A number of VfL players were in action for their respective countries on Monday and Tuesday as the final international break of 2019 drew to a close. Kevin Mbabu and Renato Steffen were unused substitutes for Switzerland against Gibraltar on Monday, but both had reason to celebrate as the ‘Nati’ clinched their place at EURO 2020 with an emphatic 6-1 victory.
Wout Weghorst and Pavao Pervan also ended the international break on a high. VfL striker Weghorst made his comeback for the Netherlands, coming on in the 63rd minute of their 5-0 win over Estonia, while goalkeeper Pervan made his international debut in Austria’s 1-0 defeat in Latvia. The narrow loss mattered little, however, as Austria had already booked their ticket for the finals before Tuesday’s last Group G qualifier.
Brekalo features for Croatia U21s
Elsewhere, Marcel Tisserand played the full 90 minutes as DR Congo drew 2-2 with Gambia in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, while John Anthony Brooks was an unused substitute in the USA’s 4-0 victory over Cuba in the CONCACAF Nations League.
Having helped Croatia’s senior side qualify for EURO 2020 last weekend, Josip Brekalo featured for their Under-21s in a 2021 European Championship qualifier against the Czech Republic, playing the whole 90 minutes of Monday’s 2-1 defeat.
The Wolves’ international results at a glance:
Wout Weghorst – European qualifiers, Group C
Netherlands – Estonia 5-0 (2-0)
Goals: 1-0 Wijnaldum (6’), 2-0 Ake (19’), 3-0 Wijnaldum (66’), 4-0 Wijnaldum (79’), 5-0 Boadu (87’)Kevin Mbabu, Renato Steffen (Switzerland) – European qualifiers, Group D
Gibraltar – Switzerland 1-6 (0-1)
Goals: 0-1 Itten (10’), 0-2 Vargas (50’), 0-3 Fassnacht (57’), 1-3 Styche (74’), 1-4 Benito (75’), 1-5 Itten (84’), 1-6 Xhaka (86’)Pavao Pervan (Austria) – European qualifiers, Group G
Latvia – Austria 1-0 (0-0)
Goals: 1-0 Oss (65’)Marcel Tisserand (Congo DR) – AFCON qualifiers, Group D
Gambia – Congo DR 2-2 (0-1)
Goals: 0-1 Bakambu (45’+3), 1-1 Danso (52’), 1-2 Muleka (74’), 2-2 Jagne (90’+2)John Anthony Brooks (USA) – CONCACAF Nations League, Group A
Cuba – USA 0-4 (0-3)
Goals: 0-1 Sargent (1’), 0-2 Morris (26’), 0-3 Morris (39’), 0-4 Sargent (66’)Josip Brekalo (Croatia U21) – European qualifiers, Group 4
Croatia – Czech Republic 1-2 (1-1)
Goals: 1-0 Ivanusec (30’), 1-1 Krejci (39’), 1-2 Bucha (72’)
Red card: Bradaric (90’+5/Croatia)
