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Villans Abroad: Aston Villa International Round-Up October 2018

By Josh Tonti

VOLGOGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 22: Birkir Bjarnason, Aron Gunnarsson, Kari Arnason of Iceland stand dejected during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Iceland at Volgograd Arena on June 22, 2018 in Volgograd, Russia. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
VOLGOGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 22: Birkir Bjarnason, Aron Gunnarsson, Kari Arnason of Iceland stand dejected during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Iceland at Volgograd Arena on June 22, 2018 in Volgograd, Russia. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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Several Aston Villa players participated in important international qualifiers.

October’s FIFA International Window offered Aston Villa Football Club an important respite. With the firing of former manager Steve Bruce, and subsequent appointment of Dean Smith, the claret and blues can build from their early struggles.

Many of Villa’s international players featured in a positive light this window.

Yannick Bolasie scored for D.R. Congo in AFCON qualifying, but in a losing 2-1 effort to Zimbabwe. The two sides will face-off once more on Tuesday afternoon. Bolasie’s side are still in position to qualify for next summer’s Africa Cup of Nations, but they need points in the return leg.

Birkir Bjarnason lasted the full 90 minutes in both of Iceland’s UEFA Nations League matches. ‘Thor’ scored against defending FIFA World Cup champions France in an eventual 2-2 draw. On Monday, Iceland became the second team relegated from UEFA Nations League A after a 2-1 defeat to Switzerland.

The goals keep on coming as Jonathan Kodjia scored the opening goal for Ivory Coast in a 4-0 rout of Central African Republic. The lofted finish gave the Golden Elephants a lead going into halftime. On Tuesday, Kodjia and Co. travel to C.A.R. in the away leg. A win there and Ivory Coast will likely be through to the tournament.

Conor Hourihane and Scott Hogan were unused substitutes in the Republic of Ireland’s 0-0 draw with a Christian Eriksen-less Denmark. Ireland face Wales on Tuesday and must avoid defeat in order to not be relegated to UEFA Nations League C.

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Like Hourihane and Hogan, Ørjan Nyland, too, was an unused substitute in Norway’s Nations League match. The Norwegian collected three points courtesy of Ole Selnaes. They host Bulgaria on Tuesday in a matchup of the two group leaders.

John McGinn played the full 90 minutes for Scotland in a 2-1 UEFA Nations League defeat to Israel. A few days later, McGinn was substituted off on 67 minutes in a friendly with Portugal. Probably in Villa’s best interests that he be kept fresh for Dean Smith’s debut on Saturday vs. Swansea City.

Aston Villa captain James Chester was a halftime substitute in a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Spain. The international friendly served as a warm-up for the ensuing Nations League match vs. Ireland.

Could we see three Aston Villa players on the same pitch, at the same time!?

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