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The international break is done, and while this is some relieving news to hear as Premier League fans, the break has had its spectacular moments. From Spain’s penalty shootout, to Salah finding his mojo again after playing Ethiopia, we’ve had front-row seats to these showdowns thanks to sites like Betway.
Without further ado, let’s dive straight into some of the biggest spectacles of the international break.
Mexico Wins the CONCACAF Nations League
Mexico took on Panama on the 24th of March in the CONCACAF Nations League competition. Mexico, captained by Edson Alvarez, who plays for West Ham, got the upper hand by clobbering their opponents 2 goals to one.
With an early 8th-minute goal from Raul Jimenez, Mexico seemed in control. However, just before halftime, the winning team conceded a penalty which was calmly converted by Adalberto.
The game remained at a deadlock until once again Raul Jimenez came to save the day from a last-minute penalty. This highlight was the kick in the game, considering that the goal came from Jimenez.
This victory marks the first time Mexico has ever won a CONCACAF Nations League title. This is no small feat, and the effort they put in is a testament to that.
Spain’s penalty shootout
Talk about a highlight. Spain went toe to toe with the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League and beat them after a thrilling 3-3 draw. Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal was the first to open the scoreboard with an 8th-minute penalty.
In the 54th minute, Memphis Depay equalized for the Netherlands through a penalty. When you would think it ends here, Mikel then scored in the 67th minute, followed by a 79th equalizer by Ian Masteen. For the punters, visiting a site like betway sports for this match, it would have been more than a thrilling experience.
The game went into extra time, and we saw Lamine Yamal find the back of the net in the 103rd minute. This was quickly countered by Xavi Simons in the 109th minute via a penalty. Spain ended up winning the shootout 5-4 in an epic saga.
Salah Is Back
Liverpool fans know just how crucial Mohamed Salah is to their arsenal. He is currently a strong competitor eyeing the top goal and assist involvement. Both numbers could be crucial in him getting the Ballon d’Or.
Mo Salah now seems revamped after their recent 2-0 win over Ethiopia. The Egyptian king managed a classic shot in the 31st minute, which may be the well-needed confidence boost he needs.
Japan Becomes the First Nation to Qualify for the World Cup
After easily going through the qualifiers, Japan recently became the first country to secure its spot in the 2026 World Cup edition.
This is the first time this competition will be hosted in three countries: the US, Canada, and Mexico. They have Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada to thank for this, who scored three minutes after coming off the bench.
Conclusion
With the international break coming to an end, we can go back to the ever-entertaining Premier League. However, we did witness some dazzling matches like Spain vs. Netherlands and Egypt vs. Ethiopia.
