Bittersweet for Newcastle United goalkeeper


 
 
 
 
 
 

A case of so near but so far, for Odysseas Vlachodimos.

The Newcastle United keeping yet another clean sheet but in the end it made no difference.

Greece went into Sunday’s final Nations League group matches, knowing they needed a better result than England to top the group.

The two countries level on 12 points each but England having a slightly better record than Greece in their head to head matches.

The two matches kicking off at 5pm on Sunday, at half-time both matches were goalless.

Then on 52 minutes Greece took the lead in Helsinki.

However, within 60 seconds of that, Harry Kane’s penalty put England ahead at Wembley.

Greece made it 2-0 against Finland on 56 minutes, however, by the 58th minute mark England had gone 3-0 up.

Odysseas Vlachodimos and his teammates no doubt quickly finding out from the sidelines that it was now a hopeless cause.

Whilst England ended up winning 5-0, Greece kept it at 2-0.

So the two teams ended the group level on points but England topping it, due to that head to head record.

Odysseas Vlachodimos keeping clean sheets in the other four matches, only the four goals in the two England matches getting past him.

Indeed, the NUFC keeper has kept 10 clean sheets in his last 15 internationals. The only other goals conceded apart from these two England matches, were in a 1-0 defeat to Holland and 2-1 loss to Germany, plus a 2-2 draw against France.

Whilst obviously the Odysseas Vlachodimos transfer came about as part of that double PSR deal with Forest that saw Elliot Anderson go the other way, from what I have seen I think Newcastle United have brought in a very decent back up keeper. A lot of the negativity around him, coming from a handful of appearances for Forest, whilst Vlachodimos has shown at both international level and over plenty years at Benfica, including in the Champions League, that he is very capable.

This is the November 2024 international schedule for Newcastle United players:

Thursday 14 November

Greece 0 England 3

Anthony Gordon was one of eight changes, some due to the ‘injury’ desertions from the squad, some not. Harry Kane dropped and England looking all the better for it, as his replacement Ollie Watkins scored after only seven minutes in a flowing move.

United keeper Vlachodimos was probably Greece’s best player with some good saves and was very unlucky when Bellingham’s shot hit the post and rebounded off the keeper into the net. England though fully deserving of their eventual 3-0 winning margin, Jones scoring a sublime backheel flick for the third. Tino Livramento was an unused sub but Lewis Hall made his first England appearance, playing the second half and looking very good, the team looking far better balanced with him on the left. Everybody played well really, including Anthony Gordon, he played until 66 minutes in when Carsley made three attacking changes.

Belgium 0 Italy 1

Sandro Tonali man of the match and scoring the winning goal!

An excellent performance from the Newcastle midfielder as Italy deservedly won this Nations League group match. Sandro Tonali playing the full game.

Venezuela 1 Brazil 1

Bruno Guimaraes couldn’t quite drag Brazil over the line in this South American World Cup group qualifier.

Brazil dominated the first half with the Newcastle midfielder at the heart of much of their best play, however, the attacking players once again let them down. Chance after chance went begging until Raphinha scored an excellent free-kick in the 43rd minute.

One up at half-time but it should have been two or three, Brazil paying for it when Segovia equalised just a minute after the break. Bruno Guimaraes subbed in the 82nd minute and can be more than happy with his own personal contribution but this is a match that Brazil should have won.

Paraguay 2 Argentina 1

This was no fluke, as Miguel Almiron and Paraguay deservedly won their latest South American World Cup group qualifier.

When Martinez put Argentina ahead after only 11 minutes it looked like a long night in prospect for the home side.

However, Paraguay came back at them and a brilliant Sanabria overhead kick levelled things on 19 minutes, then a headed winner from a free-kick by Alderete won it, two minutes after the break. After that opening goal, Paraguay didn’t allow Argentina another shot on target in the entire match.

Miguel Almiron was his usual energetic self for Paraguay and put in a great shift, eventually subbed off in the 90th minute as Paraguay ran the clock down.

Saturday 16 November

Sweden 2 Slovakia 1

A man of the match performance from Alexander Isak, topped off by an assist for the opening goal (scored by Gyokeres) and then scoring the winner just after the break. Martin Dubravka can be happy with his own personal contribution and he was one of Slovakia’s best performers. The result guarantees that Sweden finish top of their Nations League group and Slovakia second, the final group games on Tuesday.

Sunday 17 November

England 5 Republic of Ireland 0

A great night for Newcastle United, as Lewis Hall, Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento all started for England, the first time in over 27 years that an NUFC trio all started for the Three Lions.

All three Newcastle players can be pleased with their contributions to this Nations League victory. The two Newcastle defenders getting their very first starts, whilst Anthony Gordon getting his very first goal, which came from a Tino cross.

With five wins it meant England topped their Nations League group.

Italy 1 France 3

Sandro Tonali and his teammates undone by three set-pieces in this Nations League defeat. The result left Italy second top in the final table, the same number of points as France and equal on head to head, just losing out on goal difference by one goal.

A disappointing return to the San Siro for the NUFC midfielder but with all five subs used, Sandro Tonali stayed on until the end, pointing to the fact he hadn’t been one of the weakest links. Italy actually had more possession (54%) and more shots (10 v 6) but were undone by those set-pieces, France having four efforts on target and managing to score three goals.

Finland 0 Greece 2

Odyssea Vlachodimos and his Greek teammates knew they had to get a better result than England to top their Nations League group. The Newcastle keeper did his bit with a tenth clean sheet in his last 15 internationals and his teammates got two second half goals to ensure the win in Helsinki. However, England winning 5-0 at Wembley meant it was all in vain, both sides ending the group on 15 points but England a better head to head record.

Tuesday 19 November

Sweden v Azerbaijan (Alexander Isak) Nations League

Bolivia v Paraguay (Miguel Almiron) World Cup group qualifier

Brazil v Uruguay (Bruno Guimaraes) World Cup group qualifier

Slovakia v Estonia (Martin Dubravka) Nations League