Fabian Schar undone by former Newcastle United star in narrow defeat to Spain
Fabian Schar picked up his 56th international cap on Saturday night.
The Newcastle defender travelled to Madrid with Switzerland and played the full 90 minutes in this narrow Nations League defeat.
A very good defensive performance from Fabian Schar that helped restrict Spain to only two efforts on target in the 90 minutes.
Unfortunately, that good work completely outdone by Yann Sommer.
The Switzerland keeper attempting a daft short pass which was intercepted by former Newcastle midfielder Mikel Merino and he set up Mikel Oyarzabal for an easy finish in the 14th minute.
Good to see Schar seemingly having no issues with his shoulder, following the surgery and recovery, then the blow he took to it when forced off against Burnley eight days ago.
A busy international period for the NUFC defender, as Switzerland now travel to play Germany on Tuesday.
As for Mikel Merino, definitely one that got away.
For reasons unknown it didn’t last more than one season at Newcastle United. The midfielder still speaks positively about NUFC and no indication that he was unhappy there, probably more of a case that he really wanted to be back playing in Spain
That was Merino’s second start for Spain and he has now made four appearances for his country in the last six weeks, a star in the making.
NEWCASTLE UNITED INTERNATIONALS – FULL SCHEDULE
Wednesday 7 October
Switzerland 1 Croatia 2
Fabian Schar played 76 minutes of this friendly and appeared to have no issues with his shoulder before being subbed late on. Schar the sixth Swiss substitution as they then face games against Spain on Saturday and Germany on Tuesday.
Thursday 8 October
Scotland 0 Israel 0 AET (Scotland win 5-3 on penalties)
Ryan Fraser came on in the 84th minute but didn’t take one of the shootout penalties.
Scotland now play away to Serbia on 12 November to decide who qualifies for the 2020 European Championship finals that will take place in June and July 2021.
Slovakia 0 Republic of Ireland 0 AET (Slovakia win 4-2 on penalties)
Jeff Hendrick played the full 120 minutes but didn’t take a shootout penalty as the Republic of Ireland were eliminated after a poor match. Although the visitors did have the best of the chances that were created.
Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 Northern Ireland 1 AET (Northern Ireland win 4-3 on penalties)
Jamal Lewis played the full 120 minutes but didn’t take a shootout penalty as Northern Ireland triumphed. They will now host host Slovakia on 12 November for a place in the Euro finals next summer.
Russia 1 Sweden 2
Emil Krafth started for Sweden today and played the opening 45 minutes before being subbed at the break with Sweden leading 1-0 in Russia. Sweden eventually winning 2-1.
Bosnia and Herzegovina v Northern Ireland (Jamal Lewis) European Championships play-off
Paraguay 2 v Peru 2
An entertaining game and Miguel Almiron in great form, Romero’s two goals earning Paraguay a draw in this World Cup qualifier. The Newcastle player eventually subbed in the seventh minute of injury time, departing on a cart, with hopefully just cramp, although fears it could be a muscle injury (***A later update said that it was a minor injury and Almiron was back training with the squad).
However, the big talking point was a horrific elbow to the face of Almiron in the first half. The Newcastle player’s persistence catching an opponent in possession, his determined run ended on the edge of the box as the last defender launched a horrific assault on Miguel Almiron (watch it HERE), his elbow full to the face and knocking the Paraguayan attacking player to the floor. The Peru defender immediately putting his head in his hands as he realised what he had done, only for the referee to amazingly only give a yellow, to the astonishment of both teams.
Saturday 10 October
Spain 1 Switzerland 0
Fabian Schar played the full 90 minutes in this narrow Nations League defeat.
A good defensive performance that helped restrict Spain to only two efforts on target in the 90 minutes.
Unfortunately, that good work completely outdone by Yann Sommer. The Switzerland keeper attempting a daft short pass which was intercepted by former Newcastle midfielder Mikel Merino and he set up Mikel Oyarzabal for an easy finish in the 14th minute.
Sunday 11 October
Scotland v Slovakia (Ryan Fraser) Nations League
Republic of Ireland v Wales (Jeff Hendrick) Nations League
Croatia v Sweden (Emil Krafth) Nations League
Northern Ireland v Austria (Jamal Lewis) Nations League
Tuesday 13 October
Germany v Switzerland (Fabian Schar) Nations League
Venezuela v Paraguay (Miguel Almiron) World Cup qualifier
Wednesday 14 October
Scotland v Czech Republic (Ryan Fraser) Nations League
Finland v Republic of Ireland (Jeff Hendrick) Nations League
Russia v Sweden (Emil Krafth) Friendly
Portugal v Sweden (Emil Krafth) Nations League
Norway v Northern Ireland (Jamal Lewis) Nations League
If you would like to feature on The Mag, submit your article to contribute@themag.co.uk