The international break is well underway, giving SC Freiburg a well-deserved break after two jam-packed weeks of domestic and European football. For some at the club though, there is to be no break, as international duty calls. Three players have made appearances for their national sides, while another has been forced to withdraw from his side’s squad due to injury.
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann gave Noah Atubolu his first senior side call up for the two World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland, as a result of an illness to Oliver Baumann. The TSG Hoffenheim keeper then recovered in time for the game against Luxembourg, meaning Atubolu had to watch Germany’s 4-0 victory from the stands after not being included in the squad. Sadly, Freiburg’s number one has now been forced to withdraw from the squad after picking up a knock to his knee in training. Atubolu is still delighted to have been selected, despite having to head home early: “I joined up with the team expecting to be able to absorb so much and learn from them. It’s a huge honour for me to have been a part of the senior side.”
The second international break of the season saw Philipp Lienhart, Johan Manzambi and Bruno Ogbus also called up for their respective national sides. There were mixed emotions in World Cup qualifying for Lienhart and Austria, as the joy after their high-scoring victory over San Marino was washed away following a defeat to Romania. SCF’s centre-back did not play against San Marino, but did play the full 90 minutes against Romania. Manzambi scored to make it 2-0 in injury time of Switzerland’s first World Cup qualifier, after being brought on as a substitute in the 84th minute.
Here is an overview of all the action:
Germany and Noah Atubolu:
Friday, 10.10., 20:45 CEST | World Cup qualifier | Germany 4 - 0 Luxembourg I Atubolu was not in the squad.
Monday, 13.10., 20:45 CEST | World Cup qualifier | Northern Ireland vs Germany
Austria and Philipp Lienhart:
Thursday, 09.10., 20:45 CEST I World Cup qualifier I Austria 10 – 0 San Marino I Lienhart was an unused substitute .
Sunday, 12.10., 20:45 CEST I World Cup qualifier I Romania 1 – 0 Austria I Lienhart played the full 90 minutes.
Switzerland and Johan Manzambi:
Friday, 10.10., 20:45 CEST I World Cup qualifier I Sweden 0 - 2 Switzerland I Manzambi was brought on in the 84th minute and scored to make it 2-0 in injury time.
Monday, 13.10., 20:45 CEST I World Cup qualifier I Slovenia vs Switzerland
Switzerland U21s and Bruno Ogbus:
Friday, 10.10., 18:30 CEST I U21 EUROs qualifier I Switzerland 0 - 0 Ireland I Ogbus played the full 90 minutes.
Tuesday, 14.10., 19:00 CEST I U21 EUROs qualifier I Faroe Islands vs Switzerland
