Rangers International Break Round Up

THE international break is at an end, with the Rangers players who were away now making their way back to Milngavie to resume training with Rangers.

Here’s our review of how those who were away got on:

Jon McLaughlin – Scotland

  • Thursday 25 March – Scotland 2-2 Austria – WC2022 Qualifier

  • Sunday 28 March – Israel 1-1 Scotland – WC2022 Qualifier

  • Wednesday 31 March – Scotland 4-0 Faroe Islands – WC2022 Qualifier

JON was an unused substitute for Scotland in their three matches over the break as they opened up their World Cup qualifying campaign with five points from a possible nine.

They will have friendly matches to look forward to in late May and early April before the Euros kick-off on June 14 against the Czech Republic at Hampden.

Steven Davis – Northern Ireland

  • Thursday 25 March – Italy 2-1 Northern Ireland – WC2022 Qualifier

  • Sunday 28 March – Northern Ireland 1-2 USA – Friendly

  • Wednesday 31 March – Northern Ireland 0-0 Bulgaria – WC2022 Qualifier

STEVEN matched Peter Shilton’s UK caps record last Thursday as Northern Ireland went down 2-0 away to Italy.

He then sat out their weekend friendly with the US before breaking the record for a British men’s player in their 0-0 draw with Bulgaria last night.

Ian Baraclough’s side are next in action on May 31 and June 3 with friendly matches away to Turkey and then Ukraine.

Borna Barisic – Croatia

  • Wednesday 24 March – Slovenia 1-0 Croatia – WC2022 Qualifier

  • Saturday 27 March – Croatia 1-0 Cyprus – WC2022 Qualifier

  • Tuesday 30 March – Croatia 3-0 Malta – WC2022 Qualifier

BORNA started Croatia’s defeat to Slovenia and win over Cyprus before coming off the bench with a big impact in their 3-0 win over Malta.

His super assist set up Ivan Perisic for the opening goal to secure a comfortable victory in the end.

Croatia have June friendlies with Armenia and Belgium before kicking-off their Euro 2020 campaign against England at Wembley on June 13.

Ianis Hagi – Romania

  • Thursday 25 March – Romania 3-2 North Macedonia – WC2022 Qualifier

  • Sunday 28 March – Romania 0-1 Germany – WC2022 Qualifier

  • Wednesday 31 March – Armenia 3-2 Romania – WC2022 Qualifier

IANIS netted his first Romania goal against North Macedonia last Thursday, grabbing the winner with five minutes to go.

He then started their 1-0 defeat to Germany before staying on the bench for their final game away to Armenia.

Romania didn’t make the Euros, and have June friendlies lined up with Georgia at home and then away to England with that venue to be decided.

Fil Helander – Sweden

  • Thursday 25 March – Sweden 1-0 Georgia – WC2022 Qualifier

  • Sunday 28 March – Kosovo 0-3 Sweden – WC2022 Qualifier

  • Wednesday 31 March – Sweden 1-0 Estonia – Friendly

FIL started both of Sweden’s competitive matches in the break next to Manchester United’s Victor Lindelof as they defeated Georgia and Kosovo to get themselves off to the ideal start.

Sweden have pre-Euro friendlies with Glen Kamara’s Finland and Armenia at the end of the season before their tournament begins against Spain in Bilbao.

Glen Kamara – Finland

  • Wednesday 24 March – Finland 2-2 Bosnia – WC2022 Qualifier

  • Sunday 28 March – Ukraine 1-1 Finland – WC2022 Qualifier

  • Wednesday 31 March – Switzerland 3-2 Finland – Friendly

GLEN started both of Finland’s competitive matches at home to Bosnia and then away to Ukraine, with both ending in draws.

He then came off the bench in their 3-2 friendly defeat at Switzerland last night.

Finland face Sweden and Estonia in their Euro warm-up matches before opening up Group B against Denmark in Copenhagen.

Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun – Nigeria

  • Saturday 27 March – Benin 0-1 Nigeria – AFCON 2021 Qualifier

  • Tuesday 30 March – Nigeria 3-0 Lesotho – AFCON 2021 Qualifier

BOTH Joe and Leon started Nigeria’s 1-0 win away to Benin which secured their qualification to next year’s African Cup of Nations.

Leon was then back at the heart of their defence as they rounded-off their campaign with a 3-0 win over Lesotho.