We going international!

Remember what we said in the pre match build up to Dundee United? Games are like buses, sometimes you get loads turning up. Well, this is about the time the bus is delayed, and the next ones had to stop and kick you off because a tyres blown.

The international break. Ever fabled. Ever hated. Ever loathed. But, this is perhaps a time to look at how our stars are doing out with the club. And maybe, just maybe, us Scots can dream again.

Elijah Just

Elijah Just ready for action for the All Whites

Our man for the All whites received another international call up for this break. Elijah would have been called up in the last international breaks, but pulled out in hopes for recovering from injury to get back into the Wells first team. Elijah missed out on New Zealand's 1-0 loss to Poland and their 1-1 draw with Norway. Just last featured in early September against Dundee before his return to action against Livingston on the 25th of October. A late winner (as well as a disallowed goal just before it), and a relatively good performance (when taken into context i suppose) in our Hampden dampener has seen him recalled into the international fold. New Zealand have 2 friendly matches this time around.

While their last friendly trips were closer to "home" for Just in Europe if he was fit for them, these matches will take place in South America, as the New Zealanders take on Colombia and Ecuador. Their match in Colombia kicks off 12am our time on Sunday, and Ecuador is Wednesday at 1:30am.

Now lets not beat around the bush; we know nothing of how NZ will play, line up, etc. Looking at NZ's last match vs Norway, they lined up in a 4-2-3-1, which will benefit Elijah as a similar lineup to Askou's Well side. The only names i recognise when i look at that team sheet is Matty Garbett of Peterborough United, Tyler Bindon of Sheffield United and captain Chris Wood of Nottingham Forrest However, after further investigation, an unused sub from that game was Killie's own George Stanger. Another familiar face in the side is former Well player Callan Elliot. Stats from that match all seemed to point to a Norwegian win, however NZ took the lead through Finn Surman. Future POTM Antonio Nusa equalised and the Norwegians pushed for a winner, but the New Zealanders dug in and held on for the draw.

The big news for the All Whites is their growing injury list. Liberato Cocace (Left Back), Callum McCowatt (CAM), Alex Paulsen (GK), Ryan Thomas (CM), Tim Payne (Right Back) and Chris Wood (ST) are all ruled out with injury. A lot of men out of action for this international run, but with these games being friendlies, perhaps not the worst time to be out. I'm sure they'd rather these be the games they miss than the World Cup next year, as prep continues.

New Zealand's squad for games in South America as they prep for the World Cup

Tawanda Maswanhise

Our warrior ready for action with Zimbabwe

Tawanda Maswanhise continues to impress not only us, but his national team gaffer Mario Marinica as he continues to get selected. Tawanda was called up for Zimbabwe's World Cup Qualifiers in that last international break, where they faced off with South Africa (a scoreless draw) and 93rd minute heartache against Lesotho (1-0 loss). Tawanda came off the bench in their draw with South Africa and was not involved in the match against Lesotho.

The Warriors play in a 4-3-3 system, which would suit Tawanda as he can do his thing on either flank of the striker. Having a peek through who lined up previously, and one name that jumped out was Marvelous Nakamba, formerly of Aston Villa and currently of Luton Town.

Zimbabwe played an international friendly against Algeria on Thursday the 13th, in preparation for their African Cup of Nations matches in December and potentially January. Zimbabwe lost out 3-1 to Algeria, with Tawanda playing the first 45, before being replaced by Prosper Padera.

The Warriors face a tough start against Mo Salah's Egypt, before taking on Angola and South Africa in AFCON. These games take place in the middle of our season in December, and with no winter break, if Zimbabwe go deep in the tournament, we could be without our star man for quite some time. If they go all the way, we would lose Tawanda in the following matches; Rangers, Celtic, St Mirren and Hibernian. A tough run at any point in the season even with a full squad.

To make matters more worrying, there appears to be some form of growing dissent in the Warriors camp, with rumoured fallouts already with Mario Marinica. Mariinica himself has only been in the job since the start of November.

No fancy graphics from the Warriors, straight to the point squad lists

Regan Charles-Cook

RCC ready to cook and keep the good run going for the Spice Boys

RCC gets another international call up for Grenada from the gaffer Anthony Modeste (nope, not French striker and Fifa career mode legend). The Spice Boys (what a nickname) faced the US Virgin Islands November 15th at 12 am.

The Spice Boys have been on some run of late, winning their last 5 matches. In June, RCC started and set up 2 goals before coming off against Bahamas in a match they ultimately won 6-0. Charles-Cook started the following match against Saint Kitts and Nevis, scoring the first, assisted the second before coming off again, as Grenada ran out 3-2 winners. Unfortunately, this is where the World Cup dream ends for the Spice Boys, finishing third in their group behind Trinidad and Tobago on goal difference.

In the last international break, Grenada played a friendly, winning out against the British Virgin Islands (4-1).

While trying to find a squad list online proved to be difficult, a few names form previous matches did jump out. Roman Charles-Cook, brother of our own RCC immediately sprung out (tyring to decipher through line ups which RCC was which and who scored what...quadruple checks galore); D'Margio Wright Phillips, son of Shaun, nephew of Bradley and grandson of Ian Wright; Myles Hippolyte, winger and former Falkirk, Livingston, St Mirren and Dunfermline Athletic player.

Grenada kept the run going with a solid result, with RRC scoring two and setting up a third in a 4-1 win over the US Virgin Islands.

Scotland- Dare to Dream II

Well...the biggie for us really. It's nice to see our players go off on international break and do well. But for the vast majority of us of the Claret and Amber contingent, these next 2 matches will see us maybe see our country in a World Cup for the first time since 1998.

We take on Greece away from home on Saturday 15th in Piraeus, before we face Denmark in Glasgow on Tuesday night in what could be a final showdown for automatic World Cup qualification.

The last international break would have seen us in ML1 take a more vested interested as we saw 2 of our own in the side; Max Johnston (now with Derby County) and Lennon Miller (in Italy with Udinese). Miller was called up again for the Scots but has pulled. We also saw Ross McCrorie pull out, with both replaced by Andy Irving and Connor Barron.

Initial squad announcement for the Scots, before the drop outs

We all know what we have at stake with Scotland. The positive for us is if we can't manage it against the Greeks or Danes, we do have the qualifiers to fall back on. We would want to initially get through it straight away of course, but some solid results (not performances) have got us within touching distance of getting Stateside. All of us at The Dispatch will be watching with baited breath, in hopes we finally reach a World Cup. The Tartan Army in the States will be a site to behold!