International round-up: World Cup heartbreak for Norwich City’s Swedish duo Johan Elmander and Martin Olsson
Sweden's Johan Elmander, left, and Portugal's Pepe go for a header during the World Cup qualifying playoff second leg soccer match between Sweden and Portugal in Stockholm, Sweden, Tuesday, Nov.19, 2013. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) - Credit: AP
There was World Cup qualification heartbreak for Norwich City's Swedish international duo last night.
Norway's Ola Kamara, right, tries to stop Scotland's Steven Whittaker during an international friendly soccer match at Aker Stadium in Molde, western Norway, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Svein Ove Ekornesvag, NTB Scanpix) NORWAY OUT - Credit: AP
Striker Johan Elmander and full-back Martin Olsson will not be going to next summer's World Cup Finals in Brazil, although both played the full 90 minutes in an enthralling game starring two of the world's best players.
Portugal's Pepe controls the ball in front of Sweden's Johan Elmander during the World Cup 2014 qualifying playoff second leg soccer match between Sweden and Portugal at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013. (AP/Pontus Lundahl, TT) SWEDEN OUT - Credit: AP
A hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo condemned the Swedes to a 3-2 defeat in the second leg of their play-off tie with Portugal in
Stockholm, following Portugal winning the first leg in Lisbon 1-0.
After going behind early in the second half the hosts pulled it back to 2-2 on aggregate with 20 minutes to go after two quick goals from their star man Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
But Ronaldo then followed suit with two of his own to settle the issue.
The win completed a 4-2 aggregate success for the Portuguese, who will be joined in the finals by fellow European play-off winners France, Croatia and Greece.
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Meanwhile, all three Norwich players in the Scotland squad started their country's 1-0 win in Norway, each playing the full 90 minutes.
Russell Martin played at centre-back and Steven Whittaker at left-back, with Robert Snodgrass playing in a more advanced position and even joining Steven Naismith as a striker in a 4-4-2 formation in the second half.
Skipper Scott Brown grabbed the only goal of the game on the hour-mark to claim victory in the friendly in Molde.
Canary playmaker Wes Hoolahan was also in action, coming on as a 73rd-minute substitute for the Republic of Ireland during a hard-fought 0-0 draw in Poland.
City midfielder Leroy Fer was also handed his fourth senior cap by Holland, replacing Rafael van der Vaart in an attacking midfield position at half-time during a 0-0 draw with Columbia in Amsterdam.
Fer went close to scoring his first goal for his country as well, when he saw a goalbound volley blocked by the legs of Cristian Zapata in the 63rd minute, as Holland stretched their unbeaten run to 17 matches.
