RANGERS have nine players away on international duty this week both in Europe and in Africa. Here’s our preview of who is away, what matches they have coming up and when they are in action…
Jon McLaughlin – Scotland
Thursday 25 March – Scotland v Austria – WC2022 Qualifier – 7:45pm
Sunday 28 March – Israel v Scotland – WC2022 Qualifier – 7:45pm
Wednesday 31 March – Scotland v Faroe Islands – WC2022 Qualifier – 7:45pm
SCOTLAND get their World Cup 2022 qualifiers underway with a triple-header, facing Austria and the Faroe Islands at Hampden with yet another trip to Israel sandwiched in-between.
Ryan Jack was also in the squad, but pulled-out on Monday. All three matches are crucial for Steve Clarke’s side, not only to get a strong start in their bid to reach Qatar in 2022, but also to build momentum ahead of this summer’s Euros.
Steven Davis – Northern Ireland
Thursday 25 March – Italy v Northern Ireland – WC2022 Qualifier – 7:45pm
Sunday 28 March – Northern Ireland v USA – Friendly – 5:05pm
Wednesday 31 March – Northern Ireland v Bulgaria – WC2022 Qualifier – 7:45pm
CURRENTLY on 124 caps for his country, Steven Davis could exceed Peter Shilton’s all-time UK men’s caps record of 125 in the next eight days.
The Ulstermen get their Qatar 2022 qualifiers off to a tough start away to Italy and at home to Bulgaria with a friendly with the USA sandwiched in-between.
Borna Barisic – Croatia
Wednesday 24 March – Slovenia v Croatia – WC2022 Qualifier – 7:45pm
Saturday 27 March – Croatia v Cyprus – WC2022 Qualifier – 5:00pm
Tuesday 30 March – Croatia v Malta – WC2022 Qualifier – 7:45pm
BORNA Barisic’s Croatia get their Qatar 2022 campaign up and running with an away match at near-neighbours Slovenia tomorrow evening.
That is followed by back-to-back home meetings with Malta and then Cyprus. Croatia will be desperate to qualify for the tournament given they were runners-up at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Ianis Hagi – Romania
Thursday 25 March – Romania v North Macedonia – WC2022 Qualifier – 7:45pm
Sunday 28 March – Romania v Germany – WC2022 Qualifier – 7:45pm
Wednesday 31 March – Armenia v Romania – WC2022 Qualifier – 5pm
IANIS Hagi is back in the Romania A squad as they look to qualify for a first World Cup since 1998.
They will take on North Macedonia and Germany in Bucharest before traveling to Armenia next Wednesday.
Fil Helander – Sweden
Thursday 25 March – Sweden v Georgia – WC2022 Qualifier – 7:45pm
Sunday 28 March – Kosovo v Sweden – WC2022 Qualifier – 7:45pm
Wednesday 31 March – Sweden v Estonia – WC2022 Qualifier – 4:45pm
SWEDEN, who made the quarter-finals at World Cup 2018, get their campaign to qualify for Qatar 2022 up and running at home to Georgia on Thursday.
That is followed by a trip to Kosovo on Sunday before its back to Stockholm next Wednesday when Estonia are their visitors.
Glen Kamara – Finland
Wednesday 24 March – Finland v Bosnia – WC2022 Qualifier – 7:45pm
Sunday 28 March – Ukraine v Finland – WC2022 Qualifier – 7:45pm
Wednesday 31 March – Switzerland v Finland – Friendly – 7:45pm
FINLAND, who have their first-ever major tournament to look forward to with the Euros this summer, will aim to make it a double by qualifying for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
They host Bosnia and travel to Ukraine in their first two matches, before facing Switzerland in a friendly.
Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun – Nigeria
Saturday 27 March – Benin v Nigeria – AFCON 2021 Qualifier – 4pm
Tuesday 30 March – Nigeria v Lesotho – AFCON 2021 Qualifier – 5pm
NIGERIA need a win from their final two AFCON 2021 Group L matches to ensure their qualification to the tournament which has been postponed to next January.
Both Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun are in the squad for matches against Benin, who are a point behind Nigeria, who are a point behind them, and Lesotho, who are bottom of the four-team pool. The top two nations will make it through.