On 7 September, RPL players played in the UEFA Nations League and the 2021 European Youth Championship qualifying tournament.

UEFA Nations League

League A, Group 1: Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-2 Poland

Lokomotiv defender Maciej Rybus, who missed the game against the Netherlands, played the entire match in Zenica, and in the 67th minute made an assist for Kamil Grosicki in what turned out to be the winner for the visitors. Immediately after the goal, his club teammate Grzegorz Krychowiak was replaced, and Grosicki was replaced by Dynamo midfielder Sebastian Szymanski in the 80th minute. White-Blue defender Tony Sunjic appeared for Bosnia, and made an assist in the 1-1 draw with Italy.The Poles are in third place in the group with three points, while the Bosnians are in last place with one point. The leaders are Italy with four points, who beat the Netherlands 1-0 away.

Before the next Nations League games, the Bosnians will play a route B Euro 2020 play-off semi-final at home on 8 October against Northern Ireland. The second pair of semi-finalists are Slovakia and Ireland.

League B, Group 1: Austria 2-3 Romania

Ufa defender Ionut Nedelcearu came on in the 74th minute in place of Romanian national team captain Vlad Cirices with the score 3-1 in favour of the visitors. After the switch, the Romanians conceded a second goal, but held on for the win and now head the group with four points. Romania’s next match will be played on 8 October in the Euro 2020 play-off tournament against Iceland, while in the second route A semi-final, Bulgaria take on Hungary.

League B, Group 1: Northern Ireland 1-5 Norway

Rostov midfielder Mathias Normann played the entire match, in which his team went 3-1 up inside 19 minutes in Belfast, and led 5-1 from the 58th minute. After picking up three points, the Norwegians are third in the group. Before the upcoming Nations League games, Norway will take on Serbia in the Group C Euro 2020 play-off tournament semi-final. The winner will face either Scotland or Israel.

League C, Group 4: Kazakhstan 1-2 Belarus

Defenders Alexander Martynovich and Nikolai Zolotov, from Krasnodar and Ural respectively, played a full match for the visitors. In the 56th minute, Lokomotiv striker Vitaly Lisakovich came on for the Belarusians, and in the 87th minute he scored the winning goal. This is also his first goal for the national team. Maksim Bordachev, who played in the RPL for Tom, Rostov and Orenburg, also scored for the guests. Akhmat defender Marat Bystrov and CSKA midfielder Baktiyar Zaynutdinov, who did not finish the match against Lithuania due to injury, remained on the bench.

On 8 October, Belarus will face Georgia in the route D Euro 2020 play-off semi-final. North Macedonia and Kosovo will play in the second match.

Liga C, Group 4: Albania 0-1 Lithuania

Akhmat forward Odise Roshi only played 15 minutes. He came on in the 60th, when the Albanians were already losing to the Lithuanians, and was taken off again in the 75th. At the end of the two matchdays, all teams in the group have three points. On 11 October, Kazakhstan will host Albania, and Lithuanian will play at home against Belarus.

European Youth Championship 2021 qualification

Group 4: Czech Republic 0-0 Croatia

Dinamo's Croatian midfielder Nikola Moro played the entire match with the captain's armband, while CSKA midfielder Kristijan Bistrovic came on in the 68th minute. The Croats, having played six matches, are in third place in the group with 10 points, and the Czechs lead with 15 points after seven games. In October's Euro qualification matches, the Croatian youth team will play against San Marino and Greece.

The nine group winners and the top five second-placed teams will advance to the European Championship final stage.

Photo: Lokomotiv