Joao Gomes' Brazil and Pablo Sarabia's Spain faced off on Tuesday evening as several of Gary O’Neil’s first-team squad were in international action.
The pair were on opposite sides as Brazil travelled to Spain with their teams going head-to-head at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, but it was only Gomes who took to the field, with Sarabia on the bench.
But before the players head back to Compton Park ahead of this weekend’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa, wolves.co.uk details all of the Wolves men who were able to add to their international caps this week.
Sarabia & Gomes | Spain 3-3 Brazil
After his impressive showing against England at Wembley on his international debut at the weekend, Joao Gomes was back in the starting line-up against Spain to earn his second Brazil cap. However, his attacking club teammate was not able to add to his collection of 27 for Spain, with Pablo Sarabia remaining on the bench for the 3-3 thriller in Madrid. Gomes added the opening 45 minutes onto the 90 he accrued against the Three Lions, before making way for Fulham’s Andreas Pereira at the break, with his side 2-1 down. Sarabia will hope to be back in the Spain squad this summer for Euro 2024, while Gomes could feature for Brazil at the 2024 Copa America in the USA.
Ait-Nouri | Algeria 3-3 South Africa
Now a regular starter for Algeria, Rayan Ait-Nouri played the full 90 minutes in the second 3-3 friendly draw to feature Wolves players on Tuesday evening. Having experienced a more attacking role in his last two outings in Old Gold, Ait-Nouri was back in the familiar setting of left-back for his country, but he was unable to stop South Africa finding the net three times in a topsy-turvy contest in Algiers. Ait-Nouri’s side took the lead early on but were pegged back, before going behind before the break. After equalising, Algeria then lost the lead again just after the hour mark, before getting back on level terms for the second time on the night just moments later, as Yassine Benzia scored his second of the evening. With nine caps to his name, Ait-Nouri will hope to make it into double figures this summer as Algeria play a pair of World Cup qualifiers.
Lemina | Gabon 1-1 Congo
A fixture in the Gabon midfield since his return from international retirement last year, Mario Lemina once again was in the heart of his country’s side as they suffered a disappointing draw with Congo. Despite dominating much of the contest in Libreville – the birthplace of both of Wolves’ Leminas – Gabon were unable to claim the victory in the international friendly. As he’s been accustomed to in Old Gold this season, Lemina was key to a lot of his team’s play on his 29th senior international appearance, but it wasn’t enough for Gabon to see out the game. Like Ait-Nouri, Lemina could add to his tally of caps in the World Cup qualifiers this summer.
Doherty | Ireland 0-1 Switzerland
Having made a late substitute appearance in Republic of Ireland’s goalless draw with Belgium at the weekend, Matt Doherty was given an earlier opportunity to impress against Switzerland, coming off a bench which also included Wolves midfielder Joe Hodge – who is currently on loan at QPR in the Championship and was making his first senior squad – for the final 35 minutes in Dublin. However, Ireland were already a goal down ahead of the defender’s arrival, after Xherdan Shaqiri’s opened the scoring midway through the first half, and that was the way the game was to end, with the Republic winless in their last four.
Sa | Slovenia 2-0 Portugal
Following their key roles in Portugal’s heavy win over Sweden at the weekend Nelson Semedo and Toti were allowed to return to Compton early as Roberto Martinez rotated his team for the visit to Slovenia on Tuesday night. Neither of the defenders were part of the squad which fell to a 2-0 loss in their latest friendly, while goalkeeper Jose Sa was an unused substitute, as he waits for a second international cap.
King | Wales 0-0 Poland (4-5 on pens)
Another Wolves goalkeeper was also kept on the bench for his country on Tuesday evening, as Tom King was forced to watch Wales fall at the final hurdle in their bid to reach Euro 2024 this summer. After playing out a goalless draw over 120 minutes of play in their play-off final at the Cardiff City Stadium, the game went to penalties, but Dan James’ miss with the fifth kick meant Poland booked their place in Germany.
