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Miguel Almiron helps Paraguay take small step towards Qatar 2022 – First of 9(*) games

3 years ago
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Miguel Almiron last night played the first of what could be nine games in five and a half weeks, with World Cup qualifiers followed by the 2021 Copa America.

Miguel Almiron helping Paraguay on Thursday night to take another small step towards World Cup qualification for Qatar 2022.

A spirited goalless draw saw Paraguay extend their unbeaten run to eight matches (their best such run since 2011) and after this fifth of eighteen group games, the point keeps them fourth of ten and ahead of Uruguay in fifth on goal difference. The top four qualify automatically for the World Cup finals, the fifth goes into a play-off.

A game of few chances where playing at home Uruguay edged it and saw a Rodriguez goal maybe unluckily disallowed and Suarez missed a sitter. However, Paraguay did come into the game late on and Almiron saw one effort go just wide and the Newcastle man setting Sanchez up twice in decent positions, one saved by the keeper and the other just off target.

A massive game on Wednesday (9 June) sees Paraguay hosting group leaders Brazil in another World Cup qualifier, before then focus switches to the 2021 Copa America (all games shown live by the BBC)) and Paraguay set to face Bolivia on Monday 14 June, their first of four group games. With two groups of five and only one team knocked out in each, it is then odds on that Miguel Almiron will have at least a seventh game in a month with a Copa America quarter-final, followed potentially by a semi and final which would make it up to fully 9(*) games for the Newcastle player in just over five weeks.

Listed below are all the summer confirmed matches potentially involving Newcastle United players, with all the pre tournament friendlies and then the Euro 2020 group matches. Whilst for Miguel Almiron, it is a couple of World Cup qualifiers, before then the Copa America tournament now set to take place in Brazil after it was taken off Argentina, due to rising virus cases.

PRE-EURO 2020 FINALS FRIENDLIES (Apart from Miguel Almiron with World Cup qualifiers)

Saturday 29 May

Sweden 2 Finland 0

A rare 90 minutes for his country, as Emil Krafth shook off an ankle injury picked up in training, to play the full game in the 2-0 win.

Sunday 30 May

Switzerland 2 USA 1

Fabian Schar played full 90 minutes of first team football for first time in almost four months. Former NUFC defender DeAndre Yedlin called into USA squad for first time in 18 months and played final 10 minutes as a sub.

Tuesday 1 June

Slovakia 1 Bulgaria 1

Martin Dubravka an unused sub.

Wednesday 2 June

Holland 2 Scotland 2

Good news for Newcastle and Scotland as Ryan Fraser was back from injury, playing his first football since starting the 3-0 NUFC defeat at Brighton in March.

Fraser playing a full part after coming on in the 62nd minute when Scotland were drawing 1-1, the Scots then quickly making it 2-1 with Holland only grabbing a draw thanks to an 89th minute goal.

Thursday 3 June

Switzerland 7 Liechenstein 0

Playing the opening half, Fabian Schar was subbed at the break with Switzerland 1-0 up.

After his departure, Switzerland scoring another six goals without reply in this international walkover, the final score 7-0 to the Swiss.

Uruguay 0 Paraguay 0

Miguel Almiron helped Paraguay to take another small step towards World Cup qualification for Qatar 2022.

A spirited goalless draw saw Paraguay extend their unbeaten run to eight matches and after this fifth of eighteen group games, the point keeps them fourth of ten and ahead of Uruguay in fifth on goal difference. The top four qualify automatically for the World Cup finals, the fifth goes into a play-off.

A game of few chances where Uruguay edged it and saw a Rodriguez goal maybe unluckily disallowed and Suarez missed a sitter. However, Paraguay did come into the game late on and Almiron saw one effort go just wide and the Newcastle man setting Sanchez up twice in decent positions, one saved by the keeper and the other just off target.

Saturday 5 June

Sweden v Armenia (Emil Krafth)

Sunday 6 June

Slovakia v Austria (Martin Dubravka)

Scotland v Luxembourg (Ryan Fraser)

Wednesday 9 June

Paraguay v Brazil (Miguel Almiron – World Cup qualifier)

EURO 2020 FINALS and COPA AMERICA (Miguel Almiron)

Saturday 12 June

Switzerland v Wales (Fabian Schar)

Monday 14  June

Scotland v Czech Republic (Ryan Fraser)

Slovakia v Poland (Martin Dubravka)

Sweden v Spain (Emil Krafth)

Paraguay v Bolivia (Miguel Almiron – Copa America)

Wednesday 16 June

Switzerland v Italy (Fabian Schar)

Friday 18 June

Scotland v England (Ryan Fraser)

Slovakia v Sweden (Martin Dubravka and Emil Krafth)

Sunday 20 June

Switzerland v Turkey (Fabian Schar)

Monday 21 June

Paraguay v Argentina (Miguel Almiron – Copa America)

Tuesday 22 June

Scotland v Croatia (Ryan Fraser)

Wednesday 23 June

Slovakia v Spain (Martin Dubravka)

Sweden v Poland (Emil Krafth)

Thursday 24 June

Paraguay v Chile (Miguel Almiron – Copa America)

Sunday 27 June

Paraguay v Uruguay (Miguel Almiron – Copa America)

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