International Duty Recap

With World Cup Qualifiers wrapped up for the year, here's how the Benfica players fared in their respective National teams:

Portugal 0 - Albania 0
Quim - 90'
Nuno Gomes - in at 75'
Carlos Martins - Did not come off the bench.

Greece 1 - Switzerland 2
Katsouranis - 90'
On the South American side

Bolivia 2 - Uruguay 2
Maxi Pereira - In at 55'

Chile 1 - Argentina 0
DiMaria - Did not play

Paraguay 1 - Peru 0
Oscar Cardozo - In at 67' - Credited with winning goal.

The best thing was really none of them getting hurt.
Quim did much better in these two games and seems to have put his shaky performances behind. I thought Martins deserved a shot, especially in the second game, but that wasn't the case. The most important thing for Martins is that he was not a part of these two horrible performances by the Portuguese side, and he comes out of the double fixture with his reputation intact, not many others can say that after these past two games. Nuno Gomes showed in 15 minutes what Hugo Almeida didn't show in 180. Let's hope these two players continue to be called up, and can be given more chances.
Katsouranis' Greece suffered their first loss against Switzerland, at home no less.
In South America, both Maxi and Cardozo came off the bench. The first one wasn't as lucky, surrendering precious points in La Paz. The second one was involved in the middle of a positive controversy, as he and another Paraguayan forward both appeared to have kicked the ball for Paraguay's winning goal. FIFA has awarded the goal to Cardozo, who had not scored in the past 400 some odd minutes for his national team. DiMaria seems to going through a very important phase in his early national team career, he has been mostly a spectator, but the time he is spending with the National team, will prove invaluable towards his development and growth process.
Now that the qualifiers are done for the year, it's time to put the book down and turn up the volume on the TV, as Benfica gets back to action this Sunday for the Portuguese Cup.

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Photo Credit - Miguel Riopa AFP