Borussia Dortmund starlet Enzo Duarte returned for Luxembourg on Tuesday as the 17-year-old came off the bench in their 3-0 loss to Iceland in the UEFA Nations League.
He had missed their last game against Bulgaria with a minor knock, pulling out of the squad ahead of their visit to Plovdiv, but managed to attain match fitness in time for matchday two of the competition.
Duarte bags his sixth international cap
Although the Red Lions manager Jeff Strasser started him on the bench once more, he subbed in Duarte after 62 minutes alongside Jayson Pereira as part of a double substitution, replacing Mathias Olesen and Vincent Thill respectively.
It marked his sixth appearance with Luxembourg's senior team, and gave the talented young gun another slice of international experience as well as a crucial opportunity to showcase his qualities.
While Duarte couldn't influence the game enough to bring his side back into it, his passing accuracy was worth mentioning as the Dortmund teen completed all 17 that he attempted during his 28-minute cameo. Six of them came in the opposition half, reflecting his willingness to help Luxembourg amp up pressure on Iceland.
In the 83rd minute, by which point Luxembourg's deficit had been widened to three goals, Duarte won a free-kick after drawing a foul from Logi Tómasson. Although the set-piece came to naught, it showed his desire to compete even if the result was already beyond them. For someone who is just 17, it's an encouraging quality; such a mindset bodes well for his side and demonstrates his potential to become a leader in the side one day.
Besides, he also chipped in with one successful tackle, made three recoveries and won both his ground duels too, a further reflection of his excellent work-ethic as Duarte sought to destabilize Iceland's rhythm.
A step in the right direction for BVB starlet
Enzo Duarte's Luxembourg cameo may not have been the most explosive or headline-grabbing, but it's a still a step forward for the player as he continues to build a promising resume.
He was a part of Niko Kovac's preseason squad and impressed, particularly with a cool assist for Serhou Guirassy in their first match against RW Oberhausen. Now with another encouraging appearance for his national team, he's making a case to feature in BVB's senior squad too.
Duarte could be seen in action for Luxembourg again on Saturday, 3 October against Estonia.
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