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Southampton: International duty for four Saints players

By Marc Walker

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - MAY 30: Maya Yoshida of Japan in action during the international friendly match between Japan and Ghana at Nissan Stadium on May 30, 2018 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - MAY 30: Maya Yoshida of Japan in action during the international friendly match between Japan and Ghana at Nissan Stadium on May 30, 2018 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images) /
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Four Saints players have represented their countries in friendlies this week as preparations for the World Cup continue.

Maya Yoshida and Cedric both played for Japan and Portugal respectively in the past few days whilst Dusan Tadic is expected to feature for Serbia this evening. Shane Long has been away with Ireland in the past week too.

Yoshida and Japan fell to a 2-0 defeat to Ghana on Wednesday, with the 29-year-old playing the full 90 minutes and receiving his 81st international cap. He was also named in their final 23-man squad for the tournament on Thursday.

Cedric’s Portugal played out a 0-0 draw with Belgium on Saturday and the Right-Back also played the full 90 in his country’s penultimate match before heading to Russia.

Tadic and Serbia face Chile tonight in their final friendly before heading to the final too, and the 29-year-old received some good news as he was named in their final 23-man squad on Friday.

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MOSCOW, RUSSIA – JUNE 21: Cedric of Portugal attempts to shoot while he is closed down by the Russia defence during the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 Group A match between Russia and Portugal at Spartak Stadium on June 21, 2017 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
MOSCOW, RUSSIA – JUNE 21: Cedric of Portugal attempts to shoot while he is closed down by the Russia defence during the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 Group A match between Russia and Portugal at Spartak Stadium on June 21, 2017 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images) /

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Shane Long was due to be in action as the Republic of Ireland played the USA but he was unfortunately ruled out of the clash after picking up a knee injury. The striker did play 70 minutes in his country’s 2-0 defeat to France last Thursday however.

Yoshida will likely be involved again for Japan in further friendlies against Switzerland and Paraguay as they work through a busy schedule to prepare for Russia 2018.

They were drawn in group H along with Poland, Senegal and Colombia and play their opening game against the Colombians on June 19th.

Portugal and Cedric face one further friendly clash with Algeria on Thursday before their first match of the tournament against Spain on June 15th. Group B also includes Morocco and Iran.

Following their match with Chile this evening, Tadic’s Serbia play Bolivia next Saturday before facing Costa Rica, Switzerland and Brazil in group E.

It remains to be seen whether Jan Bednarek will make Poland’s final cut, but he was included in the preliminary 35 man team to be picked from.

A poor domestic campaign for the Saints players has perhaps seen some of the squad fall out of favour with their respective countries. Ryan Bertrand, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Sofiane Boufal have all missed out on places for the World Cup in Russia that starts in 10 days.

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