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Lewis Hall and his international teammates are heading to the 2025 Under 21s Euros finals.
The England Under 21s knew that victories on Friday and Tuesday would guarantee they’d top their group.
Which in turn would guarantee their participation next summer in Slovakia, in the Under 21 Euros.
Friday saw a remarkable match, as the Young Lions dominated against group rivals Ukraine, only for the England Under 21s to go behind in the 70th minute.
However, they kept going and despite still trailing with two minutes of the 90 remaining, somehow won it with two late James McAtee goals.
Lewis Hall had an excellent match but on Tuesday night a number of changes made to give others some minutes, including the young Newcastle star benched, as England up against bottom of the table Azerbaijan Under 21s.
The Young Lions making no mistake, scoring after only two minutes through Cresswell. Then Doyle adding another before half-time.
McAtee and Huseynov doubled the lead by the 71st minute when Lewis Hall came on.
Three more goals then added from Elliot Anderson (the Newcastle United fan’s first ever for the England Under 21s), Scarlett and Hutchinson. Final score England Under 21s 7 Azerbaijan Under 21s 0.
The net result is that these two wins in the past week, see England Under 21s top the group by one point and now on their way to the 2025 Euros Finals next summer in Slovakia.
This is the October 2024 international schedule for Newcastle United players:
Thursday 10 October
England 1 Greece 2
Nick Pope and Tino Livramento watched from the bench as Anthony Gordon started, with Odysseas Vlachidomos in goal for Greece in this Nations League group game.
Lee Carsley going with an experimental set-up that saw Bellingham play as a false number nine, Gordon on the left wing.
A team that failed on the night, whatever the system. This was no flukey win as Greece had the ball in the back of the net five times, only for VAR and the linesman’s flag to save them on three occasions. England only had two efforts on target all night, both from Bellingham – one bringing a brilliant save from the Newcastle keeper and the other one he was unsighted for and unlucky with, as he still got a hand to it.
Saka, Gordon and Foden all replaced in the second half but it made no difference, only Bellingham emerging with any credit.
As much as you can say things didn’t work out going forward, England lost because Pickford and his defence were absolutely woeful. Whilst Vlachodimos and Greece have only lost one (not including a penalty shootout v Georgia) of their last nine now and that was to an 89th minute goal away against Germany.
Chile 1 Brazil 2
Bruno Guimaraes was one of the players dropped for this World Cup group qualifier, a desperate Dorival Junior under extreme pressure, having only won three of his last nine games, after having won at Wembley against England in March, in his first game in charge.
The changes only made things worse! Even though Brazil up against second bottom of the group Chile.
Vargas gave Chile the lead after only two minutes and indeed could and should have been at least two or three up by the break.
Instead, Brazil carried their luck and Igor Jesus gave them an undeserved equaliser with a glancing header on the stroke of half-time. That could have been easily disallowed as it looked a foul in the build up before the cross was put in.
Even despite that goal, Dorival Junior had seen enough. Gerson and Bruno Guimaraes brought on for the second-half.
That did prompt some improvement and Brazil would have taken the lead, as a move initiated by a great pass from Bruno Guimaraes, then saw Raphina released just inside the Chile half, he put the ball in the net but replays showed he’d gone too soon and was offside.
Reaching the 89th minute another dismal result in prospect for Brazil. Then Bruno Guimaraes picked the ball up and passed to Luiz Henrique, who produced a wonderful finish to win it so late!
Italy 2 Belgium 2
Sandro Tonali put in another excellent performance in this latest Nations League match.
The Newcastle United midfielder helping his team go two up inside 25 minutes, only for a daft Pellegrini studs-up challenge seeing a red card setback for Italy on 40 minutes.
Having to play for around an hour with 10 men, Italy did really well to end up with a point, as Belgium brought it back to 2-2 with goals on 42 and 61 minutes.
Sandro Tonali one of a number of late substitutions, as the Newcastle star and others taken off so fresh legs could see out the draw.
Ecuador 0 Paraguay 0
A great battling performance, perfectly summed up by Miguel Almiron putting in his usual hard working shift.
Ecuador were fourth in the South American World Cup qualifying group ahead of this match and Paraguay eighth.
The visitors only had two efforts on target but restricted Ecuador to only five of their own, despite the hosts having 15 shots in total and 77% possession. Ecuador making 623 completed passes compared to only 189 for Paraguay.
Paraguay using all of their five subs as they saw out this excellent away draw, Miguel Almiron subbed on 75 minutes after a non-stop performance, playing in a more central free role as he usually does for his country.
Friday 11 October
Slovakia 2 Sweden 2
Both Isak and Dubravka missing of course as they recover from injury. Sweden throwing away a two goal lead and Emil Krafth coming on in the 92nd minute of this Nations League draw, with the score already at 2-2.
England U21s 2 Ukraine U21s 1
The Young Lions dominating the game but Ukraine taking a shock 70th minute lead.
Lewis Hall with another very good display for the Under 21s and he and his teammates celebrating a dramatic win in this U21 Euros group qualifier. Trailing with two minutes to go, James McAtee with two very late goals to give an eventual deserved victory.
Sunday 13 October
Finland 1 England 3
England carrying massive luck with another poor performance.
Three great goals but an unconvincing performance, lucky to be playing such poor opposition as Finland missed some great chances, including an open goal when 1-0 down. England only one up until two late goals in the final 16 minutes
The NUFC trio of Nick Pope, Tino Livramento and Anthony Gordon all watched this Nations League win from the bench.
Greece 2 Republic of Ireland 0
Newcastle keeper Odysseas Vlachidomos with another very composed performance and clean sheet as Greece stay top of their Nations League group with four wins from four.
Monday 14 October
Italy 4 Israel 1
Sandro Tonali with another superb performance for a resurgent Italy.
The Newcastle United midfielder almost opening the scoring in the 20th minute but his effort well saved.
Tonali then winning the penalty that set his side on their way, with Retegui scoring from the spot on 41 minutes.
Three further second-half goals rubber stamping this victory, with only a consolation goal for the visitors.
Sandro Tonali surviving an injury scare, getting treatment on the pitch but able to continue and playing the full match.
This win ensures Italy stay top of their Nations League group.
Estonia 0 Sweden 3
A commanding victory and Emil Krafth played the full match. The win keeps Sweden top of their Nations League group.
The Newcastle defender playing at right win-back in a 3-5-2 formation.
Tuesday 15 October
Denmark U21s 2 Iceland U21s 0
Will Osula and his international teammates are heading to the 2025 Under 21s Euros finals.
The Newcastle United striker introduced from the bench on 60 minutes with his side 2-0 up, Osula helping them to see the win out, that guaranteed they topped their group and qualified for the finals.
Paraguay v Venezuela (Miguel Almiron) World Cup group qualifier (UK time, kick-off early hours of Wednesday)
Brazil v Peru (Bruno Guimaraes) World Cup group qualifier (UK time, kick-off early hours of Wednesday)
England U21s v Azerbaijan U21s (Lewis Hall) U21 Euros group qualifier
Brazil 4 Peru 0
Bruno Guimaraes restored to the starting eleven and putting in an excellent performance in the heart of the midfield.
Two penalties either side of half-time scored by Raphinha and later goals from Andreas Pereira and Luiz Henrique, saw Brazil hammer Peru.
Bruno Guimaraes playing in the deeper role he usually plays for Brazil, doing a lot of the dirty work in midfield and he won 100 percent of his ground duels in a full on performance from the Newcastle United star.
Bruno subbed off on 79 minutes with the scoring complete and the game won, the fifth of five Brazil players subbed off after a big shift from the NUFC man.
Paraguay 2 Venezuela 1
A massive comeback win in this World Cup group qualifier.
A great battling and dominant performance from Paraguay, perfectly summed up by Miguel Almiron putting in his usual hard working shift.
Paraguay conceding on 25 minutes but two second-half goals from Sanabria dramatically turning the game around in the home side’s favour.
Miguel Almiron subbed off in the 89th minute as the Paraguay manager made late subs to help see out the win with fresh legs.
England U21s 7 Azerbaijan U21s 0
The final group game and Lewis Hall one of a number of players rested in this match against the bottom of the table team.
A 7-0 hammering followed, which guaranteed the Young Lions top spot in the group and automatic qualification for the 2025 Euros Finals next summer in Slovakia.
Lewis Hall introduced on 71 minutes with the score 4-0, helping England to see out the victory as they added three more goals.

 
