MONTREAL – Defender Laurent Ciman and midfielder Blerim Dzemaili have been selected by their national teams to take part in upcoming international games.
Laurent Ciman has been selected by the Belgian national team to take part in the last two UEFA Group H qualification games for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, against Bosnia Herzegovina, on October 7, at Stadion Grbavica, in Sarajevo, followed by an October 10 matchup against Cyprus, at King Baudouin Stadium, in Brussels.
Ciman, 32, has been a regular member of the Belgian national team since 2010, being part of their roster for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and Euro 2016 in France. He started the first Euro 2016 group stage game against Italy on June 13, after scoring his first international goal on June 5, in a friendly against Norway. He made his official debut with the Red Devils on May 19, 2010, against Bulgaria. He has played 16 games so far, including qualifiers for Euro 2012 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He also participated in the 2007 UEFA U21 Championship with Belgium and wore his country’s colours at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing with the U23 team.
Belgium became the sixth country to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, last September 3, following a 2-1 win against Greece which allowed the Red Devils to clinch top spot in Group H.
Blerim Dzemaili has been called up by the Swiss national team to also take part in the last two UEFA Group B qualification games for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, against Hungary, on October 7, at St. Jakob-Park, in Basel, followed by a matchup against Portugal, on October 10, at Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon.
Switzerland is currently in first place in Group B, three points ahead of Portugal, and could qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup by finishing atop its group after this international break.
Dzemaili, 31, has scored seven goals in 58 games with the Swiss national team, making his international debut on March 1, 2006, against Scotland. He represented the Nati at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, and at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, starting two group stage games against France and Honduras, and the round of 16 game against Argentina in 2014. He also started four Euro 2016 games in France. He scored his first international goal on September 6, 2014, against Iceland, and recorded a brace against Liechtenstein, on June 10, 2015, in a 3-0 win.
