Another international break is upon us, so we are back with another daily round up of how the FC Barcelona players and their respective national teams get on during the lull between club competition.
We’ve already previewed the coming games with blaugrana interest and here’s a reminder of who has been called up this time:
BOLIVIA: Cuellar (Barça Atlètic)
BRAZIL: Raphinha
DENMARK: Christensen
FRANCE: Koundé
GERMANY: Gündoğan & Ter Stegen
NETHERLANDS: De Jong
POLAND: Lewandowski
PORTUGAL: Cancelo & Félix
SPAIN: Gavi, Balde & Lamine Yamal
TUESDAY 12 SEPTEMBER
Group A
Spain 6-0 Cyprus
Ferran Torres took full advantage of his late call up to the Spain squad due to injuries to score a second half brace after replacing the lively Lamine Yamal on 61 minutes as part of a double blaugrana change with Balde. Gavi also started and scored the first goal of this comfortable win against the bottom side of the group in the Euro2024 qualifier as Spain keep up the pressure on leaders Scotland.
Germany 2-1 France (Friendly)
Gündoğan and Ter Stegen both started as the Germans look to put recent issues behind them under the caretaker coaching of Rudi Voller. Koundé came on in the 65th minute with the game 1-0 to the home side. A late goal for either side saw the game end 2-1.
CONMEBOL WC qualification round 2
Bolivia 0-3 Argentina
Bolivia are yet to win a WC qualifying point as Argentina made it two wins out of two. Jaume Cuellar of Barça Atlètic did not feature as a first half red card gave his side too much to do with only 10 men.
Peru 0-1 Brazil
Brazil left it late, with a Marquinhos goal in the 90th minute eventually securing the three points in Lima. Raphinha, who was yellow carded early on, played all but the last few minutes, when he was replaced by Gabriel Martinelli.
MONDAY 11 SEPTEMBER
Group J
Portugal 9-0 Luxembourg
Both João Cancelo and João Félix came on as substitutes on the hour mark with the home side already 5-0 up. Barça’s new signing Felix scored the final goal in the huge win for Roberto Martínez’s team in Euro2024 qualifying.
SUNDAY 10 SEPTEMBER
Ireland 1-2 Netherlands
Frenkie de Jong played all 90 minutes of a big win for Holland in Dublin, as they recovered after conceding a penalty early on to score a penalty of their won and then win it through Weghorst. The Barça man was a key cog in the Dutch wheel and his side are well poised for qualification from the group.
Albania 2-0 Poland
Robert Lewandowski’s Poland are in trouble. After losing 2-0 in Albania they only have 6 points to show from their first five outings and are now fourth in a group that would normally be expected to be comfortable in. They now trail Albania, the Czech Republic and Moldova. The Barça striker played the full game in Tirana but was unable to find the net.
Finland 0-1 Denmark
Andreas Christensen played all 90 minutes of Denmark’s 1-0 win in Finland, and important win that moves them above the Finns and up to the top of the group. Pierre Højbjerg of Tottenham scored the only goal with 4 minutes to play. Christensen excelled at the back, with a 100% completed pass rate.
SATURDAY 9 SEPTEMBER
Germany 1-4 Japan
Marc ter Stegen and Ilkay Gündoğan played all 90 minutes in Germany’s friendly defeat in Wolfsburg against Japan. Two late goals sealed the win for the visitors after two goals in the first half either side of Leroy Sane’s equaliser gave them a 2-1 lead at half time.
FRIDAY 8 SEPTEMBER
Group J
Slovakia 0-1 Portugal
João Cancelo played 62 minutes and João Félix was an unused substitute in the victory for Portugal thanks to a goal from Bruno Fernandes just before half time in Bratislava.
Group A
Georgia 1-7 Spain
Lamine Yamal made the headlines again becoming the youngest player to ever represent Spain when he came on in the 43rd minute to replace the injured Marcos Asensio with Spain already 4-0 up. The teenager marked his debut with the final goal in the rout to become the youngest goalscorer also for the Spanish side. Barça team mate Gavi started the game and played 58 minutes before being replaced by Mikel Merino.
CONMEBOL WC qualification round 1
Brazil 5-1 Bolivia
Raphinha played a major role as his country got off to a fine start in the Conmebol World Cup qualifying tournament. He played the full match and contributed a goal and an assist to a 5-1 victory against Bolivia, for whom Jaume Cuellar of Barça Atlètic played the last quarter of an hour.
THURSDAY 7 SEPTEMBER
Four wins out of four for the sides with blaugrana representation in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers played today, as the race for next summer’s international tournament takes shape.
Group B
France 2- 0 Republic of Ireland
Jules Kounde played virtually the entire game for France, who look to have a comfortable lead in the group, this latest win making it five out of five.
Netherlands 3-0 Greece
The Netherlands kept pace with France as three first half goals for the Oranje saw them claim the three points. Frenkie de Jong played 77 minutes of the tie.
Group E
Poland 2-0 Faroe Islands
Captain Robert Lewandowski was the difference with two goals in the second half as Poland overcame the bottom side to end the matchday in 3rd place in the group, two points behind leaders the Czech Republic.
Group H
Denmark 4-0 San Marino
Andreas Christensen was an unused substitute as Denmark also faced the bottom side in their group, the heavy win boosting the goal difference to put the Danes in second, also two points behind the leaders, Finland in this case.
