International Roundup: Bad Night For Sunderland's Irish Contingent

The biggest story of the night was over in Ireland where it was not a good night in the slightest for the boys in green, and notably Sunderland's contingent as the side were thrashed 6-1 at home by Germany in a 2014 World Cup Qualifier.

John O'Shea captained the side and will feel disappointed with the teams efforts and his own. O'Shea was given the full 90 minutes at the heart of defence, and given the run around by Marco Reus and company throughout the game.

O'Shea collided with a player to allow Reus the first goal as he skipped beyond several inept challenges to slam the ball high past Kieren Westwood from close range. Our back-up and Ireland's number one left with no chance at all.

The second goal was another lovely hit by Reus, left footed into the bottom corner well beyond a hapless Westwood, who once again was given no help from his defence as they should have closed the promising midfielder down quicker.

The third came from the penalty spot. No Sunderland player at fault at all as Keith Andrews gave away the kick and Westwood was sent the wrong way by Mesut Ozil.

The fourth will be one Westwood should be disappointed with. After coming charging out of his goal to pip Miroslav Klose to the ball he didn't, but sent him wide enough so that a goal shouldn't have been an option. The striker still managed to get around Westwood and slot into an empty net from a tight angle. If a 'keeper comes that far, you really need to be winning the battle - that's what I was always told as a school team 'keeper anyway.

The fifth was another lovely goal, but it was O'Shea who couldn't head the ball clear enough as it fell to Toni Kroos who blasted low beyond Westwood at the first attempt. Nice goal, aided by a poor clearance. The bullet strike left Westwood helpless.

The humiliation of the Irish was complete when Kroos grabbed his second. Again, horrible defending as players stood off, and off and off some more allowing Kroos a free strike at goal from outside the area and he unleashed a bullet past Westwood to complete a rout.

James McClean - still suffering a hip strain - and unused substitute David Meyler can feel lucky to have played no part in this. Hopefully they bounce back on Tuesday against Faroe Islands and come back in confident form ahead of the derby game.

Speaking of the Faroes, Seb Larsson's Sweden were in action against them last night, with the wing-wizard starting and completing 90 minutes as they completed a 2-1 victory over the minnows. Larsson had a quiet game on a difficult night where the weather was horrendous and his side had to come back from 1-0 down to spare any blushes.

Over to Wales where David Vaughan and Steven Fletcher went head to head with both playing the full 90 minutes for their sides in a crucial game for both if they were to have any ambitions to make it to the next World Cup.

Fletcher - who is making his return to international football after self-imposed exile - showed what the Scots had been missing as he played a significant part in the opening goal of the game. A long ball forward from Allan McGregor was headed by Fletcher into the path of James Morrison to apply a handy finish and put his side in front.

Fletcher was very unlucky not to get himself on the score sheet to cap an impressive return too. A few times he was in great position but greedy finishing from others didn't give him a chance, then when he finally had the ball in the net it was incorrectly ruled out for offside.

David Vaughan had a relatively quiet game. He put in a hefty challenge on Scott Brown early doors to set the tone for decent game, and was perhaps lucky it was so early to escape a card, before generally just going about his business keeping things simple and playing the ball short.

The Scots couldn't hold out however as a Gareth Bale inspired final ten minute flurry saw the Welsh come away with a 2-1 victory.

England's Under-21 side included Danny Rose from the start, with Connor Wickham appearing later as a substitute.

Rose played the full 90 minutes and had a great game as he and Raheem Sterling dominated down the left hand side. Rose showed all his attacking intent and purpose as he glided past defenders and was generally a nuisance to the Serbian back line all night.

Wickham's impact as a 78th minute substitute on for Marvin Sordell was fairly minimal as England reverted to type and repeatedly pumped long balls up towards him to see out the clock.

Meanwhile there were two Sunderland players who failed to get off the bench for their respective sides. Simon Mignolet sat on the bench as his side defeated Serbia's senior side 3-0. They come up next against Steven Fletcher's Scotland.

Adam Johnson was an unused substitute for England as they crushed San Marino 5-0 at Wembley.