Poland began their preparations for this summer’s Euro 2016 with a 1-0 win over Serbia in a friendly on Wednesday.
Jakub Blaszczykowski picked up a poor Serbia clearance and sent a volley into the lower-left corner of Vladmir Stojkovic’s goal in the 28th minute.
Arkadiusz Milik hit the post for Euro 2012 cohost Poland, who had substitute goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to thank for the win.
Photo: Reuters
Szczesny produced a superb save to turn away Adem Ljajic’s shot from the edge of the penalty area and then again denied the Inter forward, before pushing a header by Slobodan Rajkovic onto the crossbar late in the match in Poznan.
Elsewhere, Inter teammates Ivan Perisic and Marcelo Brozovic scored in the first half as Croatia began their preparations with a 2-0 victory at home against Israel.
Perisic picked up a floated pass from Brozovic in the penalty area and drove a left-foot volley into the roof of the net after four minutes. Brozovic pounced to score in the 34th after a shot by Mario Mandzukic rebounded off the post.
Croatia had more chances, but failed to score on a rain-soaked pitch in Osijek. Captain Darjo Srna limped off late in the first half after being on the receiving end of a rough tackle.
Romania, who are to begin the Euro 2016 against hosts France, edged Lithuania 1-0 with a goal by Nicolae Stanciu in the 65th minute.
Euro 2016 is to start in France on June 10 and run through July 10.
In other friendlies, Slovenia beat Macedonia 1-0, while Gibraltar and Liechtenstein drew 0-0.
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
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