Gareth Bale grabs a goal and assist for Wales in a 60-minute run-out against Austria. Robin Van Persie and Juan Mata are handed 45 minutes apiece for Holland and Spain respectively, Sergio Aguero is amongst the goals as Argentina clinch victory over Sweden, while Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel help Nigeria into Sunday’s African Cup of Nations final. After a hectic night of internationals, here’s a quick run down of all the Premier League regulars involved:
Croatia 4 South Korea 0
Everton’s Nikica Jelavic returned to goalscoring form in a match that took place at Craven Cottage yesterday afternoon. The out-of-sorts Toffees striker climbed off the bench at half-time and needed just 12 minutes to produce the goods, firing home his nation’s third on 57 minutes.
Nigeria 4 Mali 1
Chelsea duo Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel both provided an assist as the Super Eagles clinched a place in Sunday’s African Cup of Nations final against Burkina Faso. West Ham’s Modibo Maiga and QPR’s Samba Diakite now have a third-place play-off on their hands this Saturday – the quartet won’t be available for league action until Gameweek 27, which gets underway on February 23.
Cyprus 1 Serbia 3
City pair Aleksandar Kolarov and Matija Nastasic were afforded the full 90 minutes here, while Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic was given a 45 minute run-out before being replaced at the break.
Japan 3 Latvia 0
A trio of Premier League protagonists took part in Japan’s home win over Latvia. United’s Shinji Kagawa and Southampton centre-half Maya Yoshida played the full match for the hosts, while Reading’s out of favour Kaspars Gorkss tried his best to shore up the visitors’ backline.
Norway 0 Ukraine 2
Brede Hangeland recovered from the Achilles problem that forced him off in last weekend’s defeat against United to take his place in the Norwegian’s starting XI alongside Fulham team mate John Arne Riise. Both were subbed off without incident – Hangeland was replaced at half-time by Southampton new boy Vegard Forren, while Riise played all but four minutes of the 90.
Slovenia 0-3 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Edin Dzeko led the line for the visitors and Asmir Begovic played the entire 90 minutes between the sticks in an easy win.
Spain 3 Uruguay 1
Cesar Azpilicueta, Juan Mata and Santi Cazorla started for Spain, while Luis Suarez lined up in opposition. While the Chelsea right-back and Suarez both played the entire match, Mata’s owners will be pleased to hear he was subbed off at the break; Cazorla played 71 minutes and new Arsenal team mate Nacho Monreal climbed off the bench with 12 minutes remaining. Pepe Reina and David Silva were unused subs for Spain.
Malta 0 Northern Ireland 0
Six players from England’s top-flight were all handed starts for the visitors in last night’s goalless draw. United’s Jonny Evans was given 45 minutes before being replaced at the break, while Gareth McAuley, Aaron Hughes, Chris Brunt and Southampton’s Steven Davis all played the full match.
Holland 1 Italy 1
Robin Van Persie’s owners will be delighted after he was afforded just 45 minutes before being subbed off in last night’s draw with Italy. Ahead of his upcoming double, Swansea’s Jonathan de Guzman was introduced after the break for the hosts, while Johnny Heitinga and Ron Vlaar were unused subs. Newcastle’s Davide Santon played the full 90 for the Italians.
Wales 2 Austria 1
Gareth Bale was the hero for the hosts, grabbing a goal and assist in the narrow win before departing the scene on the hour mark. Swansea pair Ben Davies and Ashley Williams both played the full 90, while Jack Collison, Joe Allen, and David Vaughan all started for the hosts. Reading pair Chris Gunter and Hal Robson-Kanu earned game time off the bench for the Welsh, while Emanuel Pogatetz and Andreas Weimann were named in the opposition XI.
Scotland 1 Estonia 0
Gordon Strachan handed seven Premier League players game time in his first match in charge. Shaun Maloney was subbed off at the break, with Robert Snodgrass coming on, while Steven Fletcher and Charlie Adam were both replaced just after the hour mark. James Morrison and James McArthur arrived midway through the second-half, with Steven Naismith fielded for all but 15 minutes of a successful debut win.
Romania 3 Australia 2
West Brom’s Gabriel Tamas squared up to Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer and Villa’s Brett Holman for this one. Tamas and Holman were afforded the full match, though Schwarzer was replaced between the sticks by Reading’s Adam Federici after the break.
England 2 Brazil 1
The likes of Wayne Rooney, Jack Wilshere and Steve Gerrard played the full 90 for Roy Hodgson’s side. Rooney grabbed the opener and Frank Lampard climbed off the bench to notch the winner. Julio Cesar and Oscar played the full 90 for Brazil, while Ramires was replaced at half-time and David Luiz played all but 11 minutes.
England XI: Hart; Johnson, Cahill, Smalling, Cole (Baines 46); Wilshere, Gerrard, Cleverley (Lampard 46); Walcott (Lennon 76), Rooney, Welbeck (Milner 61)
France 1 Germany 2
Six Premier League stars were named in the hosts first XI. Hugo Lloris, Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna, Moussa Sissoko, Patrice Evra and Yohan Cabaye all started, while Arsenal pair Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski lined up for the Germans. Koscielny was replaced at the break, Sissoko made way for Olivier Giroud with 10 minutes left on the clock and Podolski featured for 68 minutes before being replaced.
Republic of Ireland 2 Poland 0
John O’Shea, James McCarthy, Shane Long, James McClean, Ciaran Clark and Glenn Whelan all started for the hosts – all bar O’Shea were subbed off at some point in the second-half. Clark’s threat from the back was highlighted again when he notched the opener, while Wes Hoolahan climbed off the bench to net the second. Jon Walters was also a second-half sub for the hosts, while Artur Boruc and Wojciech Szczesny were given 45 minutes apiece between the posts for Poland.
Sweden 2 Argentina 3
Jonas Olsson and Seb Larsson both played the full 90 for the hosts, with the Baggies man grabbing the opener. Fulham’s Alex Kacaniklic also started for Sweden – he lasted 77 minutes before making way. City pair Pablo Zabaleta and Sergio Aguero lasted 61 and 75 minutes, with the latter getting on the score sheet. Fabricio Coloccini and Franco Di Santo were late subs for the visitors.
Mexico 0 Jamaica 0
United’s Javier Hernandez played the full 90 in a game that took place in the early hours of this morning – he now faces a long-haul flight back to Britain before Sunday afternoon’s home clash with Everton.
Belgium 2 Slovakia 1
Jan Vertonghen, Eden Hazard and Mousa Dembele all played the full 90 for the hosts, with Hazard notching the opening from the spot. Christian Benteke and Kevin Mirallas both played the first 45 before making way at the break – the former was replaced by Romelu Lukaku – while Martin Skrtel lasted the full game for the visitors. Marouane Fellaini was an unused sub for Belgium, with no risks taken over the hip problem that forced him out of training earlier in the week.
Honduras 2 USA 1
Four Premier League players were involved in this one. Wigan new boy Roger Espinosa took the field for the hosts, while Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard and Geoff Cameron all played the full 90 for the visitors – the Tottenham man continued his recent form by getting on the score sheet again.
Portugal 2 Ecuador 3
United wing duo Nani and Antonio Valencia went head-to-head last night. The latter came out victor here; he grabbed a goal and played the full 90 in an impressive performance, while Nani was subbed off on the hour mark for the hosts.
