INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP

Gunnar's Iceland edged out by Croatia to make World Cup

CITY midfielder Aron Gunnarsson was left with bitter disappointment last night as Iceland narrowly missed out on qualification for next summer’s World Cup.

With the aggregate scores level at 0-0 with Croatia after Friday night’s first-leg tie in Reykjavik, Croatia made their home advantage count in Zagreb as they ran out eventual 2-0 winners, despite playing the second half with ten men following the dismissal of goalscorer Mario Mandzukic.

The Bayern Munich front man had given Croatia the lead with half an hour gone, before seeing red for a high challenge just a few minutes later. Iceland failed to make the man advantage pay however, as Darijo Srna doubled the home sides advantage and ultimately secured their place in Brazil next summer at Iceland’s expense.



Elsewhere, City’s Gary Medel played the full 90 minutes of Chile’s 2-1 friendly defeat to Brazil in Toronto.

Looking to continue the good form that saw them beat England 2-0 on Friday night, Chile continued their World Cup preparations against next summer’s hosts only to be defeated by strikes from Hulk and Robinho in Canada.



There was better news for City goalkeeper David Marshall however, as he maintained his place in the Scotland goal for a second consecutive game to keep a clean sheet in the Scots’ 1-0 win over Norway.

In wintery conditions in Molde, Scott Brown’s goal proved the difference on the night as Gordon Strachan’s side extended their unbeaten run to four games.
City midfielder Kim Bo Kyung was also in action earlier in the day, coming on as a 59th minute substitute for South Korea in their 2-1 defeat to Russia in Dubai.