Here are today's key stories from the international scene for Sunday, June 12.
Southgate focused on World Cup
Gareth Southgate is focused on England's World Cup preparations rather than quietening critics, meaning promising performances from his experimental side were as important as the result against Italy. It is just over five months until the Three Lions kick off their quest to be crowned world champions in Qatar, where they will face Iran, the United States and neighbours Wales in the group stage.
England now only have three more matches until the tournament gets under way, which is why manager Southgate has tried different systems and personnel during June's Nations League fixtures. The Three Lions lost 1-0 in Hungary and drew 1-1 in Germany before Saturday's drab 0-0 draw with inexperienced Italy - a match that saw the manager attempt to hone and fine-tune at this "incredibly complicated" time.
"We're trying to set out the best possible way to get through these games, learn as much as we can, of course with a desire to win, but there is a bigger objective for us at the end of the year as well," Southgate said. "What I didn't want to do was keep rolling out the same team because a win might relieve a bit of tension on my shoulders when the more important thing is the team and how we progress ahead of the World Cup.
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"So, for me, it was really important to see those players come in and play as well as they did, and that was as important today as the result. With the players that came into the team, very pleased with Aaron Ramsdale. I thought he made important saves, was very calm in possession of the ball, so that was exactly what we were hoping he would bring.
"With Fikayo (Tomori), I thought in the main he defended very well, was calm with the ball. His speed is a great asset for us at the back, so I thought he played with confidence. I thought Prowsey (James Ward-Prowse) did a very good job, used the ball well, organised the game. His switches of play were good, so I thought it was a really positive night for him.
"And Tammy (Abraham) we were happy with. We took him off because we wanted to refresh the forwards at that stage of the game to try to win the game. He'll obviously be disappointed not to take the chance right at the start but I thought his hold up play was good and he worked well for the team."
Wales will fear no one
Robert Page insists Wales will fear no one at the World Cup after producing a "statement" performance against Belgium. Wales had to rely on a controversial late Brennan Johnson equaliser to draw 1-1 with Belgium and pick up their first top-tier Nations League point after losing to Poland and Holland.
Belgium boss Roberto Martinez fumed that Johnson's first Wales goal, which was originally flagged for offside but then stood after a lengthy VAR check, should have been ruled out. But manager Page hailed the manner of Wales' display against the world's number two ranked team, saying his team are in great shape five months away from meeting England, Iran and the United States at the World Cup in Qatar.
"It was the first opportunity to put a team out with one eye on the World Cup," Page said. "Either side of the (World Cup play-off) final we were impacted because of that game.
"This was a different kettle of fish. I thought we would go and compete. Nothing against the other teams we played, because we should have got draws from those games. But this says how far we have come as a group. We don't fear anyone in world football.
"That's a benchmark, another statement. When we go a goal behind we don't give up and we'll keep going. We'll go toe to toe with anybody."
Scotland will 'stick together'
Craig Gordon insists Scotland's players will stick together after being "well outplayed in every aspect of the game" in their 3-0 drubbing by Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Saturday. Steve Clarke's side went into the Nations League encounter at the Aviva Stadium with some confidence following their opening Group B1 win over Armenia at Hampden Park.
The Irish, conversely, had lost their first two fixtures to Armenia and Ukraine and had not won a Nations League match in 12 attempts but it all went right for Stephen Kenny's side and it all went wrong for the Scots. A bundled in goal from Alan Browne and a Troy Parrott header gave the dominant home side a deserved interval lead and Michael Obafemi - making his first international start - powered in a third early in the second half to quash any hopes of a comeback.
The 2,500-strong Tartan Army vented their displeasure at the end of the game and some will travel to Yerevan for Tuesday's match against Armenia with veteran Hearts goalkeeper Gordon looking for Scotland to make amends.
He told STV: "It was a big disappointment. The manner of it as well. At times we will get beat but certainly Saturday wasn't the way to get beat. We were well outplayed in every aspect of the game.
"That's the most disappointing part. So yeah, we have to stick together as a group. We realise they're not happy (fans), we're not happy either, nobody wants to get beat. But we will stick together as a group of players and go out and try and win the next game.
"They will continue to support us, they are quite rightly angry at the moment, they're not the only ones. But we will regroup, will try to go again and still try to come out victorious at the end of the group."
Obafemi's Ireland's Harry Kane
Michael Obafemi joked he turned from Son Heung-min into Harry Kane as he marked his first Republic of Ireland start with a glittering display. The 21-year-old Swansea striker, who had to wait 42 months after his first senior cap for his second, made a goal for Troy Parrott before smashing home a 30-yard strike himself in a 3-0 Nations League win in Dublin on Saturday evening to announce himself in style.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, it was suggested he and Parrott had struck up a relationship akin to the one enjoyed by the latter's club-mates Son and Kane, with the former Southampton frontman having dropped deep to deliver the perfect through-ball to his strike partner.
Obafemi said: "If I want to become a top player, I've got to develop my game and not just be one-dimensional going in behind. I felt like this season I've kind of done that, dropping short and getting the ball. Obviously we saw it today with me getting the assist and I'm happy with that."
When the comparison with Kane and Son was put to him, he said: "Kind of, yes", before adding: "And then in the second half I turned into Harry Kane!" Handed his chance in place of the rested Callum Robinson, Obafemi snatched it with both hands, his deft clipped pass allowing Parrott to head Ireland into a 2-0 lead after Alan Browne's opener.
However, it was his searing long-range drive after the break which wrapped up the win - Ireland's first in the competition in 13 attempts - and really caught the eye.
He said: "I couldn't wish for a better first start really, a goal, an assist and a 3-0 win. It's amazing. Troy played it to me, it opened up and I just thought, 'Hit it'. Obviously it just flew top corner."
