Players on international duty

A week before the restart of the spring Superliga season, FC Copenhagen saw players heading across the world to represent their national sides.

Wednesday evening was a key international friendly date ahead of the Euro 2012 Championships in Poland and Ukraine this summer. FCK’s Lars Jacobsen played a full 90 minutes for Denmark against Russia.

The Copenhagen star took up his usual right back position, but couldn’t prevent the national team falling to a 2-0 defeat.

Sölvi Ottesen and Ragnar Sigurdsson represented Iceland against Montenegro. The game ended 2-1 to the home team with Ottesen being substituted three minutes from time.

PSV Eindhoven’s Andreas Isaksson played a full game for Sweden in their match against Croatia, which meant FCK’s Johan Wiland had to watch from the bench. Sweden won 3-1 with goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovich and Sebastian Larsson (2).

Christian Grindheim played an hour for Norway in their away game against Northern Ireland, our Nordic neighbours coming out on top 3-0.

Bryan Oviedo starred in a Costa Rica against Wales and also played a full 90 minutes. The game served as a memorial farewell to the late Gary Speed, and the atmosphere throughout the tie must have been a surreal, uplifting experience to Oviedo and everyone in the Cardiff City Stadium.

19-year-old Joel Campbell scored the only goal for the visitors during a memorable night in Wales.

Finally, fresh off his nations exit from the Orange Africa Cup of Nations 2012, Dame N’Doye flew with his Senegal side to Durban to face South Africa. Copenhagen’s top scorer played 72 minutes but couldn’t break through the Bafana Bafana defence, the game petering out 0-0.