World Cup Friendlies: Germany Draw Spain, Brazil Beat Hosts Russia
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo scored two stoppage time goals to steal a 2-1 win over Egypt.
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Ronaldo Helps Portugal Win
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo scored two stoppage time goals to steal a 2-1 win over Egypt after Mohamed Salah had given the African side the lead in an entertaining World Cup warm-up in Switzerland on Friday, 23 March.
Salah scored with a thumping drive to put Egypt ahead early in the second half. However, Ronaldo refused to be upstaged and he sneaked in behind his marker to head in Ricardo Quaresma's cross in the 92nd minute.
There was initial confusion as the referee consulted the video assistant referee (VAR) system for a possible offside before allowing the goal.
Brazil Beat Hosts Russia
A string of second-half goals helped a Brazil side deprived of talisman Neymar to an emphatic 3-0 friendly win over World Cup hosts Russia in Moscow on Friday, 23 March.
After several missed chances in the first half, Brazil's Miranda finally broke the deadlock by tapping in a rebounded shot past goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev in the 53rd minute.
Philippe Coutinho doubled Brazil's lead with a penalty kick less than 10 minutes later. The playmaker's Barcelona team mate Paulinho quickly added another in the 66th minute, expertly heading a flawless cross by Willian into the back of the net.
Russia take on France next week, while Brazil face Germany for the first time since their humiliating 7-1 loss to the European side on home soil in the 2014 World Cup semi-final.
Without Messi, Argentina Beat Italy 2-0
Late goals from Ever Banega and Manuel Lanzini helped an Argentina side deprived of talisman Lionel Messi edge past Italy 2-0 at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium on 23 March.
With the Barcelona forward missing through a muscle problem, it was a game that saw plenty of profligate finishing in front of goal, with veteran goalkeepers Gianluigi Buffon and Willy Caballero excelling throughout.
After the break, Caballero was the star as he twice denied Lorenzo Insigne before thwarting Ciro Immobile from close range.
Insigne then wasted a glorious chance to open the scoring after latching onto a short Leandro Paredes backpass, however he pulled his shot wide with the goal gaping.
He was made to pay late on as substitute Banega danced through the Italy midfield before rifling in from the edge of the box left-footed.
With Italy chasing the game Argentina threatened on the counter as Buffon produced a wonderful save to deny Diego Perotti. However, the 40-year-old was helpless as Lanzini's stunning effort flew into the top corner five minutes from the end.
Argentina face Spain in Madrid on Tuesday at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano, while Italy face England at Wembley.
Germany Draw 1-1 With Spain
World champions Germany drew 1-1 with Spain in a high tempo friendly on Friday, 23 March as they launched their preparations for a title defence in Russia and Spain's Diego Costa made his comeback following a transfer ban.
Germany were made to work hard against the Spaniards, unbeaten under coach Julen Lopetegui, but still managed to stretch their own unbeaten run to 22 matches, one shy of the German record of 23 dating back to 1978-80.
They can now match it when they take on Brazil on 27 March. Spain, the 2010 World Cup winners, host Argentina in Madrid.
The Germans, who at times struggled with their opponents' quick passing, managed to draw level with an unstoppable 20-metre strike from Thomas Mueller in the 35th.
The Germans have been drawn in Group F of the tournament, along with Mexico, South Korea and Sweden. Spain are in Group B and will play Iran, Morocco and Portugal.
England End Win Drought vs Netherlands
England ended a 22-year win drought against the Netherlands thanks to Jesse Lingard's strike for a 1-0 triumph after a performance of composure and quality in a friendly on Friday, 24 March.
Gareth Southgate's World Cup-bound England side were superior for much of the match, organised and in control even before Manchester United midfielder Lingard's 59th minute goal secured their first win over the Dutch since Euro '96.
The Netherlands, still smarting from missing out on this year's finals in Russia, after a second straight failure to qualify for a major championship, were left with little to cheer at the start of reconstruction under new manager Ronald Koeman.
The home side got lucky soon after halftime, when a clear foul on Marcus Rashford in the penalty area was waved away.
But the visitors were soon rewarded for their control and some neat passing movements when a loose ball fell to Lingard, who swept it home with a clinical right-foot finish from just outside the box for his first senior international goal.
The result and, more importantly, the assured performances from some of Southgate's supposed fringe players, was bound to give encouragement to the England boss, who was in the team that last beat the Netherlands 4-1 at Wembley in 1996.
Southgate has one more friendly match against Italy on 27 March before he finalises his squad for Russia.
France Slump to 2-3 Loss to Colombia
France threw away a two-goal lead as they slumped to a 2-3 home defeat to Colombia in a friendly at the Stade de France on 24 March, less than three months before the World Cup.
Les Bleus were 2-0 up midway through the first half thanks to goals by Olivier Giroud and Thomas Lemar, but Luis Muriel halved the deficit before the break with Radamel Falcao and Juan Quintero scoring in the second half.
Before kickoff, there was a minute's silence in memory of the three people who were killed in southwestern France by a gunman who held up a car, fired on police and seized hostages in a supermarket earlier on Friday.
France started with N'Golo Kante and Blaise Matuidi as holding midfielders, Paul Pogba being left on the bench because of a muscle problem and a lack of playing time at Manchester United, according to assistant coach Guy Stephan.
Pogba, however, came on as a second half substitute but had little impact.
Les Bleus enjoyed most of the possession, and they were rewarded in the 11th minute when Giroud scored his 30th international goal as he knocked the ball in after David Ospina mishandled Lucas Digne's cross from the left.
It was Giroud's ninth goal in the last nine games he started for France.
Lemar made it 2-0 in the 26th from inside the box after being set up by his former Monaco team mate Kylian Mbappe, who had collected a fine back heel by Antoine Griezmann.
The visitors were more active in the second half and Falcao beat Lloris in the 62nd minute as he latched onto a cross from James Rodriguez.
Colombia sealed the win five minutes from time when Quintero converted a penalty after a Samuel Umtiti foul in the box.
France next face World Cup hosts Russia in St Petersburg on Tuesday, while Colombia take on Australia.