No Sean Dyche extension announcement yet, so let’s get right to it:
Internationals
Nathan Collins was rostered for Ireland, so my apologies for missing that earlier this week. He and the Irish lost to Portugal on two Ronaldo goals, the first of which came in the 89th minute with Ireland ahead 1-0. Backbreaking stuff for a team that really could have used that specific win. Collins didn’t play and is now ruled out with injury for the next two, so bad news all around here. Unless you hate Ireland. Maybe you do! I don’t. Got some Irish blood in me.
England went with Jordan Pickford instead of Nick Pope yesterday, probably because it was an easy match against Hungary and they wanted to rest Pope up for the hard stuff. 4-0 win for the English, who lead Group I by five points through four matches.
A Burnley keeper who did play was out-on-loan Bailey Peacock-Farrell, who manned the net for Northern Ireland in a 4-1 triumph over Lithuania. Northern Ireland’s definitely on the outside looking in there in Group C, with Italy and Switzerland ahead of them, but hey—they did what they had to do yesterday.
Matěj Vydra played much of the second half in the Czech Republic’s 1-0 victory over Belarus. The Czechs are in second in Group E but Wales may have something to say about that.
Speaking of Wales, they played Finland to a 0-0 draw in a friendly. Wayne Hennessey got some minutes in goal. Connor Roberts was not active.
And finally, Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson got the start for Iceland as they fell 2-0 to Romania. Not looking good for the Icelanders in Group J.
Next matches in which we could see Clarets:
- Wales plays Belarus in Russia at 9:00 AM EDT on Sunday. Game on ESPN3.
- England hosts Andorra on Sunday at 11:00 AM EDT on ESPN2.
- Iceland hosts North Macedonia at 11:00 AM EDT Sunday on ESPN+.
- The Czech Republic plays at Belgium Sunday at 1:45 PM EDT on ESPN+.
- Northern Ireland plays Estonia in an untelevised friendly on Sunday.
Burnley FC Women
The women’s team hosts Huddersfield Town in a league match Sunday morning. Huddersfield’s fifth in the table, five points ahead of Burnley.
Partner Clubs
Cobh Ramblers (Ireland, second tier) goes to Limerick today to play Treaty United in a league game.
Ayr United (Scotland, second tier) doesn’t play again until Tuesday.
Portadown (Northern Ireland, first tier) hosts Larne tomorrow, looking for their first league win in their third match of the year.
Llandudno (Wales, second tier) hosts Broughton (also second tier) in a little bit in the second round of the Welsh Cup.
