Funes Mori, Toko Ekambi, Bacca, Fornals and Pedraza contributed to their national teams’ victories
It was a great first matchday of international action for the Yellows away with their countries. Colombian striker Carlos Bacca started the match against the USA, playing 76 minutes in a 2-4 victory. The forward found the back of the second of Los Cafeteros’ strikes. The rest of the goals came from James Rodríguez, Radamel Falcao and Miguel Borja.
Ramiro Funes Mori was also a starter as Argentina beat Iraq 0-4. The Yellows No.4, who played as a centre-back, completed the 90 minutes in a match in which the goals came from Lautaro Martínez, Roberto Pereyra, Germán Pezzella and Franco Cervi.
Karl Toko Ekambi also played 90 minutes, as Cameroon faced Malawi in a qualifier for the Africa Cup of Nations. The Indomitable Lions got a tight 1-0 victory thanks to a strike from Eric Chupo-Moting.
Finally, the Spanish U21 minutes also got minutes in during the win against Albania U21 (0-1). Pablo Fornals was a starter, and was taken off in the 54th minute for his club mate Alfonso Pedraza. La Rojita’s goal came from Rafa Mir.
The matches that Villarreal CF players will face this international break are the following (time and date in Spain):
Ramiro Funes Mori (Argentina):
- Thursday, 11th October: Iraq vs Argentina (0-4).
- Tuesday, 16th October: Brazil vs Argentina, 7:45pm, King Abdullah Sports City (Saudi Arabia).
Carlos Bacca (Colombia):
- Friday, 12th October: USA vs Colombia (2-4).
- Wednesday, 17th October: Colombia vs Costa Rica, 2am, Red Bull Arena (USA).
Karl Toko Ekambi (Cameroon):
- Friday, 12th October: Cameroon vs Malawi (1-0).
- Tuesday, 16th October: Malawi vs Cameroon, 2:30pm, Kamuzu Stadium (Malawi).
Pablo Fornals and Alfonso Pedraza (Spain U21):
- Thursday, 11th October: Albania U21 vs Spain U21 (0-1).
- Tuesday, 16th October: Iceland U21 vs Spain U21, 6:45pm, Floridana Vollurinn Stadium (Iceland).