English Premier League international break: How EPL stars fared during Euro Qualifiers and friendlies

THE international football is done and dusted for another month, with players returning to their clubs.

Some players will be buzzing after steering their side to qualification success or for their individual performances. But there will be some Premier League managers ruing the fact their players went away, with a slew of stars picking up injuries.
Here’s our look at how your EPL club’s key players fared over the international break …
ARSENAL
We wonder if Arsene Wenger had his fingers and toes crossed when news emerged of Alexis Sanchez being cursed by a Peruvian witch doctor. We kid you not, the Chile star was the target of darK arts ahead of his side’s World Cup qualifier on Wednesday morning.
But it didn’t really work, with Sanchez netting twice in the 4-3 win. That came off the back of his 90th goal against Brazil, helping his side to a 2-0 win.

Peruvian's childish red card

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Mesut Ozil played two full 90s for Germany in wins over Ireland and Georgia while there were plenty of goalscorers — Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud were all on the scoresheet.
ASTON VILLA
There was extra time heartbreak for Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan. The USA were up against Mexico in a CONCACAF Confederations Cup playoff but a 118th minute goal consigned them to a 3-2 loss.
BOURNEMOUTH
Goalkeeper Artur Boruc sat on the bench for both of Poland’s Euro qualifiers against Ireland and Scotland. That meant Scottish Bournemouth teammate Matt Richie instead scored past Lukasz Fabianski in the 2-2 draw. Adam Federici was between the sticks for Australia in their loss to Jordan.

Jordan increase group lead

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CHELSEA
We’ll start with the bad on the Chelsea front — Nemanja Matic was sent off for an intentional elbow in Serbia’s loss to Portugal. Matic had earlier played 73 minutes against Albania, where fellow defender Branislav Ivanovic was hooked after the hour mark.
Things were mixed for Cesc Fabregas, who got an assist against Luxembourg but missed a penalty v Ukraine, while Eden Hazard helped Belgium to the world number one ranking with two goals in games against Andorra and Israel.
Willian continued his fine form, scoring twice for Brazil against Venezuela.

Fabregas misses four in a row

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CRYSTAL PALACE
Wayne Hennessey will be high on confidence. The Palace goalkeeper has started the last two EPL games and played his part in Wales qualifying for Euro 2016 — he got full games v Bosnia and Herzegovina and Andorra. Joe Ledley was also involved in the game against Andorra.
Yohan Cabaye was also in action, on target in France’s 4-0 win over Armenia.
EVERTON
Ross Barkley has transferred his impressive Premier League form onto the international stage, getting a goal and an assist in his two starts for England against Estonia and Lithuania.
John Stones was supposed to join him on England duty, but injury forced his withdrawal, but fellow defender Phil Jagielka got a full 90 minutes under his belt in the Lithuania win.
Also involved was Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy for Ireland, shocking Germany 1-0, while Romelu Lukaku started in Belgium’s win over Israel.

England keep perfect record

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LEICESTER
Kasper Schmeichel was between the sticks for Denmark twice during the international break, while in form striker Jamie Vardy was rewarded with a full 90 minutes against Lithuania for England.
Japan’s Shinji Okazaki netted in a 3-0 win over Jordan, also coming off the bench against Iran on Wednesday.
LIVERPOOL
Four Liverpool player got minutes for England — with James Milner, Nathaniel Clyne, Danny Ings and Adam Lallana in action. But there was bad news for Joe Gomez, who picked up a season-ending injury playing for England Under 21s.
Simon Mignolet was between the sticks for Belgium in their wins over Israel and Andorra while Martin Skrtel helped Slovakia through Euro qualifications with a 4-2 win over Luxembourg. Mamadou Sakho played in France’s friendly win over Armenia.
MANCHESTER CITY

Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring against Israel. Source: Reuters

Aleksandar Kolorov lost the plot in Serbia’s loss to Portugal. Having earlier provided and assist for their first goal, the left back was then sent off for two yellow cards … BOTH coming within a minute of his substitution. Kolorov had scored a 91st minute against Albania in the previous game.
But that wasn’t the worst of things on the City front, with Sergio Aguero and David Silva picking up injuries.
On the positive side, there were goals for Raheem Sterling (v Estonia) and Kevin De Bruyne (v Andorra and Israel), while Vincent Kompany got 60 minutes under his belt for Belgium.
MANCHESTER UNITED

Netherlands' Daley Blind reacts during the Euro 2016 qualifying loss to the Czech Republic. Source: AFP

Juan Mata might be in fine form for Manchester United but it wasn’t enough for him to break into the Spain starting XI, the playmaker twice coming off the bench against Ukraine and Luxembourg. In the game against Ukraine, goalkeeper David De Gea was in fine form, keeping a clean sheet in the 1-0 win.
New star Anthony Martial played 88 minutes for France in the friendly win over Denmark while Daley Blind and Memphis Depay could do nothing during the Netherlands’ 3-2 loss to the Czech Republic as they crashed out of Euro qualifying.
The best of the bunch was Matteo Darmian who scored his first ever goal for Italy in a 3-1 win over Azerbaijan before starting the next game against Norway.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Rock bottom and now without their goalkeeper, Newcastle have been dealt a blow with the season-ending injury to Tim Krul. He was in action for the Netherlands against Kazakhstan, a game where teammate Georginio Wijnaldum found the back of the net. Wijnaldum also played the full game against the Czech Republic, which the Dutch lost 3-2.

Desperate Dutch crash out

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NORWICH CITY
Robbie Brady and Wes Hoolahan played a part in Ireland’s shock win over Germany in Euro qualifying. The duo both played the full game there, while Brady also played the full game against Poland. Also in action, Alexander Tettey scored two goals in two games for Norway v Italy and Malta.
SOUTHAMPTON
Graziano Pelle netted a late winner for Italy against Norway on Wednesday, seeing out the full 90 minutes. Also getting a full game under his belt was England’s Ryan Bertrand, continuing his return from injury against Estonia.
Shane Long scored the winner for Ireland v Germany after coming off the bench in the final half hour. He was then rewarded with a start in the following game against Poland, only to be stretchered off with an injury.
STOKE
Stoke’s Irish contingent got plenty of action over the international break, with Glen Whelan, Jon Walters (scored v Poland) and Shay Given (started and injured v Germany) involved.
Their best player so far, Jack Butland, was reward for his fine form with a second England cap and a clean sheet against Lithuania. Also, winger Marko Arnautovic scored in both of Austria’s games against Montenegro and Liechtenstein.

Scotland's Steven Fletcher celebrates after his hat trick v Gibraltar. Source: Reuters

SUNDERLAND
John O’Shea just about got two full games under his belt. Marshalling the Ireland defence in their 1-0 win over Germany, the defender got sent off for a second yellow in the 92nd minute of the 2-1 loss to Poland.
Steven Fletcher notched up four goals, including a hat-trick against European minnows Gibraltar, while Swedish duo Sebastian Larsson and Ola Toivonen saw minutes against Moldova and Liechtenstein.
SWANSEA
Ashley Williams was in the heart of defence for Wales against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Andorra as they celebrated breaking their international hoodoo by qualifying for Euro 2016. Also making it through to the end of season tournament was Gylfi Sigurdsson’s Iceland — the midfielder scored against Latvia in the 2-2 draw.
Also on target was Ki Sung-yueng in a friendly against Jamaica while Jonjo Shelvey started in England’s win over Lithuania.
TOTTENHAM
Belgium trio Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Nacer Chadli were part of their nation’s success in reaching world number one but their feats were outdone by Dele Alli, who made his England debut over the international break.
The 19-year-old came off the bench for the final two minutes of England’s win over Estonia and later saw 25 minutes off the bench against Lithuania, a game where Kyle Walker got an assist. Harry Kane also netted a goal and an assist against Lithuania.

England's Harry Kane celebrates with Ross Barkley after scoring v Lithuania. Source: AFP

WATFORD
Reserve goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis saw three goals fly past him and into Lithuania’s goal in the loss to England, Jose Holebas played a full game for Greece against Northern Ireland and Odion Ighalo scored off the bench for Nigeria in their friendly win against Cameroon.
WEST BROM
Salomon Rondon’s Venezuela lost to both Paraguay and Brazil, with the striker playing two full games, Darren Fletcher played 74 minutes for Scotland against Poland and Chris Brunt was part of Northern Ireland’s historic qualification for Euro 2016 — he played 180 minutes against Greece and Finland.
WEST HAM
Darren Randolph had an eventful game for Ireland against Germany, coming off the bench for injured goalkeeper Shay Given before setting up the assist for Shane Long’s shock winner. He then backed up with a full game against Poland but couldn’t stop Robert Lewandowski from scoring … again!