We take a look at how Fiorentina’s players performed on international duty over the past week.
Nikola Kalinic and Milan Badelj – Croatia
Nikola Kalinic continued his excellent scoring form by adding Croatia’s final goal in their 3-0 win at home to Bulgaria. Kalinic scored in the 81st minute with a nice right foot finish into the corner, converting a cross from Ivan Perisic of Inter Milan. Milan Badelj came on at half-time for Luka Modric and acquitted himself well as Croatia closed out the game nicely to secure a third place play-off position.
Croatia went into their game against Malta knowing that automatic qualification was dependent both on them defeating their opponents, and also Italy beating Norway at the Stadio Olimpico. Despite some initial nervousness, the Croats eventually despatched their opponents 1-0, thanks to a 25th minute goal by Ivan Perisic of Inter. Thanks to Italy’s 2-1 victory over Norway, Croatia clinched the second automatic qualifying place in Group H. Despite picking up a booking in the 38th minute, Badelj played the full 90 minutes of this fixture and created opportunities that were spurned by Perisic and Andrej Kramaric to extend Croatia’s lead. Kalinic was withdrawn on the hour mark by Croatia coach, Niko Kovac, having failed to convert any of the 3 opportunities that came his way. After the game, it emerged that Kalinic was withdrawn as a precaution after complaining of tightness in both hamstrings, and is therefore doubtful for the Viola’s clash with Napoli on Sunday afternoon.
Josep Ilicic – Slovenia
After an average performance, Josep Ilicic was substituted in the final minute of Slovenia’s 1-1 draw at home to Lithuania. The match saw an end to Slovenia’s slim hopes of gaining an automatic qualification spot for the European Championships in France in 2016.
Ilicic only played 45 minutes as Slovenia secured 3rd place in Group E, and a place in the European Championship play-offs, after a 2-0 win at home to San Marino. The Viola man had little influence in the first half, and was booked in the 34th minute for a bad foul on Carlo Valentini.
Facundo Roncaglia – Argentina
Without Lionel Messi, Argentina crashed to a 2-0 defeat at home to Ecuador on Friday. Roncaglia was booked in the 46th minute as he played the full game for the hosts. Whilst he put in a solid performance, he was unable to prevent the Ecuadorians from scoring two late goals in quick succession to take the points in Buenos Aries.
On Tuesday evening, Roncaglia was an unused substitute in Argentina’s 0-0 draw in Asuncion against Paraguay.
Matias Fernandez – Chile
Matias Fernandez played a key role in Chile’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying campaign victory over Brazil in Santiago. The Viola man came on in the 64th minute and provided the assist for Eduardo Vargas’ opening goal, with an excellent set-piece delivery that the former Napoli forward swept past Brazil goalkeeper, Jefferson.
Despite his influential performance against Brazil, Fernandez was an unused substitute for Chile’s 4-3 victory over Peru in Lima on Tuesday evening.
Ciprian Tatarasanu – Romania
Ciprian Tatarasanu played the full ninety minutes of Romania’s 1-1 draw in Bucharest against Finland to maintain their position in second place in Group F. Tatarasanu made five saves during this match, the pick of which was an 80th minute effort to keep out a shot from Alexander Ring that was heading into the bottom right-hand corner.
Three days later, Tatarasanu kept his fourth clean sheet in five international matches in Romania’s 3-0 win away to Faroe Islands. Tatarasanu was largely untroubled throughout the ninety minutes, although he was called upon to make an excellent save in the 13th minute, saving a Joan Simun Edmundsson shot that was heading for the top right hand corner. The win secured Romania second place in Group F, one point behind the Group winners, Northern Ireland.
Jakub Blaczscykowski – Poland
Jakub Blaczscykowski (Kuba) started Poland’s 2-2 draw against Scotland at Hampden Park, on the right hand side of a 5 man midfield. Kuba performed well, although should probably have put Poland 2-0 ahead in the 29th minute, firing a sharp right-footed shot just past the post after good build up play by Robert Lewandowski. With the score at 2-1 to Scotland, Kuba was replaced by Cologne striker, Artjoms Rudnevs, after 83 minutes as the Poles sought a late equaliser.
Kuba was a second half substitute as Poland secured second place in Group D with a 2-1 win over the Republic of Ireland in Warsaw. The win ensured Poland’s qualification for Euro 2016. The Poles faced a second half bombardment from the Irish, but Kuba and his team mates managed to withstand the onslaught and hold on to clinch victory.
Nemad Tomovic – Serbia
Nemad Tomovic played the whole of Serbia’s 2-0 victory over their fierce rivals, Albania, away in Tirana. Tomovic was a key component in the Serbian defence which kept a clean sheet, whilst also providing some attacking threat on occasions as he bought several fouls from the Albanians high up the pitch when Serbia threatened on the counter-attack.
Tomovic was unable to prevent Serbia suffering their fifth defeat of a disastrous qualifying campaign, as they fell to a 2-1 home defeat by Portugal in Belgrade. Despite the defeat, Tomovic created several opportunities during the second half, with excellent crosses from the right-hand side that his team-mates failed to convert.
Federico Bernardeschi – Italy U-21
The Viola starlet played 60 minutes during Italy U-21’s 3-0 defeat of Slovenia U-21’s in Koper. Despite some good movement, the Viola man failed to breach the Slovenia defence; his three attempts on target all easily saved by the Slovenia goalkeeper, Grega Sorcan. It was Bernardeschi’s replacement, Gaetano Monachello of Atalanta, who stole the show; scoring Italy’s first two goals and assisting the third for Marco Benassi, following his introduction in the 64th minute.
Bernardeschi had a mixed evening as Italy Under-21’s defeated the Republic of Ireland 1-0 in Vicenza. Bernardeschi provided a glorious chipped ball which allowed substitute, Vittorio Pagirini, to convert past the Irish goalkeeper, Danny Rogers, in the 66th minute. However, in the 70th minute, Bernardeschi was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card for foolishly kicking the ball away. Despite the sending-off, the team managed to hold onto their slender lead.
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