Five Napoli players were in action on Tuesday: Kim Min-jae, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Leo Østigård and Amir Rrahmani. Mathias Olivera was on the bench for Uruguay but did not feature against teammate Kim. Later in the evening, Giovanni Simeone was on the bench for Argentina’s 7-0 friendly victory over Curaçao, but did not feature either.
Focus on Napoli
Kim Min-jae played the full 90 minutes in South Korea’s 1-2 friendly defeat to Uruguay, while Mathias Olivera did not feature off the bench. Despite conceding two goal, Kim had another strong performance at the back.
The Napoli defender was frustrated speaking to the media after the match. The central defender responded to the constant questions about his future, saying “I’m mentally tired. I want to focus on my team rather than the national team. I have nothing more to say right now.”
Kim later apologized for the comment via a post on Instagram and clarified that while he is in a tough mental state, he has no intention of retiring from international football.
André-Frank Zambo Anguissa played the full 90 minutes in Cameroon’s shocking 2-1 defeat to Namibia in AFCON Group C qualifying. Cameroon were particularly uninspiring over two matches against the 113th-ranked nation, collecting only one point. Anguissa struggled to assert himself into the match.
In the 38th minute, the Napoli midfielder received a pass at the edge of the Guinea Bissau area before playing a short, diagonal through ball to Bryan Mbeumo, but his shot was stopped comfortably by Jonas Mendes.
Anguissa was also part of the four man wall that was breached on Namibia’s second goal, though in fairness, Anguissa himself was not at fault. Striker Vincent Aboubakar jumped away from the wall, allowing the ball to get through to the back of the goal. Aboubakar made up for the mistake with a goal in stoppage time, but it was too little too late.
With only three teams in AFCON Qualification Group C, Cameroon are still likely to advance to the next stage.
Crazy for Kvara
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia went head-to-head with Napoli teammate Leo Østigård on Tuesday. Neither player lined up in their regular position at Napoli. Kvaratskhelia played in the front two in Willy Sagnol’s 3-5-2 formation, while Østigård lined up on the left side of the centre back pairing.
After sitting out Georgia’s friendly match against Mongolia on Saturday, the Kvaratskhelia immediately asserted his influence on the match. In the second minute, 22-year-old drifted over to the right side before whipping a dangerous cross into the area. Irakli Azarov seemed caught between two minds and ultimately conceded possession rather cheaply.
As always, Karatskhelia was heavily involved in the Georgia attack. Along with teammate Georges Mikautadze, he led all players with five shot attempts. In the 35th minute, with Norway up 0-1, Kvara nearly equalized with a shot from a narrow angle, but it curled and dipped onto the roof of the goal. After the miss, the Napoli winger urged the fans behind the goal for their support, and they responded accordingly.
Having created opportunities for his teammates, Kvara took matters into his own hands in the 81st minute. The Napoli winger took on two defenders on the Georgia left wing before cutting to his right and firing a shot curled around the defenders and keeper, but also curled around the far post.
Meanwhile, Østigård had a difficult match. Midway through the first half he won a header from a Norway corner kick but the ball flashed over the goal. Then, moments before the break, the central defender blocked a powerful strike with his face. Though he stayed down for a while, Østigård was able to carry on and complete the match.
Finally, Østigård was partially liable for Georgia’s equalizer in the second half. The Napoli centre back was unable to win an aerial duel with Budu Zivzivadze at midfield. That allowed the ball to bounce forward to Georges Mikautadze, who beat goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.
Nevertheless, Norway should have walked away with a win. The visitors squandered at least two high quality chances in the second half and will rue not taking all three points at the Batumi Stadium in Georgia.
Unable to Break Through
Amir Rrahmani played the full 90 minutes in Kosovo’s 1-1 draw against Andorra in UEFA Euro Group I qualifying. The Napoli defender wore the captain’s armband again in his 51st cap for his country – the most of any player in Kosovo’s brief history.
Though Kosovo dominated the ball in the first half, neither side registered a single shot on target until the 44th minute. Kosovo opened the scoring in the 59th minute, but conceded the equalizer only two minutes later.
With Andorra more than content with a point, Kosovo pushed forward with wave after wave of attack. Even Rrahmani tempted luck, shooting from distance in the 64th minute, but his effort sailed over the bar. The Napoli central defender pushed up again in stoppage time, winning the ball back in Andorra territory before dribbling into the area and playing a cross.
Despite their best efforts, Kosovo could not find a second goal. The home side would have also felt hard-done by, after numerous potential fouls in the area were not given.
