Radamel Falcao among players who shine brighter for their country
Tuesday 31 March 2015 14:49, UK
Performances over the international weekend have got us thinking - which players perform better for their country than for their club?
Radamel Falcao - Colombia and Manchester United
The on-loan Colombian has 24 goals in 56 games for his country, leaving United fans wondering what Louis van Gaal can do to get the best out of the 29-year-old.
His absence at the World Cup didn’t hinder Colombia’s fine performances, but Jose Pekerman’s side do centre their play around Falcao, helping him score three times in their last two friendly games against Kuwait and Bahrain.
He has two months of the domestic season left to prove his worth at United, where he has four goals in 19 appearances, but he believes his recent goals for Colombia will help him at Old Trafford.
I said before I need minutes, I need to play games in a row and here in the national team I have had the opportunity.
Falcao told Abu Dhabi press after the win over Kuwait: "I said before I need minutes, I need to play games in a row and here in the national team I have had the opportunity.
"I gave my best and I scored and I now return to Manchester with more confidence."
Danny Welbeck - England and Arsenal
The difference in Welbeck’s goalscoring record for club and country is understandable, given the difference in England’s aggressive, direct style of play compared to Arsenal’s insistence on an orchestral approach.
Six goals in five qualifying games makes Welbeck the top scorer in European Qualifiers, but the 24-year-old has just four goals in 21 Premier League appearances for the Gunners this season since a move from Manchester United.
Welbeck has long been a favourite of Roy Hodgson and as more impressive performances go by, fewer questions are asked of his inclusion in England’s strongest XI.
His record of 14 goals in 33 caps is superb compared to 45 club career goals in over 200 appearances, although the real test will come at another major tournament.
Kyle Lafferty - Northern Ireland and Rizespor
Lafferty has described Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill as the best manager he has played under, and it’s not surprising given his four goals in qualifying so far.
He scored both in the vital 2-1 win over Finland on Sunday, leaving Northern Ireland four points clear of third-place Hungary in Group F and on course for a place in Euro 2016.
Lafferty impressed for Palermo last season with roughly a goal every three games, but his move to Norwich City yielded just one goal in 20 appearances.
He is currently on loan at Turkish side Rizespor until the end of the season, but confidence on the international stage could give him a new lease of life in England.
Shaun Maloney - Scotland and Chicago Fire
Maloney has been hot and cold in the English leagues since his move south of the border from Celtic in 2007, playing the best of his football at Wigan Athletic via a return spell back at Parkhead.
The midfielder’s move to the MLS with Chicago Fire was a slight surprise, given the best of his football has been played in Scotland, and it came as no surprise to see him score twice in the 6-1 win over Gibraltar on Sunday.
Maloney is a vital part of Gordon Strachan’s push for Euro 2016, scoring four in this qualifying campaign, including a fine winner against Republic of Ireland, having only netted two international goals beforehand.
Nicklas Bendtner - Denmark and Wolfsburg
The former Arsenal man grabbed a fine hat-trick for Denmark against USA last week, taking his tally to 29 in 66 caps.
But at club level the 27-year-old has been out of sorts since breaking through at the Emirates Stadium, showing bags of promise but questionable application.
He failed to score for Juventus in an 11-game loan spell in 2012/13, scored just twice for Arsenal in 14 appearances last season and has two goals in Europe after nine appearances for Wolfsburg, his new permanent club.
In that time, he has nine goals for Denmark.
