A number of Newcastle United players have been in action during the international break with varying degrees of success as the final positions for the World Cup finals were decided. Bruno Guimaraes dominated the headlines as far as Magpies players went as he netted his first Brazil goal in a 4-0 win against Bolivia.
He also put on yet another assist on the international stage which increased his tally to three assists in six appearances. With the World Cup coming quickly into focus, he has done his chances of holding down a starting berth the world of good.
That same enjoyment that the United newbie enjoyed couldn’t be reciprocated elsewhere amongst his club team mates though as Emil Krafth’s World Cup dream came to an end. Sweden fell at the final hurdle in their quest to make it to Qatar as they were beaten 2-0 away from home by Poland who booked their place in the finals at the end of the year with victory.
Read more: Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes shines once again as he nets in emphatic Brazil victory
Paraguay’s qualifying campaign also came to an end overnight and they too won’t be at the World Cup after finishing eighth out of the 10 South American teams. Miguel Almiron was not in the matchday squad for their 2-0 defeat to Peru in the early hours of Wednesday morning after he scored in the match before, the 3-1 victory against Ecuador.
Elsewhere, Chris Wood could be in action for New Zealand this evening as they look to book their place in the inter-confederation World Cup play-off in June. If they beat the Solomon Islands in the final of the OFC draw, they will face the fourth-place team in CONCACAF qualifying which looks likely to be Costa Rica.
The other two United internationals, Fabian Schar and Martin Dubravka, were not in action for Switzerland and Slovakia respectively after both pulled out of their camps with injuries. The extent of their problems will be assessed upon their returns to Newcastle.
