Celtic players on International Duty.

Couldn't see another thread but here's the players away on International Duty



THE bulk of Celtic’s international contingent will be on Scotland duty this week, with six members of Brendan Rodgers’ side included in Gordon Strachan’s squad for the friendly with Canada (Wednesday) and crunch World Cup qualifier against Slovenia (Sunday).

Stuart Armstrong, who netted his 12th goal of the season in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Dundee, will be targeting his first senior cap for the national team after being called-up for the first time since August 2015. Craig Gordon, Kieran Tierney, Scott Brown, James Forrest and Leigh Griffiths are the other Hoops players to be selected by Gordon Strachan.

Elsewhere, Dedryck Boyata has been rewarded for his consistent club form since the turn of the year with a recall to the Belgium squad for their World Cup qualifier against Greece and friendly with Russia.

Nir Bitton has been called-up by Israel as they aim to maintain their positive start to the World Cup qualifying campaign away to Spain, while Mikael Lustig could feature for Sweden in their World Cup qualifier against Belarus and friendly with Portugal.

Further afield, in an intriguing twist, Celtic team-mates Emilio Izaguirre and Cristian Gamboa could go head-to-head when Honduras entertain Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifier next Tuesday (March 28), Both players will be hoping to into that match on the back of a positive result, with Honduras facing USA and Costa Rica tackling Mexico.

Meanwhile, January signing Eboue Kouassi, like Armstrong, could make his international bow as Ivory Coast embark on a friendly double-header with Russia and Senegal.

At Under-21 level, Scotland have included four Celtic youngsters in their squad for a friendly against Estonia – Liam Henderson, Jamie McCart (on loan at Inverness Caley Thistle), Joe Thomson (on loan at Queen of the South) and Paul McMullan (on loan at Dunfermline).

Patrick Roberts has been named in the England U20 squad which will participate in an international tournament in France. The young Lions will take on Portugal, France and Senegal.

There will be five Celtic youngsters in the Scotland U19 squad for their European Championship elite round fixtures against Austria, Czech Republic and Hungary. Ross Doohan, Anthony Ralston, Mark Hill, Michael Johnston and Theo Archibald will be aiming to help Ricky Sbragia’s side reach the finals of the competition.

That will also be the goal of Kristoffer Ajer, currently in the midst of a loan spell at Kilmarnock, when he represents Norway U19s in the same stage of the tournament. Their elite round opponents are England, Belarus and Spain.

At U17 level, Jack Aitchison, Daniel Church, Robbie Deas, Kerr McInroy and Stephen Welsh will also be hoping to feature for Scotland on Wednesday, when they face Switzerland at St Mirren Park, while Thomas Caffrey is also on standby for the squad.

Following a 6-1 win over Montenegro, with Aitchison bagging a brace and McInroy also on target, and a 1-0 victory over Serbia, the young Scots can guarantee their spot at the European Championship finals with a point against Switzerland in Paisley.

 

Nice healthy contingent of lads heading away, always a good sign

 

All the Celtic players apart from maybe Griffiths are to be rested for Thursdays game against Canada by Gordon Strachan and instead will only be involved against Slovenia on Sunday.

http://www.skysports.com/football/n...-strachan-to-rest-celtic-stars-against-canada

 

* news i was starting to think Strachan was planning to play Armstrong in a stupid friendly instead of a competitive game. Hope him and Brown start against Slovenia

 

STUART Armstrong enjoyed a dream Scotland debut last night after a Man of the Match performance in the dramatic 1-0 World Cup qualifier victory over Slovenia.

The midfielder continued his impressive club form into the international arena with a dynamic and assured performance for Gordon Strachan’s side at Hampden.

And it was his clever pass that teed-up Fulham forward Chris Martin for the only goal of the game with two minutes left on the clock to keep Scotland’s hopes of reaching the finals in Russia alive.

Armstrong was one of six Celtic players to start for the national team and all of them could be pleased with their contribution towards a priceless three points.

Craig Gordon kept a clean sheet between the sticks on his 46th appearances for his country, talented teenager Kieran Tierney excelled in an unfamiliar right-back berth and Scott Brown offered his usual drive, energy and composure in the heart of the midfield.

Further forward, James Forrest was a constant threat out wide, while Leigh Griffiths came agonisingly close to opening his international account, hitting the woodwork twice within the space of 60 seconds in the first half. The striker’s night was ended early when a knock forced him from the fray minutes into the second period.

The result moved Scotland up to fourth in Group F, two points behind second-placed Slovakia, with England up next for the national side in June.


It was also a good weekend for Mikael Lustig who played the full 90 minutes in Sweden’s thumping 4-0 victory over Belarus in Stockholm to keep them in second place in Group A.

Elsewhere, Nir Bitton was an unused sub for Israel as they were beaten 4-1 by Spain, while Dedyrck Boyata didn’t feature either on his return to the Belgium squad as Roberto Martinez’s side were held by Greece in a 1-1 draw.

Eboue Kouassi is still waiting to make his Ivory Coast bow after being an unused sub in their 2-0 friendly triumph over Russia in Krasnodar. The young midfielder, however, could achieve this milestone tonight, with his homeland in friendly action again in Paris, where they face Senegal.

Across the pond, Emilio Izaguirre and his Honduras colleagues had a Friday night to forget as they were dispatched 6-0 by the United States in California, with the Celtic defender playing the first 45 minutes of the World Cup qualifier.

There was also disappointment for Cristian Gamboa who played the full 90 minutes of Costa Rica’s 2-0 away defeat to Mexico. Both players will have a chance for redemption tomorrow (Tuesday) when Honduras host Costa Rica.

Patrick Roberts could be satisfied with his efforts for England Under-20s in their 2-2 draw with their Portuguese counterparts last Thursday. It was jinking run that earned them a spot-kick, which was converted by Dominc Solanke, and he also found the net seven minutes before half time with a spectacular strike into the top corner from the edge of the box.

The winger came on a sub as Paul Simpson’s side then saw off France 1-0 on Saturday, and they still contest their final match in the international tournament tomorrow against Senegal.

Three Celtic youngsters – Ross Doohan, Anthony Ralston and Mikey Johnston – started for Scotland U19s in their 1-0 defeat to the Czech Republic in the European Championship elite round on Friday.

That followed up the young Scots’ 3-0 defeat to Austria earlier in the week, in which Ralston, Mark Hill and Theo Archiblald were all involved. Ricky Sbragia’s side play their final group match later today against Hungary.

Kristoffer Ajer, in the midst of a loan spell at Kilmarnock, had a more positive experience for Norway U19s, scoring a penalty in their 2-1 win over Belarus on Friday.

Finally, five Celtic Youth Academy players – Jack Aitchison, Daniel Church, Robbie Deas, Kerr McInroy and Stephen Welsh - helped Scotland U17s qualify for the European Championship finals last week with an impressive 100 per cent record, having claimed maximum points in both the qualifying round and elite round.

 

Honduras V Costa Rica going on just now.

Emilio and Cristian both playing in this game.

 

Apparently Izzy and Gamboa had a wee collision and Gamboa was upset with the ref because Izzy wasn't carded. Is that not a bit weird?

 

See ronaldo vs rooney.

 

No.

 

Izzy with a boot to the balls
https://mobile.twitter.com/tdmas_cr/status/846844664833605633/photo/1

 

A RECORD-breaking treble-winning season may be over for Celtic’s Invincibles, but not for the club’s international players as they prepare to represent their countries this month.

Most of the international Bhoys will be in action for Scotland, with six Celtic players called up by Gordon Strachan for the crucial World Cup qualifier against England at Hampden on June 10.

Club captain Scott Brown, Craig Gordon, Kieran Tierney, Stuart Armstrong, James Forrest and Leigh Griffiths all started the last match for the national team in the 1-0 win over Slovenia, and they will be aiming to inspire the country to another priceless three points to keep hopes alive of reaching the finals in Russia.

Hampden hero Tom Rogic has the busiest schedule of all the Celts. The attacking midfielder, who scored a dramatic late winner to seal the Scottish Cup and a domestic clean sweep for Brendan Rodgers’ side, could be involved in at least five fixtures for Australia.

The Socceroos face Saudi Arabia in a World Cup qualifier, before taking on Brazil in a friendly. They will then embark on their Confederations Cup campaign in Russia, which sees them face Germany, Cameroon and Chile in Group B.

Elsewhere, Nir Bitton is in the Israel squad for their matches against Moldova (friendly) and Albania (World Cup qualifier), while Dedryck Boyata will be hoping to feature for Belgium again in their friendly double-header against Czech Republic and Estonia.

Mikael Lustig could make his 58th appearance for Sweden when they host France in a World Cup qualifier, before they face Nordic neighbours Norway in a friendly. Fellow Scandinavian Erik Sviatchenko is in the Denmark squad as they entertain World champions Germany in a friendly and then make the long journey to Kazakhstan for a World Cup qualifier.

Across the pond, Emilio Izaguirre has a World Cup qualifying double-header for Honduras against Mexico and Panama.

Moussa Dembele is in the France U21 squad for their friendly fixtures with Albania and Cameroon. At the same age-group, young goalkeeper Conor Hazard is on duty for Northern Ireland as they embark on a training camp and a European Championship qualifier against Estonia.

At U20 level, Ross Doohan, Jamie McCart, Aidan Nesbitt, Anthony Ralston, Joe Thomson and Sam Wardrop are in the Scotland squad for the Toulon Tournament. Scott Gemmill’s side kicked off their campaign with a 3-2 defeat to Czech Republic on Thursday, with Ralston, Thomson and Nesbitt all starting.

 

I wonder when Jozo will get called up by Croatia?

 

Think this thread should be fine mate

 

Smart *.

 

Boyata on bench for Belgium vs. Czech Republic tonight.

 

As is Dembele for France u21s vs. Albania.

 

Moussa came on in the second half for France u21 they won 3-0.


Dedryck didn't play for Belgium in a 2-1 over Czech Republic.

 

Ralston again captained the u20 Scotland team in the Toulon tournament, and won the decisive penalty that could put Scotland into the semis. Saw only the last half hour, and he again looked good. So much more developed than virtually every player from each side, ex. Hardie and Burke (who didn't play). Hope he gets a loan move this year, as I would guess he is past development football at his stage. Maybe he would be backup right back if Gamboa moves? (Hope not)

England would be the opponent (on Thursday) if Scotland advance. A nice doubleheader this week; hope Scotland do better than the US did against Venezuela last weekend! (draw in friendly and a loss in u20 World Cup)

 

Well you mean hopefully Scotland beating England like Venezuela did with the US, Forza Venezuela.