Internationals | Corbeanu scores four minutes into Canada debut

26th March 2021

It did not take long for young Wolves winger Theo Corbeanu to make his mark on his international debut, scoring his first goal for Canada just four minutes after coming on as a substitute in his country’s World Cup qualifying win over Bermuda.

With Canada already 4-1 up when the 18-year-old came on as a 77^th minute substitute on Thursday evening, Corbeanu wasted no time to get his first international goal as he made a clever run into the box from the right to slot a Liam Millar cross beyond the Bermuda keeper.

The forward, who played internationally for Romania – his parents’ homeland – at junior level before switching allegiances to the country of his birth last year, has been a stand-out player for Wolves under-23s this season while training regularly with Nuno Espirito Santo and the first-team squad, and he used all that experience to earn Canada a 5-1 win to get their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign off to a flying start.

Corbeanu will be hoping he can build on a debut to remember in Canada’s second qualifying match when they take on the Cayman Islands at 9pm (UK time) on Sunday evening.

The first few days of international football has been a positive one for those of a Wolves persuasion, with captain Conor Coady also taking the armband for England in their 5-0 victory over San Marino.

Going up 3-0 into the break, Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling, who began the match as captain, was replaced by club teammate Phil Foden, with Coady taking over captaincy responsibilities.

Playing as part of a back four alongside John Stones in the centre of defence, Coady helped his country to a great start to their World Cup qualification campaign, and will be aiming to be back on the pitch as the Three Lions face Albania on Sunday, kick-off 5pm, before hosting Poland on Wednesday.

Wolves were well represented in the Portugal team which earned a 1-0 win over Azerbaijan on Wednesday evening, as Pedro Neto won his second cap playing in attack, alongside Andre Silva and Cristiano Ronaldo, while Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho were part of the midfield.

All three Wolves players were replaced throughout the game, with Moutinho – who put in an impressive display – coming off at half-time before Neto and Neves were substituted later in the second-half as Portugal relied on a Maksim Medvedev own goal to secure a narrow win.

Portugal are back in World Cup qualification tomorrow as they travel to Serbia for a 7.45pm kick-off, before heading to Luxembourg on Tuesday evening.

Leander Dendoncker was also in action for Belgium on Wednesday, playing the full 90 minutes as his side overcame Wales to get their road to the World Cup off to an encouraging start.

Playing in the centre of midfield as opposed to the defensive role he’s been used to playing for Wolves during the last few months, Dendoncker helped his country to a 3-1 victory.

Belgium will continue their qualification campaign on Saturday as they take on the Czech Republic from 7.45pm before returning home to face Belarus on Tuesday.

The only other Wolves player who has been in action so far this week was Vitinha, who lasted 73 minutes of Portugal under-21’s 1-0 win over Croatia in the first group match of their Euro U21 championships in Slovenia.

The Wolves midfielder, who posed an impressive figure in the centre of the pitch, was brought off moments after former Porto teammate Fabio Vieira put Portugal into the lead.

He will be hoping to be back in action for the young Portugal side when they complete their group stage matches against England on Saturday, kick-off 8pm, and Switzerland on Wednesday.

Yet to make their international bows during March are Romain Saiss and Willy Boly, whose Africa Cup of Nations qualification continues against Mauritania (7pm) and Niger (4pm) respectively on Friday.

Owen Otasowie was an unused substitute for the USA in their friendly match against Jamaica on Thursday evening, but the midfielder could be part of the team which takes on Northern Ireland in Belfast on Sunday, kick-off 5.05pm.

Lewis Richards rounds out the Wolves players away on international duty, with the under-23 defender part of the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad that faced Wales in a friendly this afternoon, with that match kicking off at 1pm in Wrexham.

Wolves internationals March fixtures

Moutinho, Neves, Neto (Portugal): FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers