Sunderland internationals: World Cup blow for duo as Ellborg moves closer | OneFootball

Sunderland duo Trai Hume and Dan Ballard suffered World Cup heartbreak as Northern Ireland lost 2-0 to Italy, while Melker Ellborg edged closer with Sweden’s 3-1 win over Ukraine.

According to Sunderland Echo, Northern Ireland reached the play-offs by topping Uefa Nations League C Group 3 with 11 points. That set up a one-off tie in Bergamo against an Italy side that finished second to Norway.

Hume captained O’Neill’s side and played 90 minutes on the right of a back three. He registered two tackles, four clearances including one off the line, two interceptions, one block and four recoveries.

Italy struck after the break through Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, then Fiorentina striker Moise Kean. Ballard was sidelined by injury.

Ellborg, signed from Malmo in January to back up Robin Roefs, has already featured four times for Sunderland due to Roefs’ injury. He helped beat Leeds United, making four saves, and Newcastle United, with FA Cup defeats in between.

He was an unused substitute as Sweden beat Ukraine 3-1 in qualifying, with Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres putting them 3-0 up by 73 minutes before Matviy Ponomarenko’s late consolation.

Sweden now face Poland in Solna on Tuesday, the winner will book a World Cup place.

Elsewhere, Noah Sadiki was in DR Congo’s squad for a friendly win over Bermuda. Chris Rigg played the final 20 minutes as England lost 2-0 to Serbia in an U19 European qualifier, and Milan Aleksic started as Serbia U21s drew 2-2 with Kyrgyzstan U23s.

Source: Sunderland Echo