International Review

A NUMBER of Rangers players have been in action and here’s our review on how those away from the club have got on…

Jon McLaughlin & Nathan Patterson – Scotland

Jon McLaughlin and Nathan Patterson were both named in Steve Clarke’s squad as Scotland continued their World Cup qualifying campaign. Patterson played the full 90 minutes in a dramatic late 3 – 2 victory for the home side at Hampden Park against Israel, whilst McLaughlin was an unused substitute.

The squad travelled to Faroe Islands on Tuesday for their second game of the World Cup Qualifiers. Patterson was an 83rd minute substitute and made an immediate impact when entering the pitch. The youngster whipped in a cross from the right-wing to meet Lyndon Dykes who scored the only goal of the game and consolidated second spot in Group F.

Steven Davis - Northern Ireland

The UK and Rangers most capped men’s footballer was again named in Ian Baraclough’s Northern Ireland squad as they continued their Group C World Cup Qualifying campaign.

Davis played the full 90 minutes in Saturday’s 2-0 away defeat to Switzerland. He also played another 90 minutes in their fixture against Bulgaria on Tuesday night which ended 2-1 putting Northern Ireland fourth in their group table.

Glen Kamara - Finland

Glen played the full 90 minutes on Saturday as Finland took on Ukraine at home in their World Cup Qualifying round Group D fixture. The Finnish squad were unable to secure second spot after the score line ending 1 – 2 in an evenly fought match.

Glen played another 90 minutes as he started for Finland again in their second World Cup Qualifying fixture against Kazakhstan. The Finnish side end the international break mid-table of Group D.

Fashion Jr - Zambia

Fashion Jr started both matches for Zambia in their back-to-back World Cup qualifiers against Equatorial Guinea this week. On Thursday the Zambians were defeated 2–0 with Fashion Jr playing 82 minutes. On Sunday, the Rangers man scored a fantastic solo effort as Zambia managed a 1–1 draw on the return home fixture.

Ianis Hagi – Romania

Romania faced Group J leaders, Germany, on Friday evening in the first of their World Cup qualifiers. Ianis played 60 minutes and gave his country a shock lead on nine minutes with the Rangers man nutmegging Antonio Rudiger and drilling a great shot past the German keeper, but the match ended in a 2-1 defeat for the Romanians.

Ianis was named in the starting line-up again on Monday night before being subbed off in the 81st minute. Hagi had an opportunity on goal and nearly found the second for Romania, but Yurchenko made an excellent save. Romania now sit second in Group J behind Germany.

Kemar Roofe – Jamaica

Kemar travelled with the Jamaican squad where he came on as a 61st minute substitute in their 2 – 0 away defeat to the USA in their World Cup qualifiers. The Jamaicans welcomed Canada on Sunday evening to the National Stadium in Kinston, despite the 0-0 result Kemar played for the full 90 minutes.

Jamaica travelled to face Honduras for their third World Cup Qualifying fixture, the score ended 2-0 for the Jamaicans with Kemar netting his first goal with the squad.

Calvin Bassey, Leon Balogun, Joe Aribo – Nigeria

All three Light Blue players travelled with the Super eagles with Calvin Bassey joining the squad for the first time.

On Thursday evening, the Nigerians went down 1-0 in a home defeat to a 90th minute Central African Republic goal. Balogun played the full 90 minutes with Aribo coming off after 79 minutes.

Nigeria retained the Group C lead on Sunday evening by defeating Central African Republic in the return fixture. Both Joe and Leon started again for the Super Eagles, with Balogun scoring in the 29th minute. Nigeria’s next fixture will be against Liberia on November, 11.

Borna Barisic – Croatia

Croatia maintained their excellent start to the World Cup campaign with a 3-0 away victory over Cyprus on Friday evening, where Borna was an unused substitute.

The Light Blue was named in the starting line-up for Croatia in their 2-2 draw against Slovakia on Monday. The Croatians now sit second in their Group H table.

Juninho Bacuna – Curacao

Juninho was an unused substitute as Curacao were defeated 4-0 by Bahrain, in the first of their friendly fixtures during this international break. The Light Blue started and played the full 90 minutes in his country’s 2 -1 home defeat to New Zealand on Saturday evening.

Scotland U21s: Ben Williamson, Glenn Middleton, Kai Kennedy, Lewis Mayo, Stephen Kelly

The young Scots suffered a narrow defeat against Denmark on Thursday as the score line ended 1-0 in their Championship Qualifier. Williamson, Middleton, Mayo and Kelly were all named in the starting line-up with Kai Kennedy being an unused substitute. The squad now sit fourth in Group I’s table.

Northern Ireland U21s: Kyle McClelland

Kyle was an unused substitute for Northern Ireland as they faced Russia in their European Qualifier fixture. Despite a narrow result, Russia took the win after defeating Northern Ireland 1-0.

The Light Blue was a 71st substitute for Northern Ireland in their second U21 Championship Qualifying game against Spain on Tuesday, where the team suffered another defeat against Spain. The squad sit sixth in Group C’s Qualifying Championship table.

Northern Ireland U19’s: Ross McCausland, Lewis MacKinnon, Charlie Lindsay

Charlie and Ross were named in the starting line-up for Northern Ireland against Denmark in their first game of the international break in the U19 qualifying championship. Despite the 2-0 defeat for Gerard Lyttle’s side, Ross and Charlie played for most of the fixture and Lewis was an unused substitute.

The squad suffered a 2-0 defeat to Czech Republic on Saturday. Ross and Lewis were featured in the starting line-up with Charlie being a 60th minute substitute.

The youngsters saw their first win in three games of the championship qualifiers after a 2-1 win against Kazakhstan. Charlie, Lewis and Ross all featured for Gerard Lyttle’s side and sit third in Group 13’s table.