INTERNATIONAL duty is now over, with Cherries’ 13 players called-up enjoying varying levels of success.
The standout among the selection of Cherries players heading away to represent their country undoubtedly came from Wales.
David Brooks stole the show with his first international goal in more than three years. His classy finish sealed a 2-0 win in Latvia, keeping hopes of qualification for Euro 2024 alive.
Brooks’s Cherries teammate Chris Mepham also featured in Riga, playing the full 90 minutes and keeping a clean sheet.
Mepham, Brooks and Kieffer Moore all also featured in a 0-0 friendly draw with South Korea in Cardiff, the latter unavailable to play Latvia due to suspension.
The teenager helped his nation to a vital 2-1 win in Serbia in Euro qualifying, behind-closed-doors, coming off in the second half with a knock.
But he shook that off to play the full 90 minutes a few days later and provide a brilliant assist in a 1-1 home draw with Czechia.
Illia Zabarnyi played every minute for Ukraine in their tough qualifying double header against England and Italy.
The centre-back impressed as Ukraine held England to a 1-1 draw, before being edged out 2-1 by Italy.
Those results leave Ukraine third in Group C.
The former Celtic man was introduced late on as Steve Clarke’s men took a huge step towards Euro 2024 with a 3-0 win away to Cyprus.
Christie then came on at Hampden Park on Tuesday night against England, looking lively initially, before being turned by Jude Bellingham for the visitors’ final goal in their 3-1 win.
Further afield, Antoine Semenyo played a key role in helping Ghana clinch qualification for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The Cherries forward came off the bench to provide the winning goal as his nation defeated Central African Republic 2-1 in Kumasi.
He then started in a 3-1 friendly victory against Liberia, playing 75 minutes.
Hamed Traore watched on from the bench as Ivory Coast secured second spot in their qualification group with a 1-0 win over Lesotho.
The Cherries man then got his chance in the subsequent friendly against Mali. He started the game, which was abandoned at half-time with the score at 0-0 due to heavy rain.
In South America, Cherries’ latest signing Luis Sinisterra made two substitute appearances as Colombia made a good start to their World Cup qualification campaign.
They won 1-0 against Venezuela, before a 0-0 draw away at Chile.
Marcos Senesi travelled with the Argentina team for games against Ecuador and Bolivia, but did not make the matchday squad for either.
Goalkeeper Mark Travers, currently on loan at Stoke City, was an unused substitute for Republic of Ireland’s 2-0 defeat to France, before withdrawing from their squad due to injury ahead of the 2-1 home loss against Netherlands.
Owen Bevan, out on loan at Cheltenham Town, gained more valuable experience by featuring for Wales under-21s.
The centre-back played the full 90 minutes of a 4-0 win over Liechtenstein in a friendly at Newport. He was then an unused substitute for the 3-2 win at Lithuania in qualifying.
Michael Dacosta Gonzalez spent time on a training camp with Spain’s under-19s. He returned to Cherries last week, playing in development squad fixtures against Hull City and Moneyfields.
Total minutes played:
Illia Zabarnyi, Chris Mepham – 180
Milos Kerkez – 160
Antoine Semenyo – 96
Owen Bevan – 90
David Brooks – 58
Kieffer Moore, Hamed Traore – 45
Ryan Christie – 32
Luis Sinisterra – 21
Marcos Senesi, Mark Travers – 0
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