Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri faced each other in Paris as France and Bosnia-Herzegovina battled it out to secure automatic qualification to next summer’s European Championships. The French needed a point to win their group, but Dzeko’s goal shortly before half-time threatened to upset the applecart.
Nasri secured the point his country needed 12 minutes from time, firing home a penalty after being felled in the box and consigning his City team mate to a two-legged play-off next month, the draw for which takes place on Thursday.
David Silva was the star of the show for the umpteenth time this season, this time in the red shirt of Spain rather than the sky blue of City in Alicante. The sublime form that has seen him named as player of the month by both the Barclays Premier League and by City fans continued as Scotland were pulled apart by the 25-year-old, who scored twice before half-time in the world and European champions’ 3-1 win.
Congratulations to midfielder Mohammed Abu, who made his first start for Ghana in their goalless draw with Nigeria at Watford’s Vicarage Road ground after impressing in his loan spell with Stromsgodset in Norway.
