Yet another international break passes by, and it’s time to round up the Chelsea players’ performances around the world.
The Blues’ star striker Diego Costa is returning to Cobham wounded, as the Spaniard suffered a groin injury in the team’s first training session ahead of their World Cup qualification clash against FYR Macedonia, while Chelsea’s Nigerian duo – Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel – were both on the score sheet when the Super Eagles cruised to an important 3-1 win over Algeria in the World Cup 2018 qualifiers.
But let’s take our focus on how the rest of the players were performing while representing their countries.
BRAZIL
Willian, David Luiz and Oscar were all left out from Brazil’s phenomenal 3-0 victory over Argentina on last week’s Thursday night. However, Willian made a late outing in Brazil’s 2-0 away win from Peru last night.
The Brazilians are currently placed at the top of the South America’s World Cup qualification table with six more games to go.
ENGLAND
Gary Cahill, as the only Englishman from Chelsea’s squad to get a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions team, got his name to the scoresheet through a headed goal from Wayne Rooney’s corner in England’s terrific 3-0 win over Scotland on Friday evening. That victory keeps England in the lead of their group, going four games unbeaten in the World Cup qualifications.
On England’s second match of the break, Cahill played the complete first half when Southgate’s team collapsed to a 2-2 draw against Spain despite still leading the game by two on the 88th minute on Tuesday night.
FRANCE
Perhaps the most influential player in Chelsea’s team currently – N’Golo Kanté – was only granted a late outing in France’s 2-1 victory over Sweden on Friday night when the Frenchmen topped their group just like England and Brazil.
However, the Frenchman put in a fantastic, man of the match performance against Ivory Coast last evening when the even game finished goalless at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
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BELGIUM
The Red Devils kicked off their international break action slightly ahead of others, as they drew a tight friendly match against Netherlands 1-1 last week’s Wednesday night.
Eden Hazard captained his side playing the full 90 minutes of the clash, while Thibaut Courtois and Michy Batshuayi were left as unused substitutes by head coach Roberto Martinez.
On their second game of the spell, Belgium trashed Estonia 8-1 in the World Cup 2018 qualifiers. Courtois guarded between the sticks and Hazard scored one of the many before being substituted on the second half after a slight problem with his calf.
SPAIN
Despite the terrific form of Chelsea’s Pedro, Marcos Alonso, Diego Costa and Cesar Azpilicueta, only the latter made the squad for Spain’s World Cup 2018 qualifier against FYR Macedonia.
The Spaniards enjoyed a flourishing 4-0 victory on Saturday night, and Azpilicueta was benched throughout the match.
As mentioned before, Diego Costa was ruled out of the game after injuring his groin in the team training ahead of the qualifier, while the rest of the Spanish Blues watched the game from the sidelines – also including the Blues misfit Cesc Fabregas, who then again is dealing with a thigh injury at the moment.
On Spain’s glorious 2-2 comeback tie against England yesterday, Azpilicueta was handed the full 90 minutes by head coach Julen Lopetegui, but other Chelsea Spaniards resumed on the sidelines.
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
Bosnia and Herzegovina was close to an important victory away from Greece, but a late equalizer left the game at a 1-1 draw seeing Chelsea keeper Asmir Begovic’s side split the points with the Greeks on Sunday night.
SERBIA
Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic and Nemanja Matic played the full ninety minutes of Serbia’s 1-1 draw against Wales on Saturday evening at Cardiff, as the two teams fight for their place in the World Cup 2018 in Russia.
On a friendly against Ukraine, only Ivanovic made a late appearance when Serbia lost 2-0 on Tuesday night, while Matic spectated the match from the stands.
NIGERIA
The Super Eagles were terrific in their 3-1 victory over Algeria on Saturday night, but who really showed up that day were the Chelsea’s very own Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel.
Moses opened the scoring after 25 minutes of play after a neat one-two with Mikel, with the latter Blues midfielder bagging Nigeria’s second himself just before half-time.
Former Tottenham midfielder Nabil Bentaleb got one back for Algeria on the second half, but Moses scored his second of the night on the injury time of the ninety.
Nigeria lead their group with six points from two games as they’re on their way of qualifying to the World Cup 2018 in Russia.
