I am usually not a big fan of the International friendlies. For the most part they offer nothing to the players club side, other than a nervous few days. Not in control of how much game time their player gets, it is mostly a pointless exercise from a clubs perspective.
Occasionally though, as with Gundogan (Germany), Danilo (Brazil) and Bernardo Silva (Portugal) it gives a chance for a player to get valuable match time. Providing they don’t pick up knocks, the more playing time they get under their belt, the better.
The other positive aspect of these friendlies, is the graduation of youth players. This week the England manager Gareth Southgate called up Angus Gunn. On loan at his hometown club, Norwich City, the young goalkeeper has impressed.
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Son of Norwich legend Bryan, Angus could make his debut for the senior England National side. Bryan himself went to the 1990 World Cup Finals in Italy, representing the Scottish National side, but was behind the likes of Jim Leighton and Andy Goram, and so didn’t make an appearance.
He made his debut for Scotland in a friendly match against Egypt, losing 3-1. Bryan would only make a total of six senior appearances for Scotland, but was older than Angus when he was first made the bow. 27 was his age when he was first invited to the World Cup. If Angus impresses Southgate tomorrow he must certainly be in contention for Russia next year.
Another Manchester City keeper, Joe Hart, seems to have fallen out of favor. In a dismal West Ham side this season, following the poor performance in Italy last term, his stock has sunk. Gunn Jr may be on course to eclipse his fathers International tally but still has a way to go as far as European honors go.
Gunn Snr won the 1983 European Cup Winners Cup with Aberdeen. An unused sub for a side managed by Alex Ferguson consisting of future National side managers, Gordon Strachan and Alex McLeish.
My memories are of a 1993 Norwich City side heading to Munich. Defeating the Germans 2-1 on their own ground before going through 3-2 on aggregate. A fantastic Jeremy Goss goal that night saw them become the first British side to beat Bayern on their own ground. Twenty years later, Manchester City traveled there and repeated, winning 3-2 themselves.
Next: International Review Match-day One
How good would it be for Angus to get a game tomorrow and show Pep Guardiola exactly what he can do. I am not so sure that he wouldn’t be a good back up to Ederson.