Miguel Almiron stars for Paraguay as they add to impressive run – World Cup qualifying

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A great battling performance, perfectly summed up by Miguel Almiron putting in his usual hard working shift, as it ended Ecuador 0 Paraguay 0.

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.

It is now over six hours of football since Paraguay conceded a goal, if only they could score a few at the other end! So far only two goals scored in their nine South American World Cup group qualifiers (see below) BUT have only conceded three.

They are halfway through that qualifying process and the last three results and performances have now given them a great chance of reaching those 2026 World Cup finals.

Goalless away draws achieved against Uruguay and now Ecuador, sandwiching that massive 1-0 home win over Brazil last month.

This is how the South American World Cup qualifying group now looks on Friday morning, after Paraguay’s draw and supersub Bruno Guimaraes having helped Brazil come back to beat Chile 2-1.

The top six in the group automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup, whilst the seventh placed team goes into a play-off for a potential seventh qualifying place for South American countries.

It looks a huge game on Tuesday, if Paraguay can win at home against Venezuela, then there is every chance they could end the October internationals in fifth place in the group. As Bolivia play Argentina away and Bolivia go to Uruguay on Tuesday.

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.

Friday 11 October

Slovakia v Sweden (Emil Krafth) Nations League

England U21s v Ukraine U21s (Lewis Hall) U21 Euros group qualifier

Sunday 13 October

Finland v England (Nick Pope, Tino Livramento, Anthony Gordon) Nations League

Greece v Republic of Ireland (Odysseas Vlachidomos) Nations League

Monday 14 October

Italy v Israel (Sandro Tonali) Nations League