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Another night of international football and another great performance from Sandro Tonali.
Italy by far the better team on the night, although Israel did offer the odd hint of danger throughout the night.
A home game for Israel but played in neutral Budapest, Davide Frattesi got his sixth goal since new boss Spalletti took over in September 2023, scoring in the 38th minute with his chest from Federico Dimarco’s cross.
On 62 minutes the win was wrapped up, when Moise Kean doubled Italy’s advantage. Israel did get a consolation goal in the final minute via a free-kick in the final minute of normal time.
It was double good news for Newcastle United, as not only was Sandro Tonali one of the best players on the pitch, if not the very best, he also played his second full game in a few days, following Friday’s dominant 3-1 win over France in Paris.
After playing an hour at Forest in the cup and then a sub off the bench against Tottenham, Sandro Tonali now returns to Tyneside ahead of Sunday’s game at Wolves, now back to real match fitness.
The Sportskeeda site rated all of the Italy performances and Sandro Tonali given a joint highest 7.5 rating last night, the following comments alongside his rating:
‘Tonali played well in midfield as he distributed the ball with 93% accuracy. He also won four duels and one shot on target.’
A very impressive September for Italy, as they stand top of League A – Group 2 in the Nations League:
This is the September 2024 international schedule for Newcastle United players:
Thursday 5 September
Azerbaijan 1 Sweden 3
Alexander Isak on fire in this Nations League match. Scoring the first two goals and then bizarrely denied his hat-trick.
Alexander Isak winning the penalty but instead of the Newcastle United striker taking the spot-kick to finish off a great personal match, it was Gyokeres who took the 80th minute spot-kick to put Sweden 3-0 up. The home side getting a consolation goal late on.
Estonia 0 Slovakia 1
Martin Dubravka getting a morale boosting clean sheet as the Newcastle United number two keeper helped his country to an opening Nations League group win, the winner coming on 70 minutes.
Friday 6 September
France 1 Italy 3
A stunning international comeback for Sandro Tonali.
France taking the lead after only 12 seconds but the Newcastle United midfielder superb, as he and his international teammates came back and blew the home side away in Paris. A very much deserved win for Italy and this Nations League victory set in motion with a stunning equaliser on 30 minutes, a sublime flick by Sandro Tonali followed by an arguably even better volley from Dimarco.
Uruguay 0 Paraguay 0
A great result for Miguel Almiron and his teammates in this World Cup group qualifier against the team that is second top. Paraguay restricting Uruguay to just one effort on target and Miggy playing 82 minutes before becoming one of a number of players subbed off late, as the visitors ran the clock down.
Brazil 1 Equador 0
A massive result for Bruno Guimaraes and his Brazil teammates, after they had lost their last three World Cup group qualifiers.
Ecuador had lost only one of their last five group qualifiers and were a tough nut to crack in a very dour defensive contest. Only five efforts on target between the two teams and Brazil winning thanks to a shot by Rodrygo on 29 minutes that deflected past the visiting keeper and went in off the post.
A good shift from Bruno in his more defensive midfield role than we see for Newcastle United, good to see the Brazil boss looking after him, as Bruno was one of a couple of players taken off after 62 minutes, leaving their teammates to see out this dour victory.
Northern Ireland U21s 0 England U21s 0
A drab game in Ballymena ended goalless, Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall coming on in the 69th minute of this U21 Euros group qualifier.
Turkey U21s 0 Republic of Ireland U21s 1
A really good result for the Republic of Ireland in this U21 Euros group qualifier, winning with an 84th minute goal. Newcastle’s Alex Murphy not in the matchday squad though, for unknown reasons.
Iceland U21s 4 Denmark U21s 2
It only took Will Osula 16 minutes to open the scoring in this U21s Euros group qualifier, however, the home side bouncing back to win 4-2 in the end.
Saturday 7 September
Republic of Ireland 0 England 2
The easiest of wins for England, going 2-0 up inside 26 minutes and then cruising the rest of the match, though still creating a lot of chances that if taken, could/should have heaped further humiliation on the home side.
A really refreshing change though compared to the misery of watching Southgate’s ultra negative football, as England looked to attack from the first whistle.
Nick Pope and Tino Livramento remained on the bench but Anthony Gordon was excellent. The only minor criticism was that he didn’t finish it himself when on 11 minutes his brilliant run in behind was found by Trent Alexander-Arnold. I reckon nine times out of ten he would score that for Newcastle, rather than giving the keeper a chance to save. However, Gordon showed great composure to seize upon the ball when Kelleher saved, he played it across to Harry Kane who didn’t make the most of it, but it fell kindly to Rice to lash home.
Gordon was one of England’s best players alongside Grealish and Rice, with the Arsenal player getting the second goal to wrap the victory up with only 26 minutes on the clock. The Republic of Ireland unable to handle the pace and trickery of Gordon, nor the Man City player.
Greece 3 Finland 0
Odysseas Vlachodimos with a clean sheet, as the Greece number one helped his country to a commanding Nations League group win.
Sunday 8 September
Sweden 3 Estonia 0
Another game and another goal for Alexander Isak.
The Newcastle United striker returns to Tyneside in red hot form, having made it three goals in two September internationals. Sweden now top their Nations League group with six points and a 6-1 goal difference, Alexander Isak following up two goals against Azerbaijan on Thursday, with another on Sunday night. Isak scoring on 40 minutes in the middle of a 14 minute first half spell that brought three goals, Viktor Gyokeres scoring either side of the Newcastle striker’s goal.
Slovakia 2 Azerbaijan 0
Another win and another clean sheet for Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka. Number two at NUFC behind Nick Pope, Dubravka and his national side joining Sweden and Alexander Isak at the top of their Nations League group, two wins and six points so far.
Monday 9 September
Israel 1 Italy 2
Double great news for Newcastle United as Sandro Tonali was again one of Italy’s top performers AND he played the full 90 minutes again, only three days after that superb 3-1 win in Paris. The midfielder returning to Tyneside ahead of Sunday’s match at Wolves, with these internationals playing a key role in helping him back to full match fitness. This victory takes Italy three points clear in their Nations League group above France and Belgium.
Tuesday 10 September
England v Finland (Nick Pope, Tino Livramento, Anthony Gordon) Nations League
Republic of Ireland v Greece (Odysseas Vlachodimos) Nations League
Paraguay v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes, Miguel Almiron) World Cup group qualifier (UK time, kick-off early hours of Wednesday)
Denmark U21s v Czech Republic U21s (Will Osula) U21s Euros group qualifier
Republic of Ireland U21s v Latvia U21s (Alex Murphy) U21 Euros group qualifier

 
