Duty Calls For Saints Trio

By SFC Media time Tue 11 Jun Club

A busy summer of international football continues today, with Maya Yoshida, Nathaniel Clyne and Gastón Ramírez available to feature for their respective national sides.

Yoshida and Japan – who last week booked their ticket for the 2014 FIFA World Cup – play their final qualifier this afternoon, when they face Iraq in Qatar.

Then, later on, England's Under-21s round off their 2013 UEFA European U21 Championship campaign when they face hosts Israel having already been eliminated from the competition by losing their first two group games.

Japan boss Alberto Zaccheroni may shuffle his pack for this afternoon's game at the Grand Hamad Stadium in Doha, with the Samurai Blue's draw with Australia last week doing enough to ensure they will be off to next summer's finals.

After today's game, Zaccheroni's squad is due to fly to Brazil for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, so the coach might have that quick turnaround in mind when he selects his team to face Iraq.

Clyne was left on the bench on Saturday as England Under-21s lost their second game at Euro 2013, with a 3-1 loss to Norway ensuring they will be heading home at the end of the group stage.

Nevertheless, there is still an opportunity to salvage some pride this evening, as Stuart Pearce's side takes on Israel at the Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem.

Pearce has hinted that he will select a side with the future in mind, which may well work against Clyne given he will no longer be young enough to play for the Under-21s after this tournament.

Ramírez will then hope to line up for Uruguay when they face Venezuela in a World Cup qualifier that kicks off at 1am BST tomorrow morning.

The Saints man impressed as a half-time substitute in a friendly win over France last week, and will hope he has done enough to earn a starting place in Ciudad Guayana tonight.

Uruguay are currently ranked seventh out of the nine South American teams looking to qualify for next summer's finals, though they would leapfrog fifth-placed Venezuela with a win tonight.

Southampton goalkeeper Artur Boruc was in action for his country over the weekend, lining up between the posts as Poland travelled to Moldova for a World Cup qualifier of their own.

It ended 1-1 in Chișinău on Friday night, leaving Poland fourth in European qualifying group H and with an uphill task if they are to reach next summer's finals in Brazil.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Emmanuel Mayuka was an unused substitute for Zambia as they beat Lesotho 4-0 in Ndola to strengthen their position at the top of African qualifying group D.

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