Okazaki Hits Japan Milestone To Round Off International Action

- Shinji Okazaki netted his 50th goal for Japan to help them to a 4-0 victory against Thailand on Tuesday 

- Okazaki played 90 minutes to complete the Club’s involvement during the final international break of 2016/17 

- A total of nine Foxes players have represented their nations over the past week 

Shinji Okazaki concluded Leicester City’s international representation on Tuesday by scoring his 50th goal for Japan in a 4-0 2018 World Cup qualification win over Thailand. 

Having already featured in the 2-0 victory against the United Arab Emirates last week, City’s No.20 Okazaki hit goal no.50 for his nation alongside strikes from Shinji Kagawa, Yuya Kubo and Maya Yoshida. 

The Club’s international involvement began on Wednesday, when City No.9 Jamie Vardy completed 70 minutes in England’s narrow 1-0 international friendly defeat to Germany in Dortmund. 

But the striker and his nation’s fortunes turned around on Sunday at Wembley Stadium, where Vardy netted with his first touch to help the Three Lions to a 2-0 2018 World Cup qualifying win against Lithuania – his sixth goal in 16 appearances for England. 

On the same evening, Kasper Schmeichel – named 2017 Danish Footballer of the Year last week – travelled to Romania to help Denmark to a goalless draw in 2018 World Cup qualification Group E. 

Already in superb form for the Foxes, his shutout saw the 1992 European champions move level on points with second-placed Montenegro after five fixtures. 

Wilfred Ndidi and Ahmed Musa both started for the Nigeria in their 1-1 draw with Senegal at Barnet’s Hive Stadium on Thursday, with Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho on target late on. 

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles’ friendly against Burkina Faso, due to take place on Monday, did not go ahead. 

Also aiming to forge a successful partnership over the international break were Demarai Gray and Ben Chilwell, who were both away with England Under-21s for friendly fixtures against Germany and Denmark. 

The City pairing both started for Aidy Boothroyd’s men against Germany in Wiesbaden on Friday, before Gray came off the bench to play a role in the 4-0 win over the Danes three days later. 

Bartosz Kapustka, already a senior international with Poland, this time saw action for this nation’s Under-21s side, setting up Dawid Kownacki in a 2-1 loss to Italy on Thursday. 

The young City winger then notched 78 minutes during a 2-1 reverse to the Czech Republic on Monday. 

Finally, Development Squad stopper Daniel Iversen gained some more valuable minutes for Denmark Under-20s, who beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in an international friendly on Friday, but did not feature in Monday’s 2-0 victory over Romania’s Under-21s side. 

Leicester City’s international stars will now report back to the Club, with the first team next in action on Saturday, when they host Stoke City at King Power Stadium in the Premier League (3pm kick-off).