Two Newcastle United international goalkeepers experience very different Sundays | OneFootball

Very different Sundays for two Newcastle United international goalkeepers.

Martin Dubravka kept a clean sheet on Thursday, bouncing back from the disappointment of watching from the bench as Nick Pope played a key role in United lifting the League Cup. Dubravka with some fine saves in that first leg against Slovenia to keep it goalless.

All to play for on Sunday away against Slovenia, Slovakia on level terms after the first leg of this Nations League play-off.

A very busy night for both goalkeepers in the second leg, a massive 44 shots in total in the game, with both keepers excelling, making six saves each.

The tie ended up going to extra-time and Martin Dubravka eventually beaten in the 95th minute, Slovakia losing their Nations League play-off with Slovenia triumphant.

For Dubravka’s Newcastle United colleague Odysseas Vlachodimos it was a very different story.

Despite getting almost no football at all with Newcastle United, the keeper had remained number one with Greece, and had continued his superb record. In the six Nations League group matches, Vlachodimos had kept four clean sheets and helped Greece to five wins in the six games, only conceding goals in the two group matches against England.

However, the fact that Vlachodimos had only had 44 minutes of first team football all season for Newcastle (when coming on as a sub for the injured Dubravka against Wimbledon in the League Cup) led to Konstantinos Tzolakis replacing him on Thursday, as Greece lost their Nations League play-off first leg 1-0 at home to Scotland.

Scotland had been very lucky to bring a lead back to Hampden Park but that luck finally ran out on Sunday, Greece fully deserving their 3-0 victory, meaning a 3-1 aggregate win in their Nations League play-off. Newcastle keeper Vlachodimos though, having to watch from the bench once again.

This is the March 2025 international schedule for Newcastle United players:

Thursday 20 March

Italy 1 Germany 2

Sandro Tonali man of the match for Italy in this Nations League play-off first leg.

Scored a very well taken ninth minute goal and ran the show for Italy, creating great chances for teammates that were wasted. Germany fighting back though to win it with two second-half goals.

Greece 0 Scotland 1

Odysseas Vlachodimos dropped to the bench, presumably due to getting no football with Newcastle United. Scotland scoring with one of only two shots on target to get a surprise win in the first leg of this Nations League play-off, McTominay from the penalty spot.

Slovakia 0 Slovenia 0

A great display from Martin Dubravka with some fine saves, to help keep Slovakia on level terms in the first leg of this Nations League play-off.

Brazil 2 Colombia 1

Bruno Guimaraes started and Joelinton replaced an injured Gerson on 28 minutes. A massive win in this World Cup group qualifier, Brazil now second in the South American qualifying group and now looking all but certain to be in those 2026 finals. A sixth minute penalty from Raphinha was equalised by Diaz just before half-time, Vinicius Junior with a dramatic late deflected winning in the ninth minute of added time.

Friday 21 March

England 2 Albania 0

A cool finish on his debut by Lewis-Skelly in the 20th minute gave England the lead, then Harry Kane confirmed the win with his latest international goal on 77 minutes. Dan Burn can be happy with his contribution overall and it could have been so much better if his header from a first half corner had hit the back of the net instead of the crossbar. Injury concerns though for Anthony Gordon who came on in the 74th minute for Rashford but left the pitch at the end with a potential hip injury. Tino Livramento an unused sub in this World Cup group qualifier.

Saturday 22 March

Luxembourg 1 Sweden 0

A friendly that Alexander Isak and Sweden were second best in, as Korac gave the home side a 23rd minute lead. The Newcastle United striker seeing a number of efforts blocked and/or saved, before subbed off on 61 minutes. Defeat in Luxembourg coming six days after that stunning victory at Wembley. Funny old game.

Sunday 23 March

Germany 3 Italy 3

Sandro Tonali maybe feeling the effects of a third huge game in the space of a week, as his energy levels not quite there maybe. He didn’t have a bad game but he and his teammates found themselves three down at half-time, with some appalling defending going on behind Sandro Tonali at the back. An astonishing turn around saw Italy dominate after the break and pull three goals back, however, this Nations League play-off ending 5-4 on aggregate to Germany. Tonali having been subbed off in the 68th minute when Italy were 3-1 down.

Scotland 0 Greece 3

Odysseas Vlachodimos watching from the bench once again, as Greece fully deserved their victory. Scotland losing this Nations League play-off 3-1 on aggregate.

Slovenia 1 Slovakia 0 (AET)

Martin Dubravka followed up Thursday’s clean sheet with another one in normal time against Slovenia. The Newcastle keeper with some fine saves, however, eventually conceding in extra time as Slovenia won this Nations League play-off 1-0 on aggregate.

Monday 24 March

England v Latvia (Tino Livramento and Dan Burn, with Anthony Gordon having been forced to pull out of the squad through injury) World Cup group qualification

Tuesday 25 March

Argentina v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes is suspended for this match after picking up that latest yellow card against Colombia, Joelinton available though) World Cup group qualifier