INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP

Full round-up of City's International involvement over the break

City’s International stars had mixed fortunes on Tuesday night as the final matches of the International break were played and the battle for World Cup qualification intensified.

Enjoying the best of the International break was City midfielder Aron Gunnarsson who captained Iceland to a 2-1 victory over Albania in Reykjavik last night, a win that sees them move into second spot in Group E and within reach of claiming a World Cup qualification play-off spot as one of the best eight runners-up from the nine European qualification groups.

The win in Iceland followed a dramatic 4-4 draw v Switzerland in Berne on Friday night, Iceland coming for 4-1 down to grab a last minute equaliser through AZ Alkmaar’s Johann Gudmundsson, who completed his hat-trick on the night.



Midfielder Kim Bo Kyung once again featured for South Korea, playing the full 90 minutes of their 2-1 defeat to Croatia in a friendly in Jeonju. Goals from Damagoj Vida and former Blackburn Rovers frontman Niko Kalinic put Croatia two goals to the good only for Korea to claim a consolation in stoppage time Keun-Ho Lee. Kim also played a part of their 4-1 friendly victory over Haiti on Friday as a 76th minute substitute.

A little closer to home, Cardiff City Stadium played host to Wales’ World Cup qualifier against Serbia, with Craig Bellamy playing the full 90 minutes of a tough 3-0 defeat to their Group A rivals, Declan John remained and unused substitute. The pair played a similar role in Wales' defeat to Macedonia in Skopje on Friday night.



Following in Wales’ footsteps, City ‘keeper David Marshall and Craig Conway traveled to Macedonia and Skopje with Scotland last night with the City 'keeper playing a part in the Scots 2-1 win only to depart at half-time, being replaced by Matt Gilks; Marshall had previously played the full 90 minutes of Scotland's 2-0 defeat to Belgium.

Gary Medel was once again in action for Chile who followed up his staring role in their 3-0 win over Venezuela, a qualification win edging them ever closer to securing their place in Brazil, by playing the full 90 minutes of their 2-2 friendly result with Spain in Geneva last night.

City striker Rudy Gestede meanwhile returned from International duty on the weekend, having played the full 90 minutes of Benin's 2-0 win over Rwanda in Porto Novo on Saturday.