Goals & Tournament Qualification - Recapping October’s Internationals
- Yunus Akgün scored to aid Turkey’s qualification for UEFA EURO 2024
- Wout Faes played in Belgium’s latest qualifier success, as did Danny Ward for Wales
- In friendlies, Zambia’s Patson Daka scored twice, while Australia’s Harry Souttar also netted
- Kelechi Iheanacho was on the scoresheet for Nigeria, with Wilfred Ndidi in action too
- Cesare Casadei helped Italy U21s to a EURO U21 qualification victory
Yunus Akgün netted a stunning strike to set Turkey on their way to a second successive qualifying victory of the week, which sealed the Crescent Stars' spot at the 2024 UEFA European Championships in Germany.
The winger broke the deadlock just ahead of the hour mark as Vincenzo Montella's men beat Latvia 4-0 at Torku Arena to remain top of Group D, six points ahead of Wales. Playing 77 minutes in total, it came days after the 23-year-old came on as a 65th-minute substitute during the 1-0 victory over Croatia at Opus Arena.
Danny Ward, meanwhile, helped Wales to a 4-0 friendly victory over Gibraltar in Wrexham last Wednesday, playing the opening half before the Leicester shot-stopper made his 36th appearance for the Dragons against Croatia in a EURO qualifier at Cardiff City Stadium. Last Sunday's 2-1 win saw Rob Page’s side move above the Croats into second position in Group D with two qualification matches remaining.
Elsewhere in Europe, Wout Faes’ Belgium emerged as 3-2 victors over Austria in their sixth qualifier at Ernst Happel Stadion to move top of Group F with 16 points from their six games.
The defender played 90 minutes and also began against Sweden at King Baudouin Stadium on Monday. The score was 1-1 before the match was abandoned at half-time due to a security situation in Brussels.
Patson Daka’s brace saw Zambia to a 3-0 victory over Uganda on Tuesday. Converting from the spot to break the deadlock early on, the striker then rounded off the scoring in the second half of the friendly at Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium. Daka also featured in 80 minutes of the Copper Bullets’ 1-0 friendly defeat to Egypt in Abu Dhabi five days earlier.
Fellow forward Kelechi Iheanacho came off the bench 65 minutes into a friendly against Saudi Arabia last Friday – his goal earning a 2-2 draw in Portugal. Wilfred Ndidi appeared for the full 90 minutes, before being an unused substitute in Monday’s 3-2 win against Mozambique.
Harry Souttar starred in two friendlies for his country and was also on the scoresheet as Australia beat New Zealand 2-0 at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium this week, following Friday’s 1-0 loss to England in another friendly match at Wembley Stadium. Playing 180 minutes across both matches, the 24-year-old centre-back now has 16 senior caps to his name.
Loanee Cesare Casadei made an appearance in Italy Under-21s' UEFA EURO U21 qualifier against Norway Under-21s, which finished 2-0 to the hosts at Stadio Druso in Bolzano. Playing 72 minutes, the result sees the Azzurri move into second place in Group A, on seven points from their first three games.
‘Keeper Mads Hermansen awaits a maiden senior international cap, on the bench for Denmark's 3-1 triumph at home to Kazakhstan last Saturday, before also remaining a substitute during their 2-1 success away at San Marino in Tuesday’s EURO qualifier. The Danes sit second in Group H after eight games.