Fabio Silva found the back of the net for Portugal for the first time since June 2022 as he also claimed an assist in the under-21’s 3-0 Euro qualifier against Andorra on Friday evening.
The striker’s previous goals in his nation’s colours came during a 9-0 battering of Liechtenstein when Wolves’ number nine scored a hat-trick as well as claiming an assist, and he was back on the scoresheet against the Andorran minnows this week.
Silva was one of nine Wolves players whose countries were in action over Friday and Saturday, and wolves.co.uk rounds up the action, as well as looking ahead to who could be playing during the next few days.
Fabio Silva | Portugal U21 3-0 Andorra U21
Starting Portugal’s opening fixture in their U21 European Championship qualification campaign, it took Silva just 30 minutes to have an impact on the game. After a shot cannoned back off the crossbar, the number 20 was in position inside the box to provide a cheeky backheeled assist into the path of strike partner Henrique Araujo to fire the ball into the far corner of the net. Half an hour later, Silva made it 2-0 to Portugal. Making a clever run to get behind the Andorran defence, the striker was slotted through by Vasco Sousa before firing a low shot beyond the goalkeeper. Silva would play for the next 10 minutes before making way for Lyon’s Diego Moreira as Portugal would add a third and their final goal of the game moments later. The result puts Portugal in second place in Group G, but just one point behind leaders Faroe Islands who have played an additional match. Silva will be hoping to get back among the goals when the under-21s face third place Belarus on Tuesday (12th September, 2pm).
Jose Sa, Nelson Semedo, Toti, Pedro Neto | Slovakia 0-1 Portugal
Wolves had four players selected for the senior Portugal squad for their two Euro 2024 qualification matches this September, and the country made it five wins from as many games with a 1-0 victory over Slovakia on Friday evening to top Group J. All four Old Gold players started the match among the substitutes bench, as Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring on 43 minutes. However, just after the hour mark, a pair of Wolves teammates were introduced to the action as Pedro Neto and Nelson Semedo came on for Rafael Leao and Joao Cancelo respectively, while Jose Sa and Toti were left waiting to make their international debuts. Those debuts could arrive on Monday evening (11th September, 7.45pm) as Portugal face Luxembourg knowing another win would all-but secure their place at the Euro 2024 finals.
✨🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/V47fiOKlWJ
— Pedro Neto (@pedrolneto7) September 9, 2023
Matheus Cunha | Brazil 5-1 Bolivia
By coming onto the pitch for the final 20 minutes of Brazil’s dominant display against Bolivia to open their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, Matheus Cunha became the first ever player to earn an international cap for the Selecao while representing the Old Gold. Replacing Tottenham Hotspur’s Richarlison when the score was 4-0 to his country, Cunha was unable to add to the goal tally as the fifth strike came courtesy of Neymar – who became Brazil’s all-time top scorer, breaking the previous record held by Pele. The result puts Brazil top of the CONMEBOL qualifying table after the first round of fixtures, and Cunha will hope to be back on the pitch in yellow and green in the early hours of Wednesday morning (13th September, 3am) as Brazil face Peru.
Mario Lemina | Mauritania 2-1 Gabon
With Gabon playing just one match during this international period, Mario Lemina knew that his country needed to give it their all during the 90 minutes, as anything other than a victory over Mauritania would not be enough to secure their place in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. The midfielder was in from the start on Saturday evening, but their task was made almost impossible when goalkeeper Jean Noel Amonome saw red inside the opening five minutes of the contest, meaning Gabon would have to play the majority of the game with 10 men. By half-time, two Mauritania goals had seen the hosts take a giant step towards qualifying for January’s finals, and when Lemina was substituted in the 71st minute, the game was all-but done for his country. Although Didier N’Dong scored a consolation for Gabon in added time, it was too little too late, and their AFCON dreams came to an end for another year.
Elsewhere…
Summer signing Santi Bueno was on the bench for Uruguay as they got their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign off to a winning start against Chile on Saturday morning. While his namesake Hugo – who earned his first call-up for Spain’s under-21s – also remained among the substitutes for his country as the young Spaniards ran out 6-0 winners over Malta. Spain are now top of U21 Euro 2025 qualifying Group B, and Bueno will hope to be part of the team for their second match of the group stage when this country face Scotland on Monday evening (11th September, 8pm). Santi and Uruguay are facing Ecuador in their next competitive fixture on Tuesday (12th September, 10pm).
Coming up…
One member of Gary O’Neil’s Wolves squad could see international action on Sunday evening as Matt Doherty could return to the Republic of Ireland fold following his suspension, as his country take on the Netherlands in a crucial Euro 2024 qualification match from 7.45pm tonight. The Boys in Green – who remain on three points from their opening four matches – would close to the gap to second-place Netherlands with victory.
Monday evening could also see Tom King earn his international debut with the goalkeeper part of Wales’ squad for their Euro qualifier against Latvia, which kicks off at 7.45pm, while Hee Chan Hwang and Rayan Ait-Nouri could be back in friendly action for South Korea and Algeria respectively on Tuesday, as Korea take on Saudi Arabia at St James’ Park from 5.30pm and Algeria face Senegal at 8pm.
