RPL players on international duty: Kvaratskhelia scores against Spain, Bayramyan helps Armenia beat Iceland

On 28 March, qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championships group-stage matches were held.

2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Europe

Group B

Georgia 1-2 Spain

Rubin midfielder Khvica Kvaratskhelia was named in the starting line-up for the hosts and put them ahead at the end of the first half with his second goal for the national team. Kvaratskhelia left the pitch in the 79th minute, and the Georgians conceded the decisive goal in the second added minute.

Arsenal defender Gia Grigalava remained on the bench for the hosts, while Ufa defender Jemal Tabidze missed the match due to injury. On 31 March, in the third round of qualifiers, Georgia will meet Greece in Thessaloniki.

Kosovo 0-3 Sweden

Krasnodar midfielders Viktor Claesson and Kristoffer Olsson played from the first minute; the former played 83 minutes, while the latter was replaced in the 90th. Marcus Berg also played for the visitors, replacing Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the 67th minute in the Krasnodar striker's first game since 21 February. Rubin defender Carl Starfelt did not come on. Akhmat winger Bernard Berisha entered the game in the 83rd minute, but in added time he left the hosts a man down when he was sent off for two yellow cards.

Sweden are clear at the top of the group with six points, while Kosovo and Georgia prop up the table with zero points. On 31 March, Kosovo will play in Seville against Spain, and Sweden will play a friendly match with Estonia.

Group C

Bulgaria 0-2 Italy

Arsenal midfielder Georgi Kostadinov appeared at the start with the captain's armband, picked up a booking in the 57th minute and was substituted five minutes later. Having not scored a single point in two matchdays, Bulgaria are bottom in the group. On 31 March they will meet Northern Ireland in Belfast.

Group D

Kazakhstan 0-2 France

Akhmat defender Marat Bystrov played a full match against France. CSKA midfielder Baktiyor Zaynutdinov did not play due to injury, and Rotor's Dmitry Shomko also missed the game. On 31 March, Kazakhstan will meet Ukraine in Kyiv, and France will play Bosnia and Herzegovina away. 

Group F

Denmark 8-0 Moldova

Tambov midfielder Catalin Carp played from the start and was substituted in the 54th minute, and in the 18th earned a yellow card for a foul in his own penalty area. With a penalty, the Danes opened the scoring and eventually inflicted Moldova's heaviest defeat in their history. The previous record was 6-0, set in their 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Sweden (6 June, 2001) and the friendly game with Italy (7 October, 2020). On 31 March, Moldova will play Israel in Chisinau.

Group I

Poland 3-0 Andorra

Lokomotiv players Maciej Rybus and Grzegorz Krychowiak were included in Poland's starting line-up. While Krychowiak played a full match, Rybus played 60 minutes set up Robert Lewandowski to open the scoring from a free kick. The Poland captain finished the meeting with a double.

Dynamo's Sebastian Szymanski and Ural midfielder Rafal Augustiniak didn't play. On 31 March, Poland will play at Wembley against England, who are the clear leaders in the group with six points.

Group J

Armenia 2-0 Iceland

Rostov midfielder Khoren Bayramyan started the match on the bench, before replacing Hakob Hakobyan in the 55th minute, and scored his second goal for the national team in the 74th. Krasnodar midfielder Eduard Spertsyan, who was called up by Armenia for the first time, was not included in the lineup. CSKA midfielder Arnor Sigurdsson started for Iceland, but was substituted in the 55th minute. His clubmate Hordur Magnusson remained on the bench.

For the first time, Armenia started a World Cup qualifying campaign with two consecutive victories. On 31 March, Joaquin Caparros side will host the Romania in Yerevan, while Iceland will meet Liechtenstein away.

Romania 0-1 Germany

Ural midfielder Eric Bicfalvi appeared on the bench. After the first two matchdays, Germany lead Armenia in the group on six points. Romania are fourth with three points.

UEFA European Under-21 Championships group stage, matchday two

Group D

Croatia U-21 3-2 Switzerland U-21

Dynamo midfielder Nikola Moro played 76 minutes and participated in two goals for Croatia. In the 61st minute he converted a penalty, and three minutes later he gave an assist to Dario Wiesinger. After two matchdays, Croatia are second in the group with three points, level on points with third-placed Switzerland, all behind group leaders Portugal on six points.

On the final group-stage matchday, which will take place on 31 March, Croatia will play against England, who have lost both matches in the tournament. The top two teams in the groups will qualify for the quarter-finals.

Photo: Jalil Gubaidullin/Rubin; Croatian Football Union