On 8 September, RPL players took part in 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Europe
Group B
Greece 2-1 Sweden
Krasnodar midfielder Viktor Claesson started the match against Greece, played 77 minutes and was substituted off with his side 1-0 down. He was also booked. Spartak football player Jordan Larsson spent the entire match on the bench.
After four matches, Sweden have nine points and are in second place in the table. On 9 October, Sweden will meet Kosovo.
Group E
Belarus 0-1 Belgium
Belarus played Belgium in Kazan at the Centralny Stadium. Lokomotiv striker Vitaly Lisakovich played 69 minutes, after which he was replaced with his side 1-0 down.
Belarus have played five qualifiers, and have picked up three points. On 8 October, Belarus will play Estonia in their next one.
Group I
Albania 5-0 San Marino
Nizhny Novgorod forward Bekim Balaj did not participate in the victory over San Marino and spent the entire match on the bench. Now Albania have 12 points after six games and are second in the group. On 9 October they will play Hungary.
Hungary 2-1 Andorra
Nizhny Novgorod defender Akos Keckes spent the entire 90 minutes against Andorra on the bench. Hungary now have 10 points from six games. On 9 October, they will face Albania in their next 2022 World Cup qualifier.
Poland 1-1 England
Krasnodar midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak started for Poland, and was booked at the start of the second half. In the 68th minute he was replaced with the game still goalless. Maciej Rybus came on in the 80th minute when England were leading, but Poland hit back thanks to a goal by ex-Akhmat player Damian Szymanski.
After six games, Poland have 11 points and are third in the group. On 9 October, they will play San Marino.
Group J
Armenia 1-1 Liechtenstein
Rostov midfielder Khoren Bayramyan played his 10th match for Armenia. The Rostov player was replaced at halftime, by which time Armenia were leading 1-0. Another RPL player, Krasnodar’s Eduard Spertsyan, spent the entire game on the bench.
After six matches, Armenia have 11 points and are in second place. They will play Iceland on 8 October.
Friendly match
Bulgaria 4-1 Georgia
Arsenal’s Georgian winger Zuriko Davitashvili came on as a substitute in the 59th minute with his country already 4-0 down, but in the 77th he pulled one back for the visitors. His teammate Georgi Kostadinov came on for Bulgaria in the 74th minute.
On 9 October, Bulgaria will play Lithuania and Georgia will take on Greece.
Photo: Arsenal