored since Gameweek 5’s famous victory over Manchester City, and any hopes he might rediscover his touch on international duty were dashed by a dominant display from the hosts in Zenica.
Pukki played the full 90 minutes, picking up a second consecutive yellow card for his troubles, and is highly likely to be in action again on Tuesday when Finland host Armenia in what is now a vital Group J encounter.
Those two teams, and Bosnia, are all vying for the second automatic qualifying spot in a group dominated by Italy.
Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac (£5.4m) started and finished the match for the Bosnians, who will be away in Greece next.
We have written an in-depth look at Pukki’s current woes, which is available here.
Italy 2-0 Greece
- Jorginho (£5.1m) – 90 minutes
Chelsea midfielder and first-choice penalty-taker Jorginho (£5.1m) scored from the spot as Italy booked their place in next year’s Euro finals with a nervy win over Greece.
The hosts were booed off at half-time after failing to hit the target with a single shot, but Jorginho’s 63rd-minute spot-kick calmed the crowd and prompted a far more composed display from the Azzurri.
The Italians will be back in action on Tuesday with a trip to Liechtenstein – a fixture that could well see the likes of the 5.4%-owned Jorginho rested now that qualification is assured.
Georgia 0-0 Republic of Ireland
- Shane Duffy (£4.9m) – 90 minutes
- Seamus Coleman (£5.4m) – 90 minutes
- John Egan (£4.5m) – 90 minutes
- Matt Doherty (£6.0m) – 90 minutes
- Jeff Hendrick (£5.4m) – 90 minutes
- Conor Hourihane (£5.7m) – 90 minutes
- Callum Robinson (£5.3m) – 73 minutes
- Aaron Connolly (£4.5m) – 11 minutes
- Kevin Long (£4.4m) – 0 minutes
- Mark Travers (£4.4m) – 0 minutes
The Republic of Ireland remain on course for a 2020 finals spot despite being frustrated by their hosts.
Georgia converted 56% possession into zero shots on target, while the Irish came close to winning it late on when debutant Aaron Connolly (£4.5m), on as a substitute, had a shot saved.
The Brighton striker is starting to attract FPL interest following a two-goal Gameweek 8 against Spurs, and he is likely to figure again on Tuesday when the Republic travel to Switzerland. Should they win that match, Mick McCarthy’s side will secure an automatic qualifying place for next year’s tournament.
His Brighton team-mate Shane Duffy (£4.9m) recovered from a calf injury to play the full match against Georgia.
Everton’s Seamus Coleman (£5.4m), Sheffield United defender John Egan (£4.5m), who hit the post with a header, Wolves wing-back Matt Doherty (£6.0m) and Burnley midfielder Jeff Hendrick (£5.4m) also lasted the course.
Aston Villa’s Conor Hourihane (£5.7m) was replaced deep into stoppage time at the end of the match, while Sheffield United midfielder Callum Robinson (£5.3m) played 73 minutes.
Burnley’s Kevin Long (£4.4m) was an unused substitute.
Denmark 1-0 Switzerland
- Kasper Schmeichel (£5.0m) – 90 minutes
- Christian Eriksen (£8.8m) – 90 minutes
- Andreas Christensen (£5.0m) – 87 minutes
- Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (£4.8m) – 25 minutes
- Philip Billing (£5.0m) – 0 minutes
- Granit Xhaka (£5.3m) – 90 minutes
- Fabian Schar (£5.0m) – 90 minutes
- Josip Drmic (£5.4m) – 2 minutes
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Christian Eriksen (£8.8m) provided the assist as Denmark scraped past Switzerland to join Ireland at the top of Group D.
Eriksen’s exquisite reverse pass sent Yussuf Poulsen clear for the Danes’ late winner, but they had Kasper Schmeichel (£5.0m) to thank just as much for the victory, the Leicester City goalkeeper producing a string of saves to deny the Swiss.
Chelsea centre-half Andreas Christensen (£5.0m) had to be substituted in the 87th minute after picking up a knock and has since withdrawn from the Denmark squad, adding to Frank Lampard’s woes.
Southampton midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (£4.8m) was given a 25-minute run-out.
Bournemouth’s Philip Billing (£5.0m) remained on the bench for the Danes, who will play a friendly with Luxembourg on Tuesday.
The Swiss were unfortunate not to get at least a point from the match, with Schmeichel denying Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka (£5.3m) with one particularly fine save.
Xhaka played the full 90 minutes, as did Newcastle defender Fabian Schar (£5.0m).
Norwich striker Josip Drmic (£5.4m) came on for the final two minutes.
View player and team stats from Denmark v Switzerland in our Members’ Area.
Norway 1-1 Spain
- Josh King (£6.3m) – 90 minutes
- Orjan Nyland (£4.4m) – 0 minutes
- Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5.5m) – 90 minutes
- Dani Ceballos (£5.5m) – 64 minutes
- Rodri (£5.5m) -12 minutes
- David de Gea (£5.6m) – 0 minutes
A late, late Josh King (£6.3m) penalty earned Norway a draw to deny Spain a guaranteed place at next year’s Euro finals… for now.
The Bournemouth striker slotted home the spot-kick in the fourth minute of time added on after Chelsea stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga‘s (£5.5m) attempted a punch but took out Omar Elabdellaoui instead.
The result merely delays Spain’s automatic qualification until Tuesday, when a win in Sweden would seal the deal, with a draw also enough should other results go their way.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri (£5.5m) came on for the last 12 minutes for Spain, while Manchester United’s David de Gea (£5.6m) warmed the bench for the night.
Norway travel to Romania on Tuesday.
View player and team stats from Norway v Spain in our Members’ Area.
Malta 0-4 Sweden
- Emil Krafth (£4.5m) – 0 minutes
- Victor Lindelof (£5.4m) – 0 minutes
Newcastle United defender Emil Krafth (£4.5m) watched from the bench as Sweden swept past Malta to keep their hopes of a second-place finish behind Spain on track.
Manchester United centre-half Victor Lindelof (£5.4m) missed the match with a back injury, but could still feature in Tuesday’s clash with Spain.
View player and team stats from Malta v Sweden in our Members’ Area.
Colombia 0-0 Chile
- Yerry Mina (£5.4m) – 90 minutes
- Davinson Sanchez (£5.4m) – 90 minutes
- Claudio Bravo (£4.8m) – 90 minutes
Everton defender Yerry Mina (£5.4m) and Spurs centre-half Davinson Sanchez (£5.4m) played the full 90 minutes for Colombia in a goalless friendly against Chile.
Manchester City’s second-choice goalkeeper Claudio Bravo (£4.8m) started and finished the match for the visitors.
Both sides will be in friendly action again on Tuesday.
View player and team stats from Colombia v Chile in our Members’ Area.
USA 7-0 Cuba
- Christian Pulisic (£7.2m) – 67 minutes
- DeAndre Yedlin (£4.4m) – 0 minutes
The United States put seven goals past Cuba in their CONCACAF Nations League tie on Saturday morning but Christian Pulisic (£7.2m) had to wait until after the hour-mark to get involved in the scoring.
The sparingly used Chelsea winger converted a 62nd-minute penalty to round off the victory, being substituted five minutes later.
DeAndre Yedlin (£4.4m) didn’t make it off the bench.
The USA face Canada in Toronto in the early hours of Wednesday morning, which will result in a late return to Chelsea and Newcastle for Pulisic and Yedlin ahead of Saturday’s clash between the two clubs.
Elsewhere in the CONCACAF Nations League, Adrian Mariappa (£4.3m) played 90 minutes for Jamaica in their 2-0 win over Aruba.
