UEFA Nations League round-up: Tuesday's star men assessed
The final round of UEFA Nations League matches this international break took place on Tuesday night. Here, we run through the top performing players from the seven midweek matches.
Moldova 0-0 Belarus: Veaceslav Posmac - 7.66 rating
Moldova and Belarus played out a 0-0 draw on Tuesday night, which helped neither team. The stalemate left the home side with just one point from two games to show for their efforts, though the resolute showing of Veaceslav Posmac was certainly a positive. The centre-back earned the WhoScored man of the match award with a 7.66 rating having won seven aerial duels and 11 clearances to guarantee a clean sheet for Moldova.
San Marino 0-3 Luxembourg: Maxime Chanot - 8.58 rating
In the other game of group 2 in league D, Luxembourg moved to the summit following a resounding 3-0 win over San Marino to make it two wins from two. A second successive clean sheet was made possible by the man of the match display from defender Maxime Chanot. The New York City FC centre-back won eight aerial duels, made four clearances and two interceptions to keep this home side’s attack at bay. At the other end of the pitch, Chanot netted the opener to help return a WhoScored rating of 8.58.
Finland 1-0 Estonia: Paulus Arajuuri - 7.71 rating
Finland landed a 1-0 win over Estonia to make it two wins from two in the UEFA Nations League as they moved three points clear at the top of group 2 in league C. Paulus Arajuuri put in a solid showing at the heart of the home side’s defence, with the centre-back landing a WhoScored rating of 7.71. He won five aerial duels, made four tackles, seven clearances and three interceptions to come away with the man of the match award.
Hungary 2-1 Greece: Roland Sallai - 7.94 rating
In the other group 2 game in league C, Hungary secured a 2-1 win over Greece, with Roland Sallai the star man for the home side. He netted the opening goal after just 15 minutes, that coming from one of four shots on goals from the 21-year-old, while one key pass and one tackle rounded off a solid individual display from the youngster, whose WhoScored rating of 7.94 was enough to earn the man of the match award.
Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-0 Austria: Edin Dzeko - 7.71 rating
Bosnia and Herzegovina edged to a 1-0 win over Austria courtesy of a second half Edin Dzeko goal. The striker netted late on to secure all three points, scoring from one of his two shots. He led the line well, too, as he won three aerial duels and made two successful dribbles and he could’ve had an assist having made two key passes in the narrow victory. All in all, it was enough for Dzeko to land the WhoScored man of the match award with a 7.71 rating.
Spain 6-0 Croatia: Marco Asensio - 10.0 rating
.@MarcoAsensio10: Man of the Match vs Croatia @SeFutbol
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) September 11, 2018
Goals 1
Assists 3
Shots 3
Key Passes 4
Woodwork Hit 1
Pass Accuracy 95.2%
Rating 10.0
Full player ratings -- https://t.co/NyiOOPK5fR pic.twitter.com/mBDZXeZun2
Undeniably, the performance of the night came in Spain’s 6-0 win over World Cup finalists’ Croatia. Marco Asensio landed a perfect 10 having had a direct hand in four of Spain’s six goals, scoring one and assisting three. His first half shot that struck the woodwork also resulted in Lovre Kalinic’s own goal with 10 minutes of the half remaining. Returns of one successful dribble, four key passes and a 95.2% pass success rate capped off a fine evening for Asensio, who deservedly won the WhoScored man of the match award.
Iceland 0-3 Belgium: Romelu Lukaku - 9.11 rating
Belgium extended their fine record of just one defeat in their last 28 games with a comfortable 3-0 win over Iceland on Tuesday night. Romelu Lukaku, too, has been excellent for the Red Devils of late and has now scored 20 goals in his last 20 Belgium starts after bagging a brace, scoring with two of five shots. An additional three successful dribbles and two key passes saw the 25-year-old come away with the WhoScored man of the match award with a 9.11 rating.