Portugal and Germany snatch late friendly wins

GENEVA: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi had left the pitch long before Raphael Guerreiro’s stoppage-time header gave Portugal a 1-0 win over Argentina in a friendly on Tuesday.

The world’s two best players were substituted at half-time at Old Trafford, with Ronaldo rarely shining in a stadium he graced for six seasons with Manchester United. Messi struck the post in the 11th minute.

Germany also struck late in a 1-0 away win, as Toni Kroos scored in the 89th against Spain though the past two world champions fielded far from full-strength line-ups.

Brazil made it six straight wins since a humiliating end to their home World Cup. The winning goal came in the 83rd against Austria as newcomer Roberto Firmino’s 25-metre shot sealed a 2-1 victory.

England beat Scotland 3-1 in Glasgow, where captain Wayne Rooney scored twice in a renewal of the oldest international fixture, dating back to 1872.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain put England ahead at Celtic Park and Rooney scored either side of a late Andy Robertson strike to chalk up his 45th and 46th international goals on his 101st appearance.

“We expected to win the game and we were the better team,” said Rooney, who became England’s third-highest goal-scorer, three goals shy of Bobby Charlton’s all-time record and two goals behind Gary Lineker.

On a busy day of international friendlies worldwide, France notched up a 1-0 victory over Sweden thanks to an 84th-minute goal from Raphael Varane, and Ireland beat the United States 4-1.

A virtual second-choice Italy side laboured to a narrow 1-0 win over Albania while Uruguay made light of the absence of striker Luis Suarez to recover from a goal down and beat 2015 Copa America hosts Chile 2-1.

Colombia beat Slovenia 1-0 but Mexico followed last week’s impressive away win over the Netherlands with a 3-2 loss to Belarus.

VIENNA: Brazil’s Roberto Firmino (C, obscured) scores past Austrian goalkeeper Robert Almer during their match at the Ernst Happel Stadium.—Reuters

The 27th meeting between Portugal winger Ronaldo and Argentina forward Messi had been billed as a golden opportunity for the world’s two best players to underline their credentials for this year’s Ballon D’or award.

But neither Barcelona’s Messi nor Real Madrid’s Ronaldo were anywhere near their brilliant best, with the latter especially anonymous on just his second return to Old Trafford since his 2009 move from United.

In the end, Portugal claimed only their second win over Argentina, and their first since 1972, after Guerreiro, a second-half substitute, met a right-wing cross from Ricardo Quaresma with a thumping header in the first of two minutes of stoppage time.

Germany ended Spain’s run of 34 games without a loss at home despite having only three starters from the side that thrashed Brazil 7-1 in the World Cup semi-finals.

Real Madrid midfielder Kroos unleashed a long-distance shot that skipped off the wet grass at Balaidos Stadium in Vigo and over substitute goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, marring his international debut.

“It was just what we’d been hoping for. It’s been a big year and this was a fine way to close it,” Kroos said after the game.

Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas had started for Spain in his 160th international appearance, but made way for his near namesake Casilla with 20 minutes to go.

For Brazil, Firmino’s international career began last weekend and the Hoffenheim midfielder replaced Luiz Adriano in the second half to ensure Brazil got a fortunate win, firing a rising shot past Austria goalkeeper Ramazan Oeczan.

In a packed Ernst-Happel Stadium, David Luiz appeared to foul an Austria defender before connecting with Oscar’s corner to open the scoring in the 64th before Aleksandar Dragovic equalised from the penalty spot in the 75th.

VIGO (Spain): Germany’s Toni Kroos (R) and Spain’s Isco fight for the ball during their international friendly at the Balaidos Stadium.—AP

This result won’t make up for Brazil’s humiliating World Cup semi-final defeat to eventual champions Germany on home soil in July, but will at least send the Selecao into the new year with a more positive vibe.

It was their sixth straight win since the end of the World Cup but the first goal they had conceded under coach Dunga, who took over from Luis Felipe Scolari after the global bonanza.

France captain Varane, like his Real Madrid team-mate Kroos, scored a late winning goal, heading in a corner from Antoine Griezmann against Sweden in Marseille.

Another Real player, Karim Benzema, shot his penalty over the bar three minutes later.

Another 83rd-minute header, by Italy debutant Stefano Okaka, secured a 1-0 win against Albania in Genoa.

Italian coach Fabio Capello saw his Russia team win for just the second time in nine matches, 2-1 against Hungary in Budapest.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez released Suarez for the match because the forward, serving an nine-match competitive ban for biting at the World Cup, will be unavailable when they defend their Copa America title next year.

Alexis Sanchez headed Chile into the lead close to the half hour from Fabian Orellana’s cross but Uruguay snatched an equaliser on the stroke of halftime when Diego Rolan headed in Carlos Sanchez’s cross.

Midfielder Alvaro Gonzalez scored the winner 10 minutes from time with a low shot.

Mexico’s five-match unbeaten run was ended by Belarus in Borisov despite Raul Jimenez twice putting the visitors ahead in the second half.

Results:

Austria 1 Brazil 2

Belarus 3 Mexico 2

Chile 1 Uruguay 2

China 0 Honduras 0

France 1 Sweden 0

Greece 0 Serbia 2

Hungary 1 Russia 2

Italy 1 Albania 0

Japan 2 Australia 1