International break: three Gladbach players pick up wins

Nico Elvedi and Jonas Omlin (both Switzerland) and Oscar Fraulo (Denmark U21) all enjoyed victories with their national teams. Ko Itakura was in action for Japan, while Luca Netz, Jordan Beyer (Germany) and Manu Koné (France) were involved at U21 level.

Switzerland

Switzerland were also successful in their second EURO 2024 qualifier, recording a 3-0 victory over Israel. Nico Elvedi played the whole game and celebrated his 45th cap for his country. Jonas Omlin was an unused sub, similarly to the 5-0 win against Belarus. Ruben Vargas (39’), Zeki Amdouni (47’) and Silvan Widmer (52’) scored the goals for Switzerland, who now sit top of their qualification group after two wins from two and eight goals scored to none conceded.

Japan

Ko Itakura captained his country on his 18th international cap, playing the whole 90 minutes as Japan were defeated 2-1 by Colombia in the Kirin Challenge Cup. Kaoru Mitoma opened the scoring after three minutes, but goals from Jhon Duran (39’) and Rafael Borré (61’) turned the game for the South American side. Japan had drawn the opening game 1-1 with Uruguay.

Germany U21

Luca Netz and Jordan Beyer, who is currently on loan at Burnley, started for Antonio di Salvo’s side as they drew 0-0 against Romania in their preparation for the U21 European Championship this summer. Netz played the whole game on his seventh cap, while Beyer was brought off after 76 minutes in what was his sixth game at U21 level.

France U21

In their final game ahead of the U21 EUROs, France played out a goalless draw against Spain. Manu Koné was an unused substitute for Sylvain Ripoll’s side. The Borussia midfielder had played 74 minutes in the 4-0 defeat to England on Saturday in what was his seventh cap for the side.

Denmark U21

Oscar Fraulo and Denmark U21s defeated Switzerland U20s 3-2 in a friendly. Fraulo began the game on the bench and came on for the closing stages, completing nine minutes. Denmark went ahead through an own goal from Noah Rupp (13’), before Mathias Kvistgaarden (34’) doubled the lead. Switzerland levelled the game after the break thanks to an Andrin Hunziker goal (47’) and a Rupp penalty (63’), but Kvistgaarden’s second goal of the game (70’) restored the lead for Denmark. The game was Fraulo’s fourth appearance for the Danish U21 side.