Alvaro Morata and Nolito both hit a brace as Spain warmed up for the defense of their European Championships crown by thrashing South Korea 6-1 in a friendly on Wednesday.
The Spaniards were slightly under-strength as coach Vicente Del Bosque rested players from Real Madrid and their city rivals Atletico following their exertions in the Champions League final on Saturday.
However, it hardly mattered as a dominant Spain scored three times before the break Salzburg, Austria, through David Silva’s sublime free-kick, Cesc Fabregas and Nolito.
Photo: EPA
Morata netted a second-half double and Nolito grabbed his second as Spain recorded a morale-boosting thrashing of South Korea, whose consolation seven minutes from time came from Ju Se-jong.
Nolito had struck his first two international goals in a 3-1 friendly win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Saint Gallen, Switzerland, on Sunday.
Wednesday’s friendly in Salzburg saw former Real stopper Iker Casillas preferred to Manchester United’s David de Gea in goal.
Arsenal fullback Hector Bellerin, who made the squad of 23 following Real defender Dani Carvajal’s injury in the Champions League final, made an appearance in a side that again included a strong Barcelona presence in the form of Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.
However, having played in Real’s extra-time win on penalties over Atletico, Real’s Sergio Ramos and Lucas Vazquez, and Atletico’s Juanfran and Koke were missing and will be the last to join up with the Spain squad tomorrow.
In other friendlies on Wednesday night, world No. 2-ranked Belgium needed an equalizer a minute from time from Everton’s Romelu Lukaku to save their blushes in Brussels against Finland.
Kasper Hamalainen gave the 61st-ranked Finland, who came into the match on the back of four straight defeats, a 53rd-minute lead.
Despite fielding the likes of Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, Belgium lacked creativity and struggled to break down disciplined and defensive opponents in a half-empty stadium.
In a match between two qualified sides, Czech Republic got the better of Russia 2-1 in Innsbruck, Austria.
Aleksandr Kokorin gave Russia a sixth-minute lead, but Tomas Rosicky equalized from a volley with the outside of his foot on 49 minutes.
Russia hit the post four minutes from time as Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech, their record cap-holder, let an Igor Denisov shot slip through his hands.
However, in the last minute, Tomas Necid bagged the winner. On Friday last week, Czech Republic had romped to a 6-0 win over Malta.
The Netherlands may not be going to the Euros after a disastrous qualifying campaign, but they beat qualified Poland 2-1 in Gdansk.
Vincent Janssen gave the Dutch a 33rd minute lead, but Artur Jedrzejczyk equalized on the hour mark.
Newcastle United midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum scored the winner on 76 minutes for the Netherlands, who held another Euros qualifier in Ireland to a 1-1 draw on Friday last week.
Elsewhere, Norway beat Iceland 3-2, Latvia beat Lithuania 2-1 and Estonia shut out Andorra 2-0, while Guatamala drew Venezuela 1-1, Mexico edged Chile 1-0 and Armenia trounced El Salvador 4-0.
In World Cup qualification for Oceania, Papua New Guinea drew Tahiti 2-2, while New Caledonia routed Samoa 7-0.
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