Internationals | Perisic and Wales trio secure wins in UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
Mon 11 September 2023, 22:20|
Tottenham Hotspur
Ivan Perisic, Ben Davies, Brennan Johnson and Joe Rodon all started as Croatia and Wales registered important wins in UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group D on Monday evening.
Ivan completed the full 90 minutes and earned his 129th cap as Croatia beat Armenia 1-0 in Yerevan.
Ben and Joe put in a full shift and Brennan played 87 minutes as Wales toppled Latvia by the same scoreline in Riga. Earning his 80th cap, Ben took over the captain's armband when Aaron Ramsey was substituted on 49 minutes. It was Joe's 39th cap and Brennan's 22nd.
It was a tale of two goalkeepers in both matches. Armenia's Ognjen Cancarevic denied Ivan on two occasions as well as chances the winger created for Andrej Kramaric and Petar Musa. In the end, Kramaric's goal in the 13th minute was enough.
In Riga, Wales racked up 27 efforts at goal only for Latvia stopper Roberts Ozols to produce a number of fine saves, notably to keep out Brennan at the start of the second half. Brennan went close on another couple of occasions as Ramsey's penalty in the first half and a late goal from David Brooks saw the Red Dragons home 2-0.
It was a must-win for Wales, who remain fourth of five in Group D, but still only three points adrift of leaders Croatia and Turkey in second. Armenia are above Wales on goal difference.
Elsewhere, Dane Scarlett came off the bench on 63 minutes as England beat Luxembourg 3-0 in UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifying.
Tuesday's action
Heung-Min Son - South Korea friendly against Saudi Arabia in Newcastle - kick-off 5.30pm
Dejan Kulusevski - Sweden home Euro 2024 qualifier against Austria - kick-off 7.45pm
James Maddison - England away friendly against Scotland - kick-off 7.45pm
Manor Solomon - Israel home Euro 2024 qualifier against Belarus - kick-off 7.45pm
Guglielmo Vicario - Italy home Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine - kick-off 7.45pm
Pape Matar Sarr - Senegal home friendly against Algeria - kick-off 8pm
Yves Bissouma - Mali away friendly against Ivory Coast - kick-off 9pm
Cristian Romero - Argentina away 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bolivia - kick-off 9pm
Josh Keeley - Republic of Ireland Under-21s home European Under-21 Championship qualifier against San Marino - kick-off 7.30pm
Mikey Moore and Callum Olusesi - England Under-17s tournament match against Spain in Spain - kick-off 5pm
