Team
07.09.16
Spahic at the double - Djourou beats Euro champions
Johan Djourou, Gotoku Sakai and Emir Spahic all won with their national teams. Spahic even managed a brace of goals.
The remaining three Rothosen men to play for their respective countries during the international break, all tasted victory and will return to Hamburg in positive mood. Emir Spahic and Bosnia Herzegovina thrashed Estonia 5-0 in a 2018 World Cup qualifying clash. The HSV central defender scored twice for the winners including opening the scoring on 7 minutes. He also scored the last goal of the one-sided game (90.+2). The Bosnians now top qualifying group H ahead of Greece and Belgium.
Sakai also collected three crucial points. In a Japan shirt the HSV right back won 2-0 away to Thailand in Bangkok. Sakai played the full 90 minutes. After losing 1-2 to the United Arab Emirates the Japanese are third placed in their group behind Australia and Saudi-Arabia.
Champion beater
Finally HSV captain Johan Djourou was also on winning street. His Swiss national team beat newly-crowned European champions Portugal 2-0 in their first World Cup qualifier. The Portuguese were without their super-star Christiano Ronaldo. Goals by Schalke new signing Breel Embolo (23.) and Leverkusen man Admir Mehmedi (30.) saw the Swiss triumph at the St.-Jakob-Park stadium in Basel. Switzerland top their group, and Djourou played the full 90 minutes.
The Hamburg trio should return to Germany in confident mood. Spahic and Djourou will return on Wednesday, while Sakai will follow a day later.