Eurosport - Thu, 02 Apr 19:23:00 2009
How did the Premier League's foreign legion fare in this week's internationals? Find out here as we take a whistle stop tour of the globe to bring you news of English-based players.
Liverpool duo Xabi Alonso and Albert Riera were both on target as Spain beat Turkey 2-1 in the Reds' much-loved city, Istanbul. Alonso scored from the penalty spot, while Riera further boosted Vicente Del Bosque's impressive record as coach of the national team with a stoppage-time strike.
Tuncay Sanli captained the Turks, but failed to get on the scoresheet, along with his opposite number Fernando Torres, while fellow Liverpool players Alvaro Arbeloa and Pepe Reina were confined to the Spanish substitutes' bench.
Manchester City duo Robinho and Elano both started for Brazil in their 3-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Peru, before being withdrawn after 70 and 76 minutes respectively. Mark Hughes will be sweating over the fitness of the former prior to the weekend's Premier League fixtures, after he sustained a knock.
Another City player in action was Vincent Kompany, who played 90 minutes for Belgium in their 2-1 defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina, along with Everton's Marouane Fellaini.
Tal Ben Haim captained Israel in their 2-1 defeat in Greece. Switzerland gave Gelson Fernandes and Arsenal's Johan Djourou places on the substitutes' bench, but neither came on in their 2-0 victory over Moldova in Geneva.
Eduardo Da Silva, also of Arsenal, was on target in Croatia's 2-0 win over Andorra, with Niko Kranjcar of Portsmouth and Vedran Corluka of Tottenham also lining up for Slaven Bilic's side.
Two players who will be returning from international duty with their heads dropped low, are Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano , who played in Argentina's 6-1 humiliation against Bolivia.
Ebi Smolarek will have Bolton boss Gary Megson taking note after the forward scored four goals in Poland's drubbing over San Marino, with Arsenal reserve Lukasz Fabianski twiddling his thumbs in goal.
Petr Cech and Martin Skrtel lined up against each other in Slovakia's 2-1 win over Czech Republic in Prague.
Thomas Sorensen, Daniel Agger and Nicklas Bendtner - from the substitutes' bench - played for Denmark in their 3-0 win over Albania, but it was Fulham's out of favour midfielder Leon Andreason who made his mark with a well-taken goal.
Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko appeared for Russia in Guus Hiddink's side's 1-0 win over Liechtenstein, with the latter coming off in the 84th minute.
Fulham's Zoltan Gera was on target as Hungary comprehensively beat Malta 3-0, with Sunderland's Martin Fulop in goal and Peter Halmosi in a midfield berth.
Wigan's Antonio Valencia played 86 minutes in Ecuador's 1-1 draw with Paraguay, while Manchester City man Felipe Caicedo - who was substituted at half-time - and Everton's Segundo Castillo both started.
Comment 1 - 5 of 5
what about dirk kuyt..?? he scored twice too!!!
ballack for germany!!???
kuyt??
do you guys honestly think that english eurosport will praise a german, even more so Ballack whom they cannot wait to write rubbish against? come get real...this is the english eurosport, the place were the scum of sporting journalism write.
Haha, ballack scored a sreamer of a goal but his name missed from this list. I think Dan Quarrell hates Germany.
Where is Ballack????????? shudai pamirsho:)))
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