Brief International round-up – Chelsea players

With Chelsea´s squad strength being tested over the coming months, the best news, in my opinion, comes in the form of Chelsea players being rested for some of the midweek international fixtures, with Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel having requests not to travel accepted, and with Fernando Torres and Cesar Azpilicueta not being selected.

Other good news is that Eden Hazard, Petr Cech and Ryan Bertrand travelled with their respected teams, but were not played.

Gary Cahill played a full 90 minutes for England in Sweden´s new Swedbank stadium in which they lost 4-2 to 4 Zlatan Ibrhimovic goals, with Daniel Sturridge coming on for the last half-hour, not making much of an impression.

David Luiz, Ramires and Oscar all travelled to New Jersey to take on Falcao´s Colombia side, in which Oscar was the only Chelsea player not to play 90 minutes, playing out a 1-1 draw, which included a great solo goal by one time Chelsea FC target Neymar, and an awful missed penalty by the same player.

Branislav Ivanovic played well in his 45 minutes for Serbia at right back in their 3-1 win over Chile.

Juan Mata was the only other first team member to play on Wednesday night, playing the first half in a 5-1 win over Panama, and spoke out after previously being over-looked.

“I was very upset at being left out last time, but it’s great to be back with the lads again,” Mata told reporters.

He went on to talk about his delight in the win saying: “It was not that easy, the game was a potential banana skin, They have been doing well recently and have a chance to qualify for the World Cup.

“The conditions weren’t the best either,” having played the game in 30 degree heat, “but we put in a good performance. We played well, we put on a spectacle and we go back to Spain in a very satisfied mood.”

Other players to note for playing midweek, we´re Oriol Romeu who played in Spain´s U21 side that beat Italy U21 3-1, and the out on loan pair of Nathan Chalobah and Josh McEachran who both played a part in England U21´s 2-0 win over Northern Ireland U21.

I hope that this small international break will help us put the past few Premier League fixtures behind us and get back on track against West Brom on Saturday, Come on you blues.