International football: 10 talking points from all the latest action - two

International football: 10 talking points from all the latest action - two

6) Concern over Scotland’s next generation is unfounded

Perhaps it came as a consequence of such a subdued build-up to Scotland’s no-man’s-land friendly fixtures, but the country’s under-21 side found itself just as much the subject of any national team debate and discussion this week. While the rest of the United Kingdom is preparing for Euro 2016, Scotland is seemingly tearing itself apart over preparations for the next generation. Rather bizarrely, the jumping-off point came in last week’s European Under-21 Championship qualification defeat to France, with one tabloid column in particular prompting sharp Twitter responses from two members of Scotland’s Under-21 squad, Ryan Gauld and Callum Paterson.

If concern over the promise of Ricky Sbragia’s team is justified, it can only be because Gordon Strachan has fast-tracked the country’s best young talent into his senior side. Kenny McLean, Tony Watt, Kieran Tierney, John McGinn and Oliver Burke were all handed debuts over the past week’s two fixtures, with not one youngster floundering in back-to-back 1-0 wins against Czech Republic and Denmark. Scotland might not be on the brink of a golden generation, but they’re not quite sifting through the scrap metal.

7) Huws makes late case for Wales inclusion

The meetings with Northern Ireland and Ukraine gave Chris Coleman confirmation of a couple of things that he already knew: his team need to fine-tune their defending of setpieces; and Joe Allen remains an excellent player for Wales even if he does not play regularly at Liverpool. Coleman does not seem inclined to make many changes to the squad that performed so well and with such formidable spirit during the qualifiers, but one player who may have made an irresistible late case for inclusion in the Euro 2016 travelling party is Emyr Huws, especially with doubts over David Edwards’ fitness. The 22-year-old Wigan midfielder, currently on loan at Huddersfield Town, has appeared only fleetingly since gaining his first cap in 2014 but in Kiev he gave such an accomplished display that he suggested he could become a valuable squad member in France.

8) Super Eagles have their wings clipped again

Nigeria should have been kicked out of the Africa Cup of Nations as punishment for the dangerous stupidity that led to some 40,000 people being encouraged tocram into a 16,000-capacity stadium in Kaduna on Friday. As it turned out, they were eliminated anyway, as, following Mohamed Salah’s last-minute equaliser in Kaduna, Egypt went on to beat the Super Eagles 1-0 in Alexandria on Tuesday. It was a deserved win for the nifty hosts, although Nigeria, in fairness, improved towards the end of that match – especially after Alex Iwobi came on – and Victor Moses had a shot come back off a post, as he did in the first match. Nigeria were also unlucky that Chad withdrew from the qualifiers midway through, meaning all goals and wins against them were expunged and Nigeria cannot qualify as one of the best runners-up. The 2013 African champions will, then, miss their continent’s showpiece for the second time in a row.

9) Gourcuff is building a dazzling Algeria side

Algeria scored 10 goals in their two meetings with Ethiopia in the last week, winning 7-1 at home before drawing 3-3 on a bobbly pitch in Addis Ababa. After opening the scoring in the first match, the Algerian players showed what they thought about persistent rumours that Christian Gourcuff will be replaced as their manager by running to celebrate with him. The Frenchman has had an unsettled relationship with the Algerian federation and is continually linked with a return to Ligue 1, although he claims he has never considered quitting his current post. And what a pity for him it would be if he did. Because, as his players went on to demonstrate, he is in charge of a team with wonderful attacking talent.

The results against Ethiopia went a long way towards ensuring their participation in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, and came on the back of a 7-0 win over Tanzania in World Cup qualification. The matches with Ethiopia also featured some particularly delicious goals, including a superb 20-yard volley goal from Saphir Taïder in the first game and a slamming header from Islam Slimani in the second – following a dinky pass from Riyad Mahrez and a gorgeous tee-up from Walid Mesloub. With players like those – and Yacine Brahimi and Sofiane Feghouli – Algeria have the potential to do damage to any team in the world. In recent months Gourcuff, always a nurturer of flair, has learned to introduce more flexibility into his tactics; it would be a shame for he and this team to go separate ways now.

10) Given could profit from rivals’ woe

It has been quite the few days for Shay Given, despite the once internationally retired Republic of Ireland goalkeeper having not played. First, Jack Butland – who is ahead of him in the pecking order at their club, Stoke City – suffered serious injury on England duty against Germany on Saturday, and then Newcastle United’s Rob Elliot did likewise in the Ireland goal against Slovakia on Tuesday. With perfect timing, Given himself is now fit and available after a long-term knee problem and the 39-year-old can spy opportunity, most immediately at Stoke and, in turn, Ireland. “It is a window for me to play and I feel I could play at the weekend against Swansea City,” Given said. “It has given me a lift. Martin [O’Neill, the Ireland manager] is hoping I get into the Stoke team to make the decision more difficult for him.”

Elliot’s misfortune means that Given looks assured to be one of O’Neill’s three goalkeepers at the European Championship, alongside Darren Randolph and David Forde. Randolph stands to be the No1. Previously, O’Neill looked like he would have to choose between Given and Forde for the third-choice spot. And, if Given could impress between now and the end of the season for Stoke, the possibilities are obvious. Given was a TV pundit during the Slovakia game and, weirdly, when O’Neill was interviewed post-match, the goalkeeper’s analysis and criticisms were put to him by the reporter. “Shay came into the dressing-room after the game,” O’Neill said. “Butland’s injury has maybe hastened things on a bit. Shay looked remarkably good and I think he’s ready to play now, which is great.”