Chelsea's first-team internationals return, some to an uncertain future
Chelsea had 13 players from the first-team squad represent their countries during the international break. What will they bring back to the Blues from their globe-trotting, and what lies in store back home?
Eden Hazard of Belgium (L) during the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match between Belgium and Bosnia and Herzegovina on September 3, 2015 at the Koning Boudewijn Stadium in Brussels, Belgium.(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)
Between World Cup qualifiers, U21 tournaments and random friendlies, the Blues dispersed widely over the international break. As Chelsea sets up to continue their perfect start to the season at Swansea City, the clubs’ first-team internationals will look to regain their rhythm of Premier League and cup play over the next few weeks.
Belgium: Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Michy Batshuayi
Belgium kicked off their road to Russia’s 2018 World Cup with a comfortable 3-0 win against Cyprus in Nicosia. Eden Hazard went the full 90 and Thibaut Courtois kept the clean-sheet, which will add to his confidence and stability in the Premier League.
Michy Batshuayi came on with 17 minutes remaining. Unfortunately for Chelsea’s summer signing, he missed a penalty in the final minutes of the game. He expressed his disappointment in a typically Michy way.
F*ck meee ???????? disappointing game for me.. fortunatly the team did the job before ????✊ congrats @BelRedDevils now let’s move forward ???????? #WCQ
— Michy Batshuayi (@mbatshuayi) September 6, 2016
Michy Batshuayi may also be disappointed with his lack of minutes. He has been the Blues’ saviour in the opening games, but Belgium’s new skipper Roberto Martinez has not found a place for him in the starting XI. Batshuayi has a resilient attitude, so he will take extra motivation from the missed penalty and starting on the bench. If Antonio Conte brings Batshuayi on against Swansea City, expect the young Belgian to further make his case for inclusion in the Blues’ – and Red Devils’ – starting XI.
Spain: Diego Costa and Cesar Azpilicueta
Spain got off to a flying start in their World Cup qualifying campaign with an 8-0 victory at home to Liechtenstein. Costa scored twice and came off shortly after. Having broken a 23-month scoring drought, he was much more heartened by his first international brace than he was disappointed in not making it a hat trick.
Cesar Azpilicueta was an unused substitute behind preferred full-backs Jordi Alba and Dani Carvajal.
Cesc Fabregas and Pedro did not make the squad given their dearth of minutes for Chelsea. Both players, but particularly Fabregas, have a difficult fight to earn their way into regular playing time for both club and country.
Fabregas’ path back to Spain’s national side may well be blocked by Oscar, N’Golo Kante and maybe even David Luiz. Their two-way excellence for Chelsea will offer little opening for Fabregas to see any playing time in Blue. Fabregas will need to be uncharacteristically tenacious and versatile with whatever minutes he gets if he hopes to wear Spain’s crest in future rounds.
Brazil’s Willian (L) and Colombia’s midfielder Macnelly Torres vie for the ball during their Russia 2018 World Cup football qualifier match in Manaus, Brazil, on September 6, 2016.(CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images)
Brazil: Willian
Willian played 61 minutes as Brazil cruised to a 3-0 win over Ecuador. He also started against Colombia but came off with 25 minutes remaining as Brazil won 2-1.
Willian missed Chelsea’s fixture against Watford through a slight calf injury but he featured in the other two league games. Antonio Conte will continue to reward Willian’s energy and the width he provides for the team with more starting XI roles.
Nigeria: Victor Moses and Mikel John Obi
Olympic bronze medalist Mikel Jon Obi and his countryman Victor Moses started against Tanzania in an African Cup of Nations “rubber match.” The Super Eagles won 1-0, playing for only pride having previously been eliminated from the AFCON tournament.
Victor Moses has again impressed this season when he has managed to earn playing time, but still is unlikely to be in Antonio Conte’s starting XI. Chelsea’s competition for places on the wing is very strong, and Moses has no real chance to get ahead of Willian or Hazard unless they are injured or suspended.
Obi surprised many last season with some good performances during Guus Hiddink’s reign. His Olympic commitments precluded him making an early impression on Antonio Conte. With Kante, Nemanja Matic, Fabregas or even Oscar ahead of him, his road to the pitch is equally difficult.
He has shown true loyalty to Chelsea despite being in and out of the team which speaks volumes on how much he cares for the club. He has one year left on his contract – will 2016/17 be one last hurrah for the Nigerian?
TRNAVA, SLOVAKIA – SEPTEMBER 04: Gary Cahill of England tangles with Michal Duris of Slovakia during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group F qualifying match between Slovakia and England at City Arena on September 4, 2016 in Trnava, Slovakia. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
England: Gary Cahill
Cahill played the full 90 minutes and had very little to do as Slovakia largely found themselves on the back foot. He partnered John Stones in defence and looked very comfortable all afternoon.
With Marcos Alonso and David Luiz arriving on deadline day, Cahill’s place in the team is shaky at best. He will have fierce competition to earn one of Chelsea’s two centre-back slots. If Conte makes the switch to a back three, however, Cahill might find himself comfortably in the lineup.
France: N’golo Kante
Kante completed 90 minutes for Les Bleus as the Euro 2016 finalists drew 0-0 with Belarus. Didier Deschamps and his side endured a very frustrating night. The French overwhelmed possession and had 23 attempts to Belarus’ 3, but the scoreline remained unchanged.
N’Golo Kante played a deep-lying role next to Paul Pogba in a 4-2-3-1. He went unperturbed in his deep-lying role, so he will return to Chelsea fresh and hungry for competition. He will no doubt continue to power the Blues’ squad for 90 minutes at a time as Chelsea enters a crucial patch of games.
Serbia: Branislav Ivanovic
Ivanovic captained Serbia for the 90 minutes as they drew 2-2 at home to the Republic of Ireland.
Similar to Cahill, Ivanovic’s place in the team is increasingly under threat. His lack of pace and impetus going forward could force Conte to restore Azpilicueta to his favoured right-back position with Marcos Alonso taking over at left-back.
Before the David Luiz signing, this would have left Ivanovic and Cahill competing for the centre-back spot alongside John Terry. However, that spot appears reserved for the bushy-haired Brazilian, leaving Ivanovic and Cahill with adjacent seats on the bench.
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