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3 months ago
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Another shocker for Miguel Almiron and his international teammates.
Chile had only won two of their last nine matches as they headed into Wednesday night’s match (early hours Thursday UK time).
Yet they hammered Paraguay 3-0.
As it happens, Paraguay had most possession (57%) and more shots (19 to Chile’s 10), yet no goals and only two of the 19 on target. Indeed, this stat says it all when it comes to Paraguay’s (lack of!) scoring woes, as they have only managed one goal now in their last eight internationals!
When combined with only two wins in their last thirteen matches, making any kind of impression in the upcoming Copa America would be a shock.
Miguel Almiron came on for the second half with the damage already done, Paraguay 2-0 down and that became 3-0 on 53 minutes.
The Newcastle United player and his international teammates have a tough opening group match against Colomba on Monday 24 June when they kick off their Copa America campaign. Before then of special interest to Newcastle United fans, Bruno Guimaraes up against Miggy Almiron on Friday 28 June when Brazil meet Paraguay in the second round of group matches.
The schedule of Newcastle United players on international duty:
Monday 3 June
England 3 Bosnia & Herzegovina 0 (Friendly)
Kieran Trippier was captain and put in a good performance at left-back at St James’ Park. One of five England players subbed just after the hour mark, Trippier a certainty for the plane to Germany. Southgate resting Anthony Gordon to ensure no lingering issues from his ankle injury, the manager hoping to play the NUFC winger on Friday against Iceland.
Tuesday 4 June
Switzerland 4 Estonia 0 (Friendly)
Fabian Schar with a perfect warm up match for the European Championships. Playing on the right of a back three with Akanji and Elvedi, they restricted the opposition to just three efforts on target in this commanding win.
Wednesday 5 June
Denmark 2 Sweden 1 (Friendly)
Emil Krafth played the full 90 minutes and had a decent game at right-back. Whilst playing through the middle, Alexander Isak produced a very good left foot finish after making space for himself with a right foot touch. That ninth minute goal equalised an early Denmark goal but Eriksen won it with four minutes to go with a sweet strike from outside the box for the hosts. By that time Isak had been subbed with twenty minutes to go.
Slovakia 4 San Marino 0 (Friendly)
An easy win for Slovakia which Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka watched from the bench.
Friday 7 June
England 0 Iceland 1 (Friendly)
Both Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier started at Wembley in this final warm-up game ahead of the Euros. England stunned when Porsteinsson scored on the break in the 12th minute, both Stones and Ramsdale at fault for the goal.
England huffed and puffed and had plenty of possession but against a packed defence struggled to create a lot of clear chances. Kane missed an open goal from six yards out and Palmer could/should have done better with chances for himself. A night when England’s supposed stellar names/players, the likes of Foden, Rice and Kane were poor.
Trippier and Gordon lined up on the left and the defender had a decent match, whilst Anthony Gordon wasn’t one of the weakest in the attacking half, linked up well with Palmer at times in the first half. The Newcastle United pair were subbed with 25 minutes to go.
Saturday 8 June
Gambia 5 Seychelles 1 (World Cup group qualifier)
Teenager Yankuba Minteh started in this World Cup group qualifier and with the score at 2-1, the Newcastle United winger scored his latest goal. A 55th minute strike past the keeper and two despairing late covering challenges from defenders. Then after Gambia went 5-1 up on 78 minutes, Yankuba Minteh subbed with his work done.
Mexico 2 Brazil 3 (Friendly)
Bruno Guimaraes one of a number of usual starters who began this match on the bench after busy club seasons. Brazil raced into a 2-0 lead but when Mexico pulled it back to 2-1, Bruno Guimaraes and Vinicius Jnr brought on to help see the win out. However, a shocker from Alisson allowed Mexico to equalise in the second minute of added time, only for a fine header from 17 year old Endrick to win it, glancing the winner home from a Vinicius Jnr left wing cross.
Sweden 0 Serbia 3 (Friendly)
Sweden made it two defeats this week in friendlies against two of England’s group opponents, Southgate’s players take on Serbia next Sunday in their first group match whilst Sweden lost 2-1 to Denmark in their previous friendly.
Emil Krafth played the full match and despite only introduced at half-time, Alexander Isak rated Sweden’s man of the match.
The scoreline not exactly telling the full picture, as Serbia scored with three of only five efforts on target, Sweden having 20 altogether with nine of them on target. Sweden had 10 corners compared to none at all for Serbia, whilst Sweden had a possession advantage of 64% to 36%.
However, yet another warning for England, that no matter how much they might dominate matches, they need to take their chances AND cut out the mistakes at the back. Former NUFC striker Mitro with the second goal, suggesting he might not have found playing in the weak Saudi league too damaging, Mitrovic with 28 goals in 27 league starts this season.
Switzerland 1 Austria 1 (Friendly)
Fabian Schar was missing from the squad due to an injury picked up in Tuesday’s 4-0 win over Estonia, Switzerland drawing in their last warm up game before the Euros.
Spain 5 Northern Ireland 1 (Friendly)
Jamal Lewis played the full game in Mallorca and Mackem defender Dan Ballard caused a shock when putting the visitors ahead after only two minutes. Shame about the other end of the pitch as Spain retaliated with five goals of their own.
Peru 0 Paraguay 0 (Friendly)
Miguel Almiron played the first 64 minutes in this warm up for the Copa America.
Sunday 9 June
Slovakia 4 Wales 0 (Friendly)
A perfect preparation for Martin Dubravka and his international teammates, as they hammered Wales in their final warm up match for the Euros. The Newcastle United keeper making it eight clean sheets in his last 13 appearances for Slovakia.
Tuesday 11 June
Gabon 3 Gambia 2 (World Cup group qualifier)
Yankuba Minteh giving Gambia a first half lead in this World Cup group qualifier. The Newcastle United star showing yet another part of his repertoire, as a deep cross from the left saw Minteh with a perfect header from beyond the back post. Gabon though hitting back with three goals in 20 second half minutes, before a 79th goal from Adams gave Gambia late false hope.
Northern Ireland 2 Andorra 0 (Friendly)
Jamal Lewis played the full 90 minutes as two Conor Bradley goals avoided any embarrassment against Andorra. If anybody questions the value of so many international friendlies, a crowd of only 400 paying spectators gives them plenty of ammunition.
Wednesday 12 June
USA 1 Brazil 1 Friendly
Bruno Guimaraes putting in a good performance in this final warm up game ahead of the Copa America tournament. Those in front of the Newcastle United midfielder failing to put away chance after chance, with Brazil having 25 shots, including 12 on target, but only Rodrygo successful on 17 minutes. Pulisic with a 26th minute equaliser from a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area. Bruno Guimaraes one of three subs made on 65 minutes as the Brazil head coach wanted to give time on the pitch to others, ahead of the upcoming tournament.
Chile 3 Paraguay 0 (Friendly)
Miguel Almiron came off the bench and played all the second half but the damage already done with Chile 2-0 up. That became 3-0 on 53 minutes. With one goal in their last eight internationals and two wins in the last thirteen, Paraguay looking for a miracle if they hope to create a shock in the upcoming Copa America.
Sunday 16 June
England v Serbia (Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier) Euros Group match
Panama v Paraguay (Miguel Almiron) Copa America Group match
Monday 17 June
Slovakia v Belgium (Martin Dubravka) Euros Group match
Thursday 20 June
England v Denmark (Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier) Euros Group match
Friday 21 June
Slovakia v Ukraine (Martin Dubravka) Euros Group match
Monday 24 June
Costa Rica v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes) Copa America Group match
Colombia v Paraguay (Miguel Almiron) Copa America Group match
Tuesday 25 June
England v Slovenia (Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier) Euros Group match
Wednesday 26 June
Slovakia v Romania (Martin Dubravka) Euros Group match
Friday 28 June
Paraguay v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes and Miguel Almiron) Copa America Group match
Tuesday 2 July
Colombia v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes) Copa America Group match
There will of course be more matches, if Newcastle United players see their nations get through the group stages of the Copa America and/or the European Championships.

 
