International round-up | Costa scores on Portugal debut

It was a dream international debut for Helder Costa as his first goal for the senior Portugal side set the team on their way to a 3-1 victory over Scotland.

With his 43rd minute strike, Costa became the first Wolves player to score on their opening senior international start against Scotland at Hampden Park since legendary Molineux striker Steve Bull in May 1989.

The 24-year-old played the full 90 minutes of the clash in Glasgow on Sunday, with fellow Wolves star Ruben Neves being named as an unused substitute for the friendly.

Molineux stopper Rui Patricio, who was not in the matchday squad for the Scotland tie, played the entire 3-2 win for Portugal in the country’s UEFA Nations League contest with Poland on Thursday night.

Neves also put in a starring performance against Poland, setting up Portugal’s second goal with a raking 50-yard pass which was put into his own net by Kamil Glik.

The Portuguese trio were three of ten Wolves men who departed Molineux for international duty as the Nations League continued across Europe.

Jonny Otto, also one of the Wolves players making their international bow, came off the bench in the 63rd minute for his debut for Spain in a 4-1 friendly victory over Wales at the Principality Stadium last Thursday.

The wing-back was handed his full Spanish debut on Monday night against England in the Nations League. Playing the full 90 minutes on the right of a back four, Jonny’s side were on the wrong side of a 3-2 score line at Real Betis’ Benito Villamarín.

Matt Doherty’s fine form earned him another Republic of Ireland call up for their Nations League double header.

Playing in his usual right wing-back position, the Irishman and his teammates only took just one point from the two matches at the Aviva Stadium; drawing 0-0 to Denmark on Saturday and losing 1-0 to Wales on Tuesday night.

Raul Jimenez faced a bit of travelling as he headed home to Mexico for a pair of international friendlies. On Thursday the striker came off the bench to score the decisive goal in 3-2 win for Mexico as he slotted away a penalty in the 71st minute, helping his country overcome Costa Rica.

But on Tuesday night against Chile, Jimenez – who played the full match – and his countrymen fell to a last minute 1-0 defeat from a Nicolas Castillo goal.

Elsewhere, Romain Saiss was in senior action as he played at centre back for Morocco’s two Continental qualifying matches against Comoros on Friday and Monday, which ended up in a 1-0 win and 2-2 draw for the Moroccans.

Ruben Vinagre made his way up the youth ranks with Portugal to feature in the under-21 squad for the first time alongside Diogo Jota.

The pair both came off the bench in a 9-0 UEFA Under-21 qualification win against Liechtenstein on Thursday, with Jota scoring the eighth goal. Jota also played 82 minutes in the qualifier with Bosnia Herzegovina on Tuesday, which finished 4-1 to Portugal.

Finally, Morgan Gibbs-White was on England duty with the under-19s. The midfielder played 72 minutes from the start of England’s 4-1 victory over Portugal in a friendly on Thursday, before coming off the bench after 26 minutes in a 6-2 win over Macedonia on Tuesday at St George’s Park.

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