Eight West Ham United players have jetted off to foreign climes to represent their countries during the current international break
Eight West Ham United players have jetted off to foreign climes to represent their countries during the current international break.
Darren Randolph was all smiles after his assist led to Shane Long's dramatic winning goal as Republic of Ireland stunned Germany 1-0 in Dublin on Thursday, but endured a change of fortune in Sunday's 2-1 defeat by Poland in Warsaw.
On for the injured Shay Given against Germany, the Hammers goalkeeper sent a long ball forward for Shane Long to finish past Manuel Neuer and send the Aviva Stadium crowd wild. That victory meant a win or 2-2 draw in Poland in their final fixture on Sunday 11 October would send the Boys in Green to France next summer.
However, the Irish could not build on Jon Walters' first-half equaliser and Robert Lewandowski's header saw Poland through as group runners-up to Germany. Randolph and Ireland now face a two-legged play-off in November, with the draw to be made on Sunday 18 October.
Elsewhere, James Collins was an unused substitute as Wales secured a historic place at Euro 2016.
Chris Coleman’s squad traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday 10 October knowing victory in Zenica will see them reach their first major tournament since the 1958 FIFA World Cup – and just the second in Wales’ history. Despite losing 2-0, Israel's 2-1 home defeat by Cyprus meant Wales finished second in Group B, behind Belgium, and have qualified ahead of the visit of Andorra to Cardiff on the evening of Tuesday 13 October.
Cheikhou Kouyate and Diafra Sakho have added to their Air Miles by travelling to North Africa, where they will hope to play a part for Senegal in an international friendly with Algeria in Algiers on Tuesday 13 October.
Of the younger players, Josh Cullen has two important UEFA European U21 Championship qualifiers to contest with Ireland. The midfielder and his compatriots had won two out of two in Group 2 and Cullen was voted man of the match as they beat bottom side Lithuania 3-0 in Waterford on Friday 9 October. Now, Cullen and company are preparing to face Italy in Vicenza on Tuesday 13 October.
Reece Burke is away with England U20s at the Mercedes-Benz Elite Cup tournament in Germany. The on-loan Bradford City defender was an unused substitute as England kicked-off with a 3-0 win over the Netherlands in Heidenheim on Wednesday 7 October. Burke started as the Young Lions beatTurkey 1-0 in Ulm on Saturday 10 October, and will hope to be involved again when they tackle the host nation in Heidenheim on Tuesday 13 October.
At U19 level, Sam Howes has the UEFA European U19 Championship Qualifying Round on his mind with England. The goalkeeper was an unused substitute in a 2-0 win over mini-group hosts Macedona on Thursday 8 October, and again in the 1-0 win over Finland on Saturday 10 October. He will hope to be involved against Italy on Tuesday 13 October.
Last but not least, Martin Samuelsen has travelled to Latvia with Norway U18s, where the Scandinavians lost the first game of a friendly double-header 1-0 in Daugava on Thursday 8 October, with Samuelsen in the starting XI. The teenager enjoyed better fortune in the second meeting on Saturday 10 October, whe he scored a direct free-kick in a 2-0 win for Norway.
Darren Randolph was all smiles after his assist led to Shane Long's dramatic winning goal as Republic of Ireland stunned Germany 1-0 in Dublin on Thursday, but endured a change of fortune in Sunday's 2-1 defeat by Poland in Warsaw.
On for the injured Shay Given against Germany, the Hammers goalkeeper sent a long ball forward for Shane Long to finish past Manuel Neuer and send the Aviva Stadium crowd wild. That victory meant a win or 2-2 draw in Poland in their final fixture on Sunday 11 October would send the Boys in Green to France next summer.
However, the Irish could not build on Jon Walters' first-half equaliser and Robert Lewandowski's header saw Poland through as group runners-up to Germany. Randolph and Ireland now face a two-legged play-off in November, with the draw to be made on Sunday 18 October.
Elsewhere, James Collins was an unused substitute as Wales secured a historic place at Euro 2016.
Chris Coleman’s squad traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday 10 October knowing victory in Zenica will see them reach their first major tournament since the 1958 FIFA World Cup – and just the second in Wales’ history. Despite losing 2-0, Israel's 2-1 home defeat by Cyprus meant Wales finished second in Group B, behind Belgium, and have qualified ahead of the visit of Andorra to Cardiff on the evening of Tuesday 13 October.
Cheikhou Kouyate and Diafra Sakho have added to their Air Miles by travelling to North Africa, where they will hope to play a part for Senegal in an international friendly with Algeria in Algiers on Tuesday 13 October.
Of the younger players, Josh Cullen has two important UEFA European U21 Championship qualifiers to contest with Ireland. The midfielder and his compatriots had won two out of two in Group 2 and Cullen was voted man of the match as they beat bottom side Lithuania 3-0 in Waterford on Friday 9 October. Now, Cullen and company are preparing to face Italy in Vicenza on Tuesday 13 October.
Reece Burke is away with England U20s at the Mercedes-Benz Elite Cup tournament in Germany. The on-loan Bradford City defender was an unused substitute as England kicked-off with a 3-0 win over the Netherlands in Heidenheim on Wednesday 7 October. Burke started as the Young Lions beatTurkey 1-0 in Ulm on Saturday 10 October, and will hope to be involved again when they tackle the host nation in Heidenheim on Tuesday 13 October.
At U19 level, Sam Howes has the UEFA European U19 Championship Qualifying Round on his mind with England. The goalkeeper was an unused substitute in a 2-0 win over mini-group hosts Macedona on Thursday 8 October, and again in the 1-0 win over Finland on Saturday 10 October. He will hope to be involved against Italy on Tuesday 13 October.
Last but not least, Martin Samuelsen has travelled to Latvia with Norway U18s, where the Scandinavians lost the first game of a friendly double-header 1-0 in Daugava on Thursday 8 October, with Samuelsen in the starting XI. The teenager enjoyed better fortune in the second meeting on Saturday 10 October, whe he scored a direct free-kick in a 2-0 win for Norway.