It hasn’t been a very encouraging international break for Leeds United’s players. Only Isaac Schmidt’s Switzerland have won involving a Leeds player, and Schmidt wasn’t even playing.
Wales’ Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu and Karl Darlow suffered defeats to both England and then Belgium. Gabriel Gudmundsson and Sweden’s hopes of World Cup qualification are in tatters after Monday.
Having been beaten by Switzerland, Gudmundsson’s Sweden lost to Kosovo last night. Charlie Crew captained Wales’ U21 for the first time but was beaten 7-0, while Schmidt has now picked up an injury.
Brenden Aaronson was unused in USA’s first of two games, Ao Tanaka could only help Japan draw with Paraguay, while Ilie Gruev was surprisingly unused as Bulgaria were hammered 6-1 by Turkey.
Not a good break for Leeds’ players on duty, then. But if one player has impressed, it is Slovenia’s Jaka Bijol. Slovenia might not have won either of their two games, but Bijol has starred in Slovenia’s defence.
Jaka Bijol shines as Slovenia secure two clean sheets
Slovenia needed a win in their two games during the break to have a significant chance of qualifying for the World Cup, so two points from their two games doesn’t really do Bijol and his teammates any favours.
However, Bijol will be pleased with his performance. After a 0-0 draw against Kosovo, Bijol played a key role in stopping group leaders Switzerland on Monday night. A second successive 0-0 draw in Ljubljana.
Bijol will have reminded Farke why he was a “marquee signing” at Leeds in the summer. According to FotMob, he was Slovenia’s best outfield player on the night and made a whopping 10 defensive actions.
Jaka Bijol’s stats as Slovenia draw with Switzerland:
- 90 minutes played, 7.2 FotMob rating (Slovenia’s best outfield player, second to Jan Oblak)
- XG+XA: 0.14, 10 defensive contributions
- 47 touches, 28/33 successful passes (85%)
- 10 defensive contributions
- 4 interceptions, 2 tackles, 2 blocks
- 2 duels won, three lost, 2 fouls committed
Pascal Struijk should be worried as Jaka Bijol shines
There has been plenty of talk regarding Struijk’s place in the starting XI, and when Bijol would finally get his chance. Bijol has spoken about his lack of game time at Leeds since joining the club for £15m.
The stats show that Struijk has won the fewest number of duels among the Leeds players to start the last four games, even below Brenden Aaronson and Noah Okafor, who have only started four games.
Bijol’s performances during the break will have given Farke plenty of evidence that he has what it takes to start for Leeds, and given Struijk could have been better, the Dutchman will be looking over his shoulder.
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