Isco on Tuesday scored a hat-trick as Spain hammered an Argentina side without Lionel Messi 6-1 in a friendly, while Brazil defeated Germany 1-0 in their first meeting since the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Gareth Southgate’s England were denied victory over Italy at Wembley Stadium after the visitors were awarded a disputed late penalty in a 1-1 draw following consultation with the video assistant referee (VAR).
Spain underlined their status as chief contenders at this year’s World Cup in Russia as they extended their unbeaten run under Julen Lopetegui to 18 matches in sensational fashion in Madrid.
Photo: AP
Diego Costa bravely forced home Spain’s opening goal on 12 minutes and Isco doubled the lead before Nicolas Otamendi halved the deficit prior to halftime.
The absence of Messi, left out of the squad by Jorge Sampaoli, despite the coach insisting on Monday that his star striker was fit, was telling as Spain dominated Argentina in the second half.
Isco bagged his second on 52 minutes and Thiago Alcantara swiftly added another for the hosts before substitute Iago Aspas struck after latching onto a long downfield pass from David de Gea.
The mauling was complete when Isco sealed his treble on 74 minutes, capping a starring performance while leaving Sampaoli with questions to answer with the World Cup less than three months away.
“We’re very happy to beat the finalists from the last World Cup, a team with a fantastic history, but that doesn’t change anything for this World Cup, we will have to start with zero points [in the group stage],” Lopetegui said.
Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus powered in a first-half header in Berlin as Brazil gained a measure of revenge for the 7-1 demolition by Joachim Loew’s side in the 2014 World Cup semi-finals.
The result ended Germany’s unbeaten run of 22 matches dating back to their semi-final defeat by hosts France at Euro 2016.
“It was a matter of pride, after all that has been written and said,” Brazil defender Thiago Silva said.
In the absence of injured striker Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy fired England ahead against Italy on 26 minutes after Jesse Lingard’s quick thinking set up the Leicester City man to blast beyond Gianluigi Donnarumma.
However, England were unable to pad their advantage and conceded for the first time in six matches as Lorenzo Insigne converted an 87th-minute spot-kick, controversially given via the help of VAR after James Tarkowski trod on the foot of Federico Chiesa.
“I’m glad it’s not the World Cup just yet,” Southgate said.
“I think the ruling is ‘clear and obvious’ and it’s not. It’s one you can debate all day,” he added.
Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France beat struggling World Cup hosts Russia 3-1 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, with Paul Pogba shaking off his problems at the club level by netting a superb free-kick.
“We expect a lot from him [Pogba]; I ask a lot from him,” France coach Didier Deschamps said of the midfielder who has found himself out of favor under Jose Mourinho at Manchester United in recent weeks. “He was also playing a comeback match, because it’s been a while since he played a full game, it’ll do him a lot of good.”
Romelu Lukaku grabbed two goals as a strong Belgium side romped to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in Brussels, with Michy Batshuayi and Kevin De Bruyne also on target.
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka and Schalke 04 forward Breel Embolo were among the scorers for Switzerland in a 6-0 thumping of World Cup debutants Panama in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Piotr Zielinski snatched a stoppage-time winner for Poland in a 3-2 victory over South Korea in Chorzow, where goals from Robert Lewandowski and Kamil Grosicki had put the home side in control before quick-fire strikes from Lee Chang-min and Hwang Hee-cha.
Japan lost 2-1 to Ukraine in Liege, Belgium as Oleksandr Karavaev grabbed the decisive goal after Tomoaki Makino had canceled out an own-goal by teammate Naomichi Ueda.
Bologna on Thursday advanced past Empoli to reach their first Coppa Italia final in more than half a century. Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and his side advanced 5-1 on aggregate. Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th minute by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack. Bologna won the first leg 3-0. In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna are to face AC Milan, who eliminated city rivals Inter 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bologna last reached the
If the Wild finally break through and win their first playoff series in a decade, Minnesota’s top line likely will be the reason. They were all over the Golden Knights through the first two games of their NHL Western Conference quarter-finals series, which was 1-1 going back to Minnesota for Game 3 today. The Wild tied the series with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Matt Boldy had three goals and an assist in the first two games, while Kirill Kaprizov produced two goals and three assists. Joel Eriksson Ek, who centers the line, has yet to get on the scoresheet. “I think the biggest
From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine soccer organizers are planning a slew of tributes to their late “Captain” Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player. Tributes to the Argentine pontiff, a lifelong lover of the game, who died on Monday at the age of 88, have been peppered with soccer metaphors in his homeland. “Francisco. What a player,” the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) said, describing the first pope from Latin America and the southern hemisphere as a generational talent who “never hogged the ball” and who showed the world “the importance of having an Argentine captain,
Noelvi Marte on Sunday had seven RBIs and hit his first career grand slam with a drive off infielder Jorge Mateo, while Austin Wynn had a career-high six RBIs as the Cincinnati Reds scored their most runs in 26 years in a 24-2 rout of the Baltimore Orioles. Marte finished with five hits, including his eighth-inning homer off Mateo. Wynn hit a three-run homer in the ninth off catcher Gary Sanchez. Cincinnati scored its most runs since a 24-12 win against the Colorado Rockies on May 19, 1999, and finished with 25 hits. Baltimore allowed its most runs since a 30-3 loss to
RSS