Branislav Ivanovic and Nemanja Matic helped Serbia to their first win of the Euro 2016 qualification campaign on Friday night but results elsewhere mean they will not take part in the tournament next summer.
Armenia were the visiting side who were defeated by a first-half own-goal and a second-half strike by Inter Milan’s on-loan midfielder Adem Ljajic. Serbia’s 2-0 win took place in an empty stadium, a sanction imposed following last year’s abandoned game against Albania which also led to three docked points and what is now a 10-point gap to the three teams above, which cannot be overcome.
One of those sides ahead in Group I is Denmark for whom Andreas Christensen was an unused substitute on Friday, in a 0-0 home draw with the Albanians who they remain level with on points but with one game more played. Leaders Portugal, who are one point ahead, also have a game in hand.
The Portuguese were in action on Friday night too but in a friendly against the Euro 2016 host nation France. Kurt Zouma was an unused sub in that game in Lisbon which was decided by a late free-kick by Dynamo Moscow’s Mathieu Valbuena.
In qualification for the next European Under-21 Championship finals, there was a big win for the Netherlands in Cyprus, Nathan Ake playing all but the last few minutes of a 4-0 win. Charly Musonda helped Belgium Under-21s maintain a good start to their qualification campaign. They won 2-0 away in Latvia.
Also at junior level, Dominic Solanke scored England Under-19s’ second goal in a notable 3-2 friendly win away to Germany.
England were down to 10 men following a red card by the time Solanke made the most of confusion at the back, pinching the ball off the German goalkeeper to make it 2-1. Our young striker, currently on-loan at Vitesse, also helped create the opener. He was replaced late on by Tammy Abraham and Jake Clarke-Salter also impressed, playing the whole game in central defence.
Another Chelsea Academy product, midfielder Ruben Sammut made his debut for Scotland Under-19s, starting a friendly against Bulgaria. A late penalty scored by the Scots was the only goal.