Important fixture for Piątek and Poland

As the final international break of 2021 comes to an end, four Blue-Whites still have games to play on Monday and Tuesday with their national teams. Jurgen Ekkelenkamp and the Netherlands U21s are thr first to play. Their EURO 2023 qualifying process has gone better than expected so far, with ten points from their four group E games. Erwin van de Lool’s side will look to back up their 3-1 home win with another win in Gibraltar, which would take the “Jong Oranje” joint-top of group E with Switzerland.

Krysztof Piątek and his Poland side will also want to take three three points from their final World Cup qualifier against Hungary. The Polish national team have already booked a play-off berth, but do still have a very slim chance of winning group I and qualifying automatically. To end the group top, they have to rely on pointless San Marino pulling off the shock to end all shocks and beating current group leaders England, as well as Poland beating Hungary. One Herthaner who does not need concern himself with possible permutations is our captain Dedryck Boyata, whose Belgium national team booked their place in Qatar 2022 with a 3-1 win against Estonia. The tenth and final matchday of group E sees the Red Devils travel to face Wales.

Gechter and Germany U18s face Denmark – Dárdai leaves U21 camp with cold

The Germany U18 squad and Linus Gechter are not competing for points, rather just good results in Bremen. Following a thrilling 3-3 friendly draw against Denmark on Friday, they go into the second friendly against their Danish opponents looking for a win. Sadly, Márton Dárdai has been unable to make his debut for the Germany U21s, as a cold has meant he has left the camp early and returned to Berlin. Our central defender will have to wait a while longer for  his debut.