Around the Premier League: UEFA Nations League Edition

Story posted September 28, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Ben Palillo

With the international break for the UEFA Nations League, the Premier League had no matches scheduled for this past week. However, this halt in match play allowed the Premier League’s top players to show their skills on an international level.

Kai Havertz of Chelsea representing Germany, Erling Haaland of Manchester City representing Norway and Diago Dalot of Manchester United representing Portugal were amongst the top performers.

Let’s dive into these top international performances from soccer’s top league.

Havertz’s late equalizers salvaged a point for Germany

Kai Havertz struck twice in Germany’s 3-3 draw with England on Monday. After Havertz’s sensational strike from outside the box put Germany up 2-0 in the 67th minute, it appeared Germany would cruise over the already relegated England.

England stormed back, however, with three goals in 13 minutes from Premier League players Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Harry Kane respectively.

Then when all hope appeared lost, Havertz became the hero Germany needed. In the 87th minute, he pounced on the rebound of Serge Gnabry’s strike to equalize for Germany.

Chelsea will undoubtedly hope this performance will lead to more scoring in the Premier League as Havertz currently has one goal through six games for a Chelsea club that has yet to score more than two goals in a match.

Haaland just keeps scoring

The Premier Leagues young star and leader in the golden boot race with 11 goals has a knack for placing the ball in the back of the net regardless of the competition.

Erling Haaland scored his tournament-leading sixth goal in the 44th minute of Norway’s 2-1 loss to Slovenia on Saturday. Norway will need a win against Serbia in their upcoming match if they hope to win the group and promotion into League A for next year’s tournament.

Manchester City hopes he continues his scoring prowess as he participates in his first Manchester Derby, a home match against Manchester United on Sunday.

Dalot strikes twice as Portugal routes Czechia

Portugal got two huge goals from an unsuspecting player. Right-back Diago Dalot, who had yet to register an international goal in his senior career, scored twice in a 4-0 Portugal victory over Czechia.

Dalot’s offensive game has undoubtedly improved under Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag. In six appearances in this Premier League season, he has registered two assists, double his total from last year's campaign. This offensive improvement has crossed over into his international play now as well.

Dalot opened the scoring in the 33rd minute off a cross from Rafael Leão to put Portugal up 1-0. Dalot then curled in a shot for his second goal of the match in the 52nd minute to put Portugal up 3-0. 

With Portugal's win and Spain’s 2-1 defeat to Switzerland, Spain and Portugal will meet on Tuesday for a winner takes all match to determine the group winner.


Ben Palillo is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email bgp5079@psu.edu.