Newcastle ace ‘really struggled’ and admits he ‘must improve’ while Sandro Tonali shines
Dan Owen
4 – 5 minutes
Two Newcastle United midfielders, two games in two different continents, and two very different performances.
While Sandro Tonali put his long ban firmly in the rearview mirror with a masterful display during Italy’s 3-1 Nations League victory over France, Bruno Guimaraes and Brazil creeped rather than cruised past Ecuador in Friday night’s World Cup qualifier.
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Italy, like Newcastle United for much of last season’s Premier League, were denied the services of Tonali at the summer’s European Championships.
And how they missed him.
The sight of £60 million man Tonali breezing through France’s midfield at the Parc des Princes – setting up Federico Dimarco’s glorious volley with an equally striking backheel flick – must have elicited a rather bittersweet reaction from the travelling Azzurri faithful.
Bruno Guimarães (L) of Brazil and Enner Valencia of Ecuador compete for the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Brazil and …
Photo by Andre Ricardo/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Mixed night for Newacstle’s Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes
On one hand, Tonali’s return after 10 months out is a cause for much celebration, both for his country and his club.
But it is difficult to ignore the lingering feeling that, if the former AC Milan ace had not allowed himself to fall foul of the FA’s strict betting rules, Italy would have made a far better fist of their ill-fated Euros campaign.
The contrast between Tonali’s brilliantly buccaneering display against the 2018 World champions and Guimaraes’ over in Curitiba, meanwhile, could hardly have been more stark.
So consistent in those black-and-white stripes, Guimaraes looked strangely ill-at-ease alongside Wolves newbie Andre Trindade in a revamped Brazil midifeld.
Goal, while still giving Guimaraes a 6/10 in their post-match player ratings, felt that Newcastle’s talismanic playmaker ‘really struggled’ until his 62nd minute removal.
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Guimaraes is keen to point out that his unusually below-par had nothing to do with the reaction he received from the Curitiba locals, having represented their arch rivals Athletico Paranaense before moving to Europe with Lyon.
But, with Joao Gomes, Douglas Luiz, Gerson, Andreas Pereira and even Newcastle teammate Joelinton looking to secure a starting berth of their own, Guimaraes is fully aware that his performances in the famous yellow shirt must ‘improve’ and fast.
Brazil struggle against Ecuador
“We knew it would be a very physical game. They put a lot of pressure on us,” Guimaraes says, via Terra. “We had a lot of difficulty.
“In the second half, we dropped a bit, which can’t happen. We have to stay focused on that. The three points were crucial, but we have to improve, we are aware of that.
“The performance can be better, we know that. I have to improve, as does the whole team in general. We have to improve a lot, especially me.”
Guimaraes’ bout of self-flagellation could hardly be any further from the beaming reaction to Tonali’s glorious Italy comeback.
“His performance was magnificent,” Azzurri boss Luciano Spalletti told RAI Sport after a flying start to their Nations League campaign, Tonali defying any fears over his lack of match sharpness as he went hell for leather from the first whistle to the last in Paris.
“We were afraid he wouldn’t have 90 minutes in his legs, but in the last five minutes he sprinted down the flank and went clear on goal by himself!”
“We have rediscovered a fantastic player.”
