IT PROVED to be a largely successful spell for the contingent of Cherries players away on international duty this month.
A total of 11 players currently at the club went away on senior duty.
Despite featuring in two defeats, it was ultimately a celebratory time for midfielder Ryan Christie.
The Cherries ace started in their controversial 2-0 defeat to Spain, but Scotland still clinched Euro 2024 qualification a few days later, as Norway were beaten by the same opponents.
Steve Clarke’s men could still top their group, having won five of their six fixtures.
Scotland then faced France in a friendly, taking the lead before falling to a 4-1 loss. Christie featured for the final 14 minutes in Lille and will hope to be with the Tartan Army in Germany next summer.
Kieffer Moore played a big role as Wales enjoyed two victories.
The striker scored twice in a 4-0 friendly win over Gibraltar in Wrexham, before playing the full 90 minutes of a vital 2-1 victory against Croatia in Euro 2024 qualifying.
Cherries teammate Chris Mepham also played the whole contest against Croatia. It was the centre-back’s first appearance since the last international break, having missed Cherries’ past two games due to injury.
David Brooks was a third Cherries man to start in the qualifying win, providing an assist for Harry Wilson to find the net before being substituted after suffering cramp.
Like Mepham, the 26-year-old did not feature against Gibraltar.
Wales sit second in their group, with decisive matches against Armenia and Turkey to come in November.
Illia Zabarnyi and Ukraine took a huge step towards Euro 2024 with two wins this month.
The centre-back played a full part in both games as Ukraine beat North Macedonia 2-0, before sealing a 3-1 win in Malta.
They now sit second in Group C ahead of a crunch clash with third-placed Italy next month.
Staying in Europe, Milos Kerkez started twice as Hungary remained top of Group G.
Although not yet mathematically qualified, Hungary are on the brink of sealing their spot in Germany after battling from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with Lithuania on Tuesday.
Kerkez was substituted at half-time with his nation 2-0 down.
Earlier in the break, the 19-year-old played the full contest in a 2-1 win over his birth nation Serbia.
Further afield, Nathan Moriah-Welsh marked his return to international action with a goal for Guyana.
The midfielder, recently back from injury, scored in a 3-1 win over Puerto Rico in the CONCACAF Nations League, just two minutes after coming off the bench.
Moriah-Welsh also played in Guyana’s reverse match against the same opponents, which also finished with a 3-1 win.
In World Cup qualifying, Luis Sinisterra came on, but was unable to help Colombia avoid losing a lead late on to draw 2-2 draw against Uruguay.
He then remained an unused substitute for a 0-0 draw against Ecuador
Antoine Semenyo made two appearances for Ghana in the United States.
The Black Stars were beaten 2-0 and 4-0 in friendlies against Mexico and USA respectively.
In Africa, Ivory Coast warmed up for AFCON with two 1-1 draws, against Morocco and South Africa.
Hamed Traore came off the bench in both fixtures.
Dango Ouattara played a full part as Burkina Faso defeated Mauritania 2-1 in a friendly on Tuesday, having drawn 0-0 with Equatorial Guinea.
Philip Billing pulled out of the Denmark squad through injury while Marcos Senesi and Andrei Radu, who both received call-ups earlier this year, were not included by Argentina or Romania respectively this time around.
Elsewhere, Mark Travers, currently on loan at Stoke City, was an unused substitute for both of Republic of Ireland’s Euro qualifiers.
They were beaten 2-0 by Greece, before a 4-0 win in Gibraltar.
Owen Bevan, out on loan at Cheltenham Town, played 90 minutes as Wales under-21s grabbed a late 1-1 draw in Croatia.
Bevan was replaced by forward Cian Ashford in stoppage time, the Cardiff City man popping up with the equaliser.
Total minutes played –
Illia Zabarnyi, Dango Ouattara – 180
Milos Kerkez, Kieffer Moore, Nathan Moriah-Welsh – 135
Ryan Christie – 91
Chris Mepham, Owen Bevan – 90
Antoine Semenyo – 80
David Brooks – 57
Hamed Traore – 44
Luis Sinisterra – 10
Mark Travers – 0
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