Weird week in football: In avoidance of everything

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Every Monday, theScore will highlight the most outlandish moments from the wacky, sometimes daft, and perennially entertaining world of European football. Here’s what made us smile – or cringe – on the pitch this past week.

With the international break providing little in the way of excitement, the theme of the week was sidesteps and circumventing, as footballers the world over found canny means to dodge and duck. There’s no escaping this weird week in football.

Valencia’s Ecuadorean escape

Ecuador‘s potent performance during last Thursday’s 3-0 World Cup qualifier victory over Chile should have garnered the plaudits, instead it was Enner Valencia‘s getaway eight minutes from time that hogged the headlines.

De Ripley. Enner Valencia salió en camilla, casi lo arrestan y lo llevaron con prisa a la ambulancia y así salió del estadio. Que cosas. pic.twitter.com/I7VnAWYLC3

— Andrés Muñoz Araneda (@andresmunoza) October 6, 2016

Related – Watch: Valencia’s medical cart outruns police amid unpaid child support claims

After craftily dodging local police in Quito, Valencia responded to the scene the following day, and the on-loan West Ham winger provided an elaborate explanation for his creative escape. What a mess.

Russian FA bails on Berezutsky bash

To honour defender Vasily Berezutski's 100th cap, the Russian FA had planned a small halftime tribute during Sunday's friendly against Costa Rica, only for CSKA Moscow standout to score an own goal seconds before the interval.

According to sports.ru, the 2018 World Cup hosts pulled the plug on the praise and plaudits after having tweeted earlier in the match the plan to present Berezutski with a commemorative medal. The Tweet was quickly deleted.

To make matters worst, Berezutski conceded the 91st-minute penalty that resulted in Los Ticos’ last-ditch winner.

The Welsh welch on conventional photo

Continuing the theme of evasive footballers is the Welsh national team and its take on pre-match photos. This is one of those things where the party responsible finds it far funnier than those not involved.

Related – Look: Wales taking the mick with team photo hijinks

Perhaps the Dragons will ditch this ruse after the latest display was followed by a stodgy 1-1 draw with Georgia.

Cech yourself before you wreck yourself

With the holidays fast approaching, anyone looking to both blow £30 and transform a loved one into a mockery need not search further than Arsenal shot-stopper Petr Cech‘s foray into winter wear.

Watch: Arsenal’s Cech unveils headgear-inspired winter wear

Evra the cheery

Finally, for anyone with a case of the Monday's, Juventus full-back Patrice Evra has the cure with a gleeful rendition of Marvin Gaye's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."

Why peoples hate. Monday ? I love this game ahahahahah😂😂😂you shouldn’t let me discover insta 🙈#Marvin#crazy#happiness

A video posted by Patrice Evra (@patrice.evra) on Oct 10, 2016 at 6:12am PDT

"You shouldn't let me discover Insta!" … on the contrary, Patrice. Have a lovely week.

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