Coutinho, Perisic, and Lewandowski headline for Bayern Munich players on international duty

Coutinho and Copa America winner’s Brazil draw Senegal

To kick off the day of Bayern Munich players on international duty, Philippe Coutinho earned a start for Brazil’s friendly against Sadio Mane’s Senegal. Brazil lined up in an interesting 4-2-2-2 formation that saw Coutinho return to the dreaded left-midfield position where he was largely unsuccessful in during his time at FC Barcelona.

Coutinho was mostly ineffective again playing out wide and was subbed out in the 72nd minute. This game was notable for being Neymar’s 100th cap for Brazil. During that time he has scored 61 goals! That’s more than Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their first 100 caps.

Perisic performance a mixed bag for Croatia

Bayern Munich’s Ivan Perisic started today for Croatia’s European Cup Qualifier against Hungary. Croatia started the game leading their group (E) with 10 points to Hungary and Slovakia’s 9. Croatia has been in poor form since reaching the World Cup final in 2018 and looked to avenge their 2-1 defeat to Hungary earlier in their Euro campaign. Perisic came into this game as Croatia’s leading-goal scorer this Euro qualifying campaign with 2 goals.

Perisic started the game on the right wing. He played there the majority of the game but switched sides with Ante Rebic and play down the left side as well. Perisic was very active in the beginning with both a dangerous cross and a shot on target in the first five minutes. The pressing Luka Modric was able to dispossess the Hungarian defense and open up the scoring at the five-minute mark.

Photo by DENIS LOVROVIC/AFP via Getty Images

Croatia dominated the first half scoring two more goals, both scored by center-forward Bruno Petkovic, the second of which came from a Perisic cross that Hungary failed to clear. Perisic was able to make runs down both sides of the field and cut inside, but his shots were all deflected.

Perisic ended the night on a sour note after his penalty was saved by RB Leipzig’s Peter Gulasci. The penalty was weak and easily saved as Gulasci guessed, or probably more appropriately read, which way Perisic shot the ball. Perisic was subbed off five minutes later at the 61st minute.

Croatia, however, easily beat Hungary and were never in danger of losing the match or even conceding. They enjoyed 69% of possession and led 17 shots to Hungary’s five. Perisic did well making runs down the flank, pressing the opponent, tracking back to defend when needed, and linking up in possession in the midfield. However, he was also wasteful with multiple opportunities and lacked a finishing touch.

Lewandowski scores a hat-trick!

Robert Lewandowski continued his excellent spell of form with three goals in Poland’s rout of Latvia. What a magical start to the season he is having! Poland leads their group (G) with 16 points. Second place in that group is David Alaba’s Austria with 13 points. It looks like the two Bayern Munich men will be playing in the Euro Cup this summer!

This was Robert Lewandowski’s 6th hat-trick for his country.