SEVEN PLAYERS ON INTERNATIONAL DUTY
Thursday, 30. May 2024, 13:00 Uhr
The Boys in Brown are just over a week into a well-deserved summer break, but seven of them will soon be packing their sports bags again, having been called up for international duty by their countries. Among the opposition are such renowned nations as Germany, England, Italy and France.
Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe are going into the final two group matches in the second round of World Cup qualifying with Australia. The Socceroos take on Bangladesh in Dhaka on Thursday, 6 June, (12.45 CET) before entertaining Palestine in Perth on Tuesday, 11 June (14.05 CET). After four consecutive victories in their group, Australia hold a comfortable lead over second-placed Palestine.
World Cup qualifying points are also at stake for Tunisia and caretaker boss Montasser Louhichi has named Elias Saad in his squad for the visit of Equatorial Guinea to Radès on Wednesday, 5 June (21.00 CET) and the game against Namibia, which will be played in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Sunday, 9 June (18.00 CET). The winger made his Tunisia debut against New Zealand in March.
In addition to those three, another four St. Pauli players will be away on international duty, including right-back Manolis Saliakas, who has been called up by Greece. They begin with a game against Germany at BORUSSIA Park in Mönchengladbach on Friday, 7 June (20.45 CET) before taking on Malta in Grödig, Austria, on Tuesday, 11 June (18.00 CET).
Nikola Vasilj features in the Bosnia and Herzegovina squad yet again for what are two very special friendlies. On Wednesday, 3 June (20.45 CET), they go up against England at Newcastle United's St James' Park before meeting Italy in Empoli on Sunday, 9 June (20.45 CET).
Luxembourg also have two friendlies lined up against big-name oppostion and Danel Sinani has been named in the squad. After taking on World Cup runners-up France and superstar Kylian Mbappé in Metz on Wednesday, 5 June (21.00 CET), they go up against Belgium in Brussels on Sunday, 9 June (20.00 CET).
With 92 appearances behind him, Karol Mets is part of the furniture in the Estonian national team. It therefore comes as no surprise that the defender has been called up for the upcoming international period. Estonia begin with a trip to Luzern to take on Switzerland on Tuesday, 4 June (20.15 CET) in their final game under Thomas Häberli. They then play host to the Faroe Islands under new head coach Jürgen Henn in the semi-finals of the Baltic Cup in Tallinn on Saturday, 8 June (18.00 CET).
Eric Smith was named in the Sweden squad for the first time for the friendlies against Denmark and Serbia but has since withdrawn for personal reasons.
Photos: Aleksandar Jason/RTL - Val Wagner
