Yves Bissouma's international experiences with Mali in the past week will leave Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte with mixed feelings.
The summer signing from Brighton has started just one match for Spurs so far this season and would have been hoping to get some minutes in his belt with his country. However, it has not exactly worked out that way for the 26-year-old central midfielder during his international exploits in this break.
First Bissouma was on the bench for Mali in the opening game of a double header of home friendlies against Zambia on Friday, coming on for the final 27 minutes of the 1-0 victory at the Stade Du 26 Mars. Then at the same stadium on Monday, Bissouma was named in the starting line-up against the same opposition.
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Just 15 minutes into the match though a heavy downpour struck and flooded the pitch. The two teams went inside and after 45 minutes it looked like the game would be resumed with the Mali players returning to the turf to start their warm-up. However, according to reports their opponents, did not emerge and almost 90 minutes after the game was suspended it was eventually called off by the Malian match officials.
That Bissouma got only 42 minutes of action during the break is not ideal for Conte, who needs him fitter and sharper for the frantic run of 13 fixtures within six weeks ahead, although the Italian will be happy at least if the midfielder returns to Hotspur Way without injury.
Ahead of the victory against Leicester the Spurs head coach had told football.london that Bissouma is still adapting to his demands.
"The only player that is struggling a bit with the tactical aspect is Bissouma, but also he is improving a lot in every aspect," he said. "I am sure when we start again and play 13 games, for sure he is another player I can count on but I try to take the best decision for the player because I want to protect the player.
"At the same time I want to protect the team and everybody. For sure we know very well when we start again to play 12 games in one month, you have to be ready. You have to be ready because I need all my players."
He added: "There are players that do this quickly like Richarlison, Lenglet, like Perisic and then other players that need a bit of time. Also the midfielder is a specific role for us, with the ball and without the ball. It's not simple. I ask for some moments, some positions. They have to be a point of reference in every moment of the game.
"The midfielder for sure, to go into our idea of football is maybe the most difficult position, but we are talking about a player that has great skill, good running. With the ball he's really good, defensively he has to pay more attention. More attention because especially we only have two midfielders and then they have to be good with the ball and without the ball, but I'm really happy with his signing."
Elsewhere on international duty on Monday, Harry Kane crept closer to becoming England's all-time top goalscorer with a perfect penalty to make it goal number 51 for him in the 3-3 Nations League draw with Germany. Kane is now just two goals away from going level with Wayne Rooney in his country's goalscoring charts.
It was the 75th cap for the England captain and Eric Dier made it back to back starts after returning to the international fold, meaning he now has 47 caps.
Summer signing Destiny Udogie, currently on loan at Udinese, played 45 minutes as Italy U21s drew 1-1 in a friendly against Japan while youngsters Jamie Donley and Alfie Dorrington featured as England U18s beat Belgium 2-0 in Spain, the former starting and grabbing an assist while Luca Gunter was an unused substitute.
On Sunday, Ivan Perisic played his part with an assist as Croatia secured their place in next summer’s Nations League finals with a 3-1 victory in Austria. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg played the full game for Denmark as they won 2-0 at home against a France side missing Spurs captain Hugo Lloris due his small thigh injury.
Joe Rodon got another 90 minutes for Wales but could not prevent them from falling to a 1-0 home defeat by Poland. Academy midfielder Matthew Craig earned his first Scotland U21 cap as they drew 1-1 with Northern Ireland. Davinson Sanchez was an unused substitute for Colombia as they overcame Guatemala 4-1 in a friendly in the USA.
Conte will be hoping that the remaining players taking on their second matches of the international break return to the club without any issues.
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