THE INTERNATIONAL break is over and Rangers’ players have returned from their trips around the globe. Here we round up how they got on over the past week.
SCOTLAND
ALLAN MCGREGOR
The Rangers number one was on fine form as Scotland finished top of their UEFA Nations League group. He played both of their games, first keeping a clean sheet in the Tartan Army’s 4-0 rout over Albania over the weekend and then continuing his form into Tuesday night’s decider with Israel.
With the game on a knife edge, when Israel pulled it back to 3-2 late on, McGregor pulled off an extraordinary save in the 88th minute to secure the win for his country. The result landed Scotland a play-off place for Euro 2020 and a promotion to League B of the Nations League.
88th minute – step up Allan McGregor.
What a save! pic.twitter.com/Q90dTFPhMu
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) November 21, 2018
SCOTLAND UNDER 19s
Rangers had six players in the Under 19 squad who completed a successful week trying to qualify for the UEFA U19 Euro Finals in Armenia next year. Glenn Middleton, Dapo Mebude, Stephen Kelly, Jordan Houston, Matthew Shiels and Zak Rudden all took part in the three games over the international period which saw the U19s reach the elite round of qualifying.
First Scotland beat Wales 2-1 away from home with Houston, Middleton, Rudden, Mebude and Shiels all playing. It was Mebude’s U19 debut.
Nice to make my debut for 19s & good win 👍🏾❤️ https://t.co/MqdcnGhU9p
— Dapo Mebude (@DMebude) November 14, 2018
Next up were San Marino and the Scots brushed them aside in a 5-0 win. Dapo Mebude added to his Scotland account grabbing the first of the five and his first goal in this age group, he also grabbed two assists in the impressive victory. Houston, Shiels and Kelly all started the game too and played 90 minutes.
Good to get 1 goal make 2 assist in a good win 👍🏾 https://t.co/ERk5eLNGZN
— Dapo Mebude (@DMebude) November 17, 2018
The 19s finished off the week unbeaten in their group with a 2-2 draw against Sweden. Houston, Rudden and Mebude started the game which sees the youngsters into the next stage of qualifying.
The draw for the qualifying group stage is on December 6. If they can reach 2019’s tournament it would be the first time Scotland have qualified since 2006. That year they reached the final against Spain with Graham Dorrans featuring.
#SCO19s | FULL TIME: Scotland 2-2 Sweden.
Goals from @billygilmourrr and @ell_watt00 seal a draw. This means that we finish top of the group and qualify for the Elite Round unbeaten.
Well done lads! #YoungTeam pic.twitter.com/fnMQYVdRDw
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) November 20, 2018
Proud of the boys this week , buzzing to get back to club now 👍🏾👏🏾 https://t.co/G5tqjuhOqu
— Dapo Mebude (@DMebude) November 20, 2018
Hard shift this week from all the lads but buzzing to have qualified unbeaten and to top the group! Elite rounds next 👊🏻🏴 https://t.co/jDJDZVifFj
— Jordan Houston (@jordanhhousty) November 20, 2018
Unreal from the boys to top the group and to do it unbeaten ,onto the elite rounds 🏴⚽️ pic.twitter.com/FKPmXeRiT2
— Matthew shiels (@matthewshiels1) November 20, 2018
ALBANIA
EROS GREZDA
Grezda had a week of mixed fortunes on international duty as he played in both of Albania’s game. His first the 4-0 defeat to Scotland on Saturday evening but the winger was the one positive in a poor game for his country.
Current Premier League utility man Calum Patterson, who is plying his trade with Cardiff City after moving south from Hearts, was impressed by Grezda. He commented after the game: “Grezda was a handful, but you have to look after yourself, and I didn’t really do that in the first 15-20 minutes.”
He then played 69 minutes of his nation’s friendly 1-0 win over Ryan Giggs’ Wales on Tuesday evening. Scotland’s win in their Nations League group though relegates Albania to League D in the competition.
NORTHERN IRELAND
GARETH McAULEY
The centre-half didn’t feature in Northern Ireland’s friendly against the Republic of Ireland but made his comeback in their Nations League game three days later. The game ended in a 2-1 defeat with Austria getting their winner is stoppage time and the result saw Michael O’Neil’s side relegated to League C in the competition. The positive was that the 38-year-old got 90 minutes of crucial game time to stand him in good stead on his return to domestic action with Rangers.
McAuley is back! 👊🏼💚 #GAWA pic.twitter.com/1ETxB914RA
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) November 18, 2018
KYLE LAFFERTY
The striker played 20 minutes against the Republic of Ireland but couldn’t manage a goal in the stalemate. He came off the bench again in the loss to Austria with 15 minutes to go but again failed to make the impact he would have wanted.
MALI
LASSANA COULIBALY
Midfielder Coulibaly had a superb week away with Mali as they qualified for next summer’s African Cup of Nations with a 1-0 win over Gabon. He played the whole 90 minutes as Mali finished second in their group to book their places at the finals. Mali reached the final of the competition in 1972.
CROATIA U21s
NIKOLA KATIC
The centre-half played all 90 minutes of Croatia’s friendly against France. The defender was part of a defence which conceded twice in a 2-2 draw.
