Sandro Tonali the driving force – Sets Italy on way to commanding victory and top the group | OneFootball

Sandro Tonali and Italy put on another great performance on Monday night.

The Newcastle United midfielder with another superb personal performance for a resurgent Italy.

Sandro Tonali almost opening the scoring in the 20th minute but his effort well saved.

The NUFC star with some stand out driving runs forward.

This eventually paying dividends, with Tonali winning the penalty that set his side on their way, with Retegui scoring from the spot on 41 minutes.

Three further second-half goals rubber stamping this victory, with only a consolation goal for the visitors.

Sandro Tonali surviving an injury scare, getting treatment on the pitch but able to continue and playing the full match.

This win ensures Italy stay top of their Nations League group.

Italy actually very unlucky not to be three points clear. Cruising at 2-0 in their match last week against Belgium, a red card saw them having to play the majority of the game with 10 men and having to settle for a point.

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.

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.

Friday 11 October

Slovakia 2 Sweden 2

Both Isak and Dubravka missing of course as they recover from injury. Sweden throwing away a two goal lead and Emil Krafth coming on in the 92nd minute of this Nations League draw, with the score already at 2-2.

England U21s 2 Ukraine U21s 1

The Young Lions dominating the game but Ukraine taking a shock 70th minute lead.

Lewis Hall with another very good display for the Under 21s and he and his teammates celebrating a dramatic win in this U21 Euros group qualifier. Trailing with two minutes to go, James McAtee with two very late goals to give an eventual deserved victory.

Sunday 13 October

Finland 1 England 3

England carrying massive luck with another poor performance.

Three great goals but an unconvincing performance, lucky to be playing such poor opposition as Finland missed some great chances, including an open goal when 1-0 down. England only one up until two late goals in the final 16 minutes

The NUFC trio of Nick Pope, Tino Livramento and Anthony Gordon all watched this Nations League win from the bench.

Greece 2 Republic of Ireland 0

Newcastle keeper Odysseas Vlachidomos with another very composed performance and clean sheet as Greece stay top of their Nations League group with four wins from four.

Monday 14 October

Italy 4 Israel 1

Sandro Tonali with another superb performance for a resurgent Italy.

The Newcastle United midfielder almost opening the scoring in the 20th minute but his effort well saved.

Tonali then winning the penalty that set his side on their way, with Retegui scoring from the spot on 41 minutes.

Three further second-half goals rubber stamping this victory, with only a consolation goal for the visitors.

Sandro Tonali surviving an injury scare, getting treatment on the pitch but able to continue and playing the full match.

This win ensures Italy stay top of their Nations League group.

Tuesday 15 October

Paraguay v Venezuela (Miguel Almiron) World Cup group qualifier (UK time, kick-off early hours of Wednesday)

Brazil v Peru (Bruno Guimaraes) World Cup group qualifier (UK time, kick-off early hours of Wednesday)

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