RPL players on international duty: Kvaratskhelia sets up the winner, Haroyan captain for first time

On 5 September, RPL players participated in the final games of the first round of the UEFA Nations League.

League A, Group 2: Iceland 0-1 England

CSKA defender Hordur Magnusson played the entire match against the English, while his teammate Arnor Sigurdsson came on in the 65th minute. The Icelanders had a numerical advantage for the last 20 minutes after the dismissal of Kyle Walker, but in the last minute also went down to 10 when former Rostov defender Sverrir Ingason received a second yellow card for handball in the penalty area, with Raheem Sterling converting the spot kick. The hosts were awarded a penalty in added time, but Birkir Bjarnason sent it over the bar.

In the other match in the group, Russia’s opponents for Euro 2020, which will take place next summer, met as Belgium beat Denmark 2-0 in Copenhagen. On 8 September, the Danes will host England, while Belgium will meet Iceland at home.

League A, Group 3: Portugal 4-1 Croatia

Zenit defender Dejan Lovren and CSKA midfielder Nikola Vlasic played a full match for the Croats, while Rubin defender Filip Uremovic was not included in the squad. Lovren played for the Croatian national team for the first time as a player of the St. Petersburg club. The match in Oporto was his 58th cap for the national team.

League A, Group 3: Sweden 0-1 France

Krasnodar’s Swedish players Kristoffer Olsson and Marcus Berg each played 90 minutes in Stockholm. The 34-year-old Berg playing his 77th match for the national team, while his 25-year-old club teammate Olsson earned his 16th cap. In the second round on 8 September, Sweden will host Portugal, and the French will play at home against Croatia in their first meeting since the 2018 World Cup final.

League C, Group 1: Azerbaijan 1-2 Luxembourg

FC Ufa midfielder Olivier Thill played 58 minutes for Luxembourg. The visitors played in the majority from the 26th minute, but conceded first to a strike from former Zenit St. Petersburg, Rubin Kazan, Krylia Sovetov Samara and Dynamo Moscow forward Ramil Sheydaev. In the second half, Luxembourg snatched victory thanks to an own goal by Anton Krovotoka and Gerson Rodrigues’ penalty. On 8 September, Luxembourg will host Montenegro, who beat Cyprus 2-0 on the road.

League C, Group 2: North Macedonia 2-1 Armenia

Midfielders Khoren Bayramyan and Arshak Koryan from FC Rostov and FC Khimki respectively played their first matches for the Armenian national team. Bayramyan played only the first half, but Koryan played the entire match. Ural defender Varazdat Haroyan was captain for the first time in his 51st match for the national team and received a yellow card in the third minute for a foul in the penalty area, after which Ezgjan Alioski converted a penalty. All three goals in the match came from the penalty spot. FC Tambov striker Aleksandr Karapetyan spent 76 minutes on the pitch.

League C, Group 2: Estonia 0-1 Georgia

Rotor Volgograd defender Solomon Kverkvelia and Rubin midfielder Khvicha Kvaratskhelia were named in the Georgian starting line-up, while Arsenal Tula defender Gia Grigalava and Rotor midfielder Zuriko Davitashvili remained on the bench. Kverkvelia played the entire match, Kvaratskhelia participated in the winning goal in the 32nd minute - his cross was converted by Nika Kacharava - and was replaced in added time. On 8 September, Armenia take on Estonia and Georgia face North Macedonia in group 2.

Photo: Georgian Football Federation