Crystal Palace’s international Eagles continue featuring for their national sides, with a varied bunch of results and minutes. With so many players away on international duty over the course of the break, RoundTable is the best place to keep up to date with all of the news regarding Palace’s players, injury updates and more. 

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Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT side came from behind to beat Chile 4-2 in their second game of the international break, and there was a significant Palace presence in the game. 

Richards made his return to international football in the 63rd minute, with the scores level, and headed home from a corner to put the USA ahead just nine minutes after coming on. Not only did he play a vital role in the States winning the game, but he was also at the heart of all the agro at the end of the game too. 

Richards was booked for his role in antagonising the Chilean players, one of whom being his own Palace teammate Darío Osorio. Richards was frustrated with how his opponents reacted to losing, and was first to react when ‘keeper Brian Schwake was kicked on the ground. 

“Obviously they’re frustrated. They’re losing the game deservedly,” he said to TNT Sports after the win. “But then they wanna foul our goalie, or kick him when he’s on the ground? You’re on our home soil, that’s not gonna fly.”

Pochettino has been experimenting with his side and aiming to utilise the youth that he has at his disposal, but we still saw no minutes for Palace winger Zavier Gozo. Richards touched on the way the young players have bedded into the squad in regards to the scuffle at the end of the game. 

“I think when you see it the first thought is family, it didn’t matter who came in. It’s been a fun camp.”

Osorio was one of Chile’s standout players in this game, and was one of only four Chile players to survive the cull of changes made by manager Nicolas Andres Cordova throughout. 

He demanded the ball and was keen to make things happen, coming agonisingly close to a goal when he struck the post with a curling effort from outside the box. 

Whilst he’s struggled for minutes so far with Palace, Osorio clearly possesses the ability to stand up and be counted, demand the ball and make things happen, and if he can carry that confidence back to South London Palace could be seeing the results of his hard work. 

In an international break which has seen a fair amount of lacklustre football, this game was a refreshing reminder of just how exciting international games can be, even friendlies.