Internationals: Werkself quartet win in Nations League

Last week, the first-choice keeper Lukas Hradecky was on the subs bench in the 5-1 defeat for Finland in a friendly against Poland. The 30-year-old was back between the sticks for the Nations League clash with Bulgaria – and he kept a clean sheet in the 2-0 victory for the forthcoming European Championship participants. Werkself loanee Joel Pohjanpalo, this season playing for Union Berlin, was substituted on 65 minutes.

The Finns are now second in Group 4 in League B. Hradecky and Co. end the current international break on Wednesday 14 October with a home game against Ireland (kick-off: 18.00 CEST/live on DAZN).

Austria: Duo go full distance

Like their Leverkusen teammate Hradecky, Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger also picked up three points. The Austrians, also in League B (Group 1), won their away match in Northern Ireland 1-0. Augsburg’s Michael Gregoritsch netted the only goal of the game in Belfast on 42 minutes. Dragovic and Baumgartlinger played the full 90 minutes.

Austria are away to Romania on Wednesday night, 14 October (kick-off: 20.45 CEST/live on DAZN) – and another win would take them top of the table.

Croatia clock up first win

Croatia were winners in League A (Group 3): The team under national coach Zlatko Dalić won their home game against Sweden 2-1. Tin Jedvaj did not play. Wednesday, 14 October (kick-off: 20.45 CET/live on DAZN), sees a repeat of the 2018 World Cup final: Croatia entertain World Cup winners France in Zagreb.

PLAYERS AND OUTSTANDING FIXTURES:

Jonathan Tah (Germany):
Tuesday, 13 October (20.45 CEST/live on ARD): Germany v Switzerland (UEFA Nations League)

Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger (Austria):
Wednesday, 14 October (20.45 CEST/live on DAZN): Romania v Austria (UEFA Nations League)

Lukas Hradecky (Finland):
Wednesday, 14 October (18.00 CEST/live on DAZN): Finland v Ireland (UEFA Nations League)

Tin Jedvaj (Croatia):
Wednesday, 14 October (20.45 CEST/live on DAZN): Croatia v France (UEFA Nations League)

Lucas Alario and Exequiel Palacios (Argentina):
Tuesday, 13 October (22.00 CEST): Bolivia v Argentina (World Cup qualifier)

Charles Aránguiz (Chile):
Tuesday, 14 October (02.30 CEST): Chile v Colombia (World Cup qualifier)

Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso):
Monday, 12 October: Burkina Faso v Madagascar (Friendly)

Lennart Grill and Florian Wirtz (Germany U21):
Tuesday, 13 October (18.15 CEST/live on ProSieben MAXX): Germany U21 v Bosnia-Herzegovina U21 (Euro U21 qualifier)

Moussa Diaby (France U21):
Monday, 12 October (21.00 CEST): France U21 v Slovakia U21 (Euro U21 qualifier)