Newcastle lose 8-0 vs Australia All Stars as San Marino followers ‘need to play’ them

Newcastle United were beaten 8-0 by Australia All Stars in an embarrassing end to their post-season friendlies.

Eddie Howe’s side have travelled Down Under for a ridiculous post-season tour where the first-team won on penalties against Tottenham Hotspur just three days after the final game of the Premier League season.

While it appears the senior squad were let go on their belated summer break and delayed preparations for those selected in their country’s Euro 2024, the youth team took on a team made up of players from Australia and New Zealand’s premier league.

And the Magpies’ youngsters proved no match for their Aussie opponents as they trailed 3-0 at the break before the second-half humiliatingly ran away from them, eventually beaten 8-0.

Fans on social media found the scoreline hilarious, especially given the ridiculous circumstances around Newcastle’s end-of-season games – which Geordie legend Alan Shearer called “madness”.

Even a fan of the lowest FIFA-ranked country San Marino fancied their chances against the Toon, joking on Twitter: “We want to play against you. We have similar levels”.

A second quipped: “Imagine travelling 10,485 miles for no reason just to get thrashed 8-0,” while a third ironically called out Newcastle’s trip after the FA announced FA Cup replays would be scrapped to help with fixture congestion, they added: “There was good reason. To prove that FA Cup replays need scrapping because players are too tired.”

More to follow.