A tale of two Newcastle United international goalkeepers – Very different experiences | OneFootball

Very much a different tale for two Newcastle United international goalkeepers on Thursday night.

Martin Dubravka bouncing back from the disappointment of watching from the bench as Nick Pope on Sunday played a key role in United lifting the League Cup.

Dubravka of course having the solace of picking up a second League Cup winners medal, only 25 months after bizarrely picking one up for Man U, due to the fact they defeated NUFC in the 2023 final.

Anyway, last night 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, as they drew 0-0 at home with Slovenia. The second leg away in Slovenia on Sunday.

For Dubravka’s Newcastle United colleague Odysseas Vlachodimos it was a different matter though.

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 has 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) has now led to Konstantinos Tzolakis replacing him.

The regular number one for Olympiakos, Tzolakis starting last night and the Newcastle United third choice keeper dropped to the bench.

A match that Greece dominated but failing to score, whilst 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.

The two sides meeting on Sunday for the second leg, Scotland at home this time.

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.

Friday 21 March

England v Albania (Anthony Gordon, Tino Livramento, Dan Burn) World Cup group qualifier

Brazil v Colombia (Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton) World Cup group qualifier

Saturday 22 March

Luxembourg v Sweden (Alexander Isak) Friendly

Sunday 23 March

Scotland v Greece (Odysseas Vlachodimos) Nations League Play-Off

Germany v Italy (Sandro Tonali) Nations League Play-Off

Slovenia v Slovakia (Martin Dubravka) Nations League Play-Off

Monday 24 March

Tuesday 25 March

Wednesday 26 March