International Magpie Roundup: Nov. 25

The World Cup has arrived and there are six Magpies playing in the group stages: Kieran Trippier, Nick Pope, and Callum Wilson for England, Garang Kuol is with Australia, Fabian Schar is part of the Swiss team, and Bruno plays for Brazil.

Here’s a recap of all that went on Friday, Nov. 25, with more updates to come in the following days as games keep getting played with the World Cup still in the group stages.

Photo by Alex Pantling - The FA/The FA via Getty Images

Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson & Nick Pope (England)

Match: ENG vs United States (World Cup)

In the shortest game in the history of Qatari football (only one and four minutes of added time were tucked at the end of each half), none of the two national sides hailing from England and the United States of America were able to break each other’s lock.

As many as 22 men started this game on a very warm night in Al Khor city, and an even larger group of 29 etched their name in the history books for the match to end in an awful goalless draw. What a pity. Of those 29, only one plays for Newcastle: your casual suspect Kieran Trippier.

Tripps went on to play the full 90 minutes on the right flank as he always does for club and nation. He did better than most, but that’s not saying a lot considering nobody did a thing. Cleared a couple of balls, lost possession of the rock 12 times (...) but won two of five duels. Quite mediocre, as you see.

Callum Wilson and Nick Pope, at extreme opposites on the pitch, were closer than ever—off of it, sitting on the substitutes' pine for the second game in a row but this time with none of them entering the field of play at any point as The Mighty Three Lions still believe in and preach the Word of Kane.

(Kane was the worst bloke performing for the side donning white threads on Friday, by the way.)

One more game to go for Englishmen and Americans next Tuesday with all four places in their group still undecided. Yes, even Wales has a shot at qualifying. Just imagine!