International Break: Dortmund Players Rated and Slated
Here’s how the Borussia Dortmund players fared with their respective national sides in the recently concluded International Break:
Roman Burki- NA
Was an unused substitute as Yann Sommer played both legs of the World Cup 2018 qualifier against Northern Ireland. His side managed to qualify for Russia 2018 1-0 on aggregate, courtesy of a first leg win at Windsor Park, Belfast.
Sokratis- 6
Saw his side suffer a 4-1 defeat to Croatia in the first leg of the World Cup qualifier, with the second leg ending in a goalless draw. The defender scored his side’s sole goal – a thumping header off Konstantinos Fortounis’ cross, but goals from Luka Modric, Andrej Kramaric, Nikola Kalinic and Ivan Perisic condemned the Greeks to a heavy defeat in Zagreb.
Marc Bartra- 6.5
Marc Bartra played the second half in the 5-0 thrashing of Costa Rica in Malaga on Sunday and assisted Iniesta’s goal and his side’s fifth goal in the 73rd minute, with a beautiful pass. The defender, however, was an unused substitute in the 3-3 draw with World Cup 2018 hosts Russia, getting a much-needed rest ahead of a gruelling club schedule after the break ends.
Mario Gotze- 6.5
The attacker, who had not received a call-up for over a year, was an unused substitute against England. The attacker, who had been out for over six months owing to a rare metabolic disorder, played for about half an hour against France, replacing Ilkay Gundogan in the 65th minute. And he saved his side, the reigning world champions, from embarrassment as he set up Lars Stindl’s last-gasp equaliser in the 2-2 draw in Cologne.
Andriy Yarmolenko- 6.5
Andriy Yarmolenko, on duty with Ukraine, scored the equaliser against Slovakia, which began a fightback as the Ukrainians went on to win the match 2-1 in Lviv on Friday.
Jadon Sancho- 7
Made an effortless transition from U17’s to U19’s as he scored a headed winner in his side’s 1-0 win over Bulgaria U’19s. The highly-rated attacker, signed from Manchester City in the summer, won the U17 World Cup in India last month, and received his first call-up for the U19’s and didn’t disappoint at all.
Dan Axel Zagadou- 5
France U19’s skipper for the break had a night to forget as he conceded a penalty in the 2-1 World Cup Qualifier win over Bosnia and Herzegovina’s U19 side, but was relieved to see the spot-kick saved by Alban Lafont.
Jacob Bruun Larsen- 5.5
On duty with the Denmark U21’s, the young winger saw his side suffer a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Poland U21’s in the First Round of World Cup Qualifiers. Wasn’t able to do anything of note as the match was heavily dominated by the Polish.
Mahmoud Dahoud- 7
The young midfielder was called up by the Germany U21’s and played 42 minutes in his side’s 7-0 thrashing of Azerbaijan U21’s, and scored his side’s first goal in the 5-2 win over Israel U21’s, playing the full 90 minutes of the second match.
