The best XI from the day’s Euro 2016 qualifiers across the continent.
The Euro 2016 qualifying campaign has kicked off, with a number of shocks across the continent yesterday evening. Albania pulled off the biggest result, stunning Portugal 1-0 in Aveiro, whilst there were also impressive victories away from home for Northern Ireland and Romania.
This is our pick of the players who were in action on Sunday evening:
GK) David Marshall (Scotland)
Cardiff City goalkeeper David Marshall was excellent despite the club’s Premier League relegation last season and he has kept that up for Scotland, pulling off a string of fine saves as Gordon Strachan’s side were valiant in defeat against Germany.
RB) Gabriel Tamas (Romania)
Former West Bromwich Albion and Doncaster Rovers defender Gabriel Tamas was exceptional playing at right back for Romania as they clung on with ten men to win 1-0 in Greece, keeping the dangerous Girgios Samaras under wraps.
CB) Lorik Cana (Albania)
Lazio defender Lorik Cana is the captain and talisman for Albania and performed incredibly at the heart of defence as his nation picked up one of their finest results of all time, the former Sunderland repelling everything that Portugal had to throw at him.
CB) Aaron Hughes (Northern Ireland)
Former Fulham and current Brighton & Hove Albion centre back Aaron Hughes is one of the stalwarts of Michael O’Neill’s Northern Irish team who stood up to the challenge in Hungary, dealing with the majority of attacks extremely well.
LB) Ikechi Anya (Scotland)
Despite playing in a more advanced left wing role for Gordon Strachan’s Scotland side as they were narrowly beaten in Dortmund, Ikechi Anya regularly plays at left back for Watford. He was electric all evening and caused Germany all manner of problems, netting a fine equalising goal.
CM) Darren Fletcher (Scotland)
It is a big season for experienced Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletchers as he battles to earn a new contract at Old Trafford. Displays like this from the Scotland captain will do him no harm, as he helped Scotland to exercise some manner of control over the midfield in Dortmund.
CM) Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Armenia)
Despite being on the losing side for Armenia in Denmark, Borussia Dortmund playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan was excellent in central midfield for his country as they were unfortunate to lose, putting Armenia ahead just after half time.
ARM) Thomas Muller (Germany)
Germany were far from their best in a nervy 2-1 victory over Scotland in Dortmund, but talisman Thomas Muller dragged them through, causing the Scottish defence problems all evening and scoring both goals in the intelligent manner that has defined Muller’s fine career.
ACM) Aiden McGeady (Republic of Ireland)
Martin O’Neill saw his Republic of Ireland side pick up a vital victory during the former Aston Villa and Sunderland manager’s first competitive match in charge in Georgia, with attacking midfielder Aiden McGeady coming to the fore with two goals, including a crucial late winner.
ALM) Kyle Lafferty (Northern Ireland)
Often plowing a lone furrow in attacking for Northern Ireland in Hungary as they spent long periods defending, Kyle Lafferty was a monster for his side and crucial to their late comeback victory, laying on the first goal for Nial McGinn before bundling home their late winner.
SC) Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Bayern Munich’s powerful striker Robert Lewandowski was very much in amongst the goals for Poland as they thrashed UEFA new boys Gibraltar 7-0 in Portugal, bagging himself four goals to leap to the top of the scoring charts as he put a largely part-time defence to the sword in a baptism of fire for the Gibraltarians.