UEFA Nations League round-up: Sunday's star players assessed

 

There were eight UEFA Nations League matches on Sunday as the second round of fixtures kick off. Here, we run through the best performers from the day’s action. 

 

Ukraine 1-0 Slovakia: Mykola Matvyenko - 7.58 rating 

 

Ukraine followed up their hard-fought 2-1 win at Czech Republic last week with a 1-0 win over Slovakia in Sunday’s first UEFA Nations League match of the day. Andriy Yarmolenko may have been the man of the hour, netting a late penalty to secure all three points, but it was left-back Mykola Matvyenko who came away with the man of the match award with a WhoScored.com rating of 7.58. Returns of two tackles, four interceptions and five clearances reinforced a resilient rearguard performance from the left-back. 

 

Denmark 2-0 Wales: Christian Eriksen - 8.66 rating 

 

 

After fielding a significantly weakened team in the 3-0 loss to Slovakia as a result of off-field issues, Denmark were back to full strength against Wales on Sunday as they secured a 2-0 win. Christian Eriksen was the star man for the Danes, with the attacker netting his 24th and 25th international goals in the victory. Eriksen scored with two of his five shots in the encounter while an additional five key passes saw the Tottenham star gain a WhoScored.com rating of 8.66 in a man of the match outing. 

 

Bulgaria 1-0 Norway: Nikolay Bodurov - 8.15 rating 

 

Bulgaria put in a resolute defensive showing to beat Norway 1-0, with Nikolay Bodurov the star man with a WhoScored.com rating of 8.15. The centre-back won five aerial duels in the victory to keep the Norway offensive bay. Two tackles, six interceptions and 12 clearances reinforced a solid showing from the defence, who was a worthy winner of the man of the match award. 

 

Georgia 1-0 Latvia: Tornike Okriashvili - 7.48 rating 

 

The third and final 1-0 win of the day came from Georgia, who overcame Latvia. A second half penalty scored by Tornike Okriashvili proved to be the difference with the attacker landing the WhoScored.com man of the match accolade following his match winning display. He scored with one of three shots while returns of one dribble and two tackles saw him land a score of 7.48. 

 

Macedonia 2-0 Armenia: Aleksandar Trajkovski - 7.79 rating 

 

A second half sub, Aleksandar Trajkovski’s introduction had an immediate effect on the game, with the forward quickly having an impact on the encounter. Indeed, two minutes after coming on, the 26-year-old provided the assist for Goran Pandev’s second half goal, that coming from one of two key passes. An additional six successful dribbles saw Trajkovski return a rating of 7.79 from the bench. 

 

Liechtenstein 2-0 Gibraltar: Dennis Salanovic - 8.98 rating

 

Dennis Salanovic played a key role in Liechtenstein 2-0 win over Gibraltar, with the wideman gaining a WhoScored.com rating of 8.98, that enough to secure the man of the match award. The 22-year-old mustered seven shots, scoring with one of those, completed six dribbles and provided an assist from one of three key passes to cap off a fine display from the left. 

 

Cyprus 2-1 Slovenia: Fotis Papoulis - 7.70 rating 

 

Experienced winger Fotis Papoulis was decisive in Cyprus’ 2-1 win over Slovenia on Sunday night with the 33-year-old providing the assist for Pieros Sotiriou’s second half equaliser, with that coming from one of three key passes. Having won two aerial duels and made two tackles, Papoulis was good value for the WhoScored.com man of the match award with a 7.70 rating. 

 

France 2-1 Netherlands: Kylian Mbappe - 7.71 rating 

 

Kylian Mbappe scored the opening goal to put France on their way to a 2-1 win over the Netherlands on Sunday night as Les Bleus secured a victory on their first match in Paris following their World Cup triumph. The 19-year-old mustered six shots in the win, while two successful dribbles helped push the teenager’s WhoScored.com rating up to 7.71 on the night.

UEFA Nations League round-up: Sunday's star players assessed