On 15 November Russian Premier Liga players participated in UEFA Nations League and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
UEFA Nations League
League A
Group 1: Italy 2-0 Poland
Dynamo's Sebastian Szymanski and Lokomotiv’s Grzegorz Krychowiak made Poland’s starting lineup. Szymanski was substituted at half-time with the score 1-0, and Krychowiak played the entire 90 minutes and only managed to pick up a yellow card. His club teammate Maciej Rybus was left out.
After five matchdays, Poland are in third place with seven points and are two points behind the leaders Italy. On the final matchday, Poland will host the Netherlands at home.
Group 1: Netherlands 3-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Rostov defender Dennis Hadzikadunic played the entire match against the Netherlands. Bosnia and Herzegovina are in last place with two points, five behind their nearest rivals. They will play Italy on 18 November.
Group 2: Denmark 2-1 Iceland
CSKA’s Arnor Sigurdsson and Hordur Magnusson started for Iceland, with Sigurdsson playing 70 minutes before being substituted. Magnusson handled the ball in the box in added time, after which a penalty was awarded and subsequently converted by Christian Eriksen. Iceland have not picked up a single point in this Nations League campaign. In the final match, Iceland will play England away.
League B
Group 2: Czech Republic 1-0 Israel
Spartak player Alex Kral spent the entire 90 minutes for the Czech Republic. After five rounds, the Czechs are in second place and one point behind Scotland. On 18 November, they will host Slovakia in the last match of the group stage.
League C
Group 2: Georgia 1-2 Armenia
In Georgia’s starting lineup were Gia Grigalava from Arsenal and Zuriko Davitashvili from Rotor. Davitashvili was replaced in the 56th minute with the score at 1-0, and in the 80th another Rotor player, Beka Mikeltadze, came on. Jamal Tabidze remained on the bench, and Solomon Kverkvelia did not make the matchday squad.
Tambov’s Varazdat Haroyan and Aleksandr Karapetyan played for the Armenian national team from the first minute, the latter replaced by Khimki’s Arshak Koryan 13 minutes from the end with the score at 1-1.
Armenia are one point behind leaders North Macedonia with eight points. Georgia has six points.
On the final matchday, Georgia will face Estonia, and Armenia will compete for promotion to League B with North Macedonia. The matches will be played on 18 November.
Group 3: Slovenia 2-1 Kosovo
From the first minute, Slovenia played Sochi’s Miha Mevlja and Kosovo played Akhmat’s Bernard Berisha. Both players received a yellow card. Josip Ilicic converted a game-winning penalty for the hosts in the third added minute. Kosovo have two points after five games, and Slovenia are in first place with 13, two points ahead of Greece. On the final matchday, Slovenia will play Greece away, while Kosovo will host Moldova.
Group 4: Albania 3-1 Kazakhstan
Khimki’s Islambek Kuat played 88 minutes for Kazakhstan, while Akhmat defender Marat Bystrov came on as a substitute 19 minutes before the end against Albania.
Kazakhstan have four points from five matches and are last in the group, one point behind Lithuania. On 18 November, the teams will meet on matchday six.
Group 4: Belarus 2-0 Lithuania
Lokomotiv’s Vitaly Lisakovich was included in the Belarus starting lineup and was replaced in the 72nd minute with the hosts leading 2-0. Belarus top the group two points ahead of Albania. On 18 November, the teams will compete for promotion on the final matchday.
2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
Group A: Chad 1-1 Guinea
Lokomotiv’s Francois Kamano was in the Guinea starting lineup and spent 67 minutes on the pitch. Guinea lead the group with eight points after four games and are one point ahead of Mali, who have a match in hand.
Photo: Football Association of the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan Football Federation