Germany ends 18-year wait to beat Brazil, Italy stuns Spain
Source: Agencies |
August 12, 2011, Friday
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GERMANY ended an 18-year wait for a victory over Brazil and Italy beat Spain in a meeting of the last two world champions in friendlies on Wednesday.
Bastian Schweinsteiger opened the scoring from the penalty spot in Germany's 3-2 victory over Brazil in Stuttgart before Mario Goetze and Andre Schuerrle also netted for the hosts.
Robinho and Neymar scored for five-time World Cup winner Brazil, which hosts the 2014 tournament.
Spain, which won the 2010 World Cup, saw an under-strength side fall 1-2 in Italy.
While Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso canceled out Riccardo Montolivo's opener, Alberto Aquilani scored a late winner for Italy.
The Germans saw another glimpse of the importance of the 19-year-old Goetze to their future title hopes. Goetze was just one when the three-time world champion last beat Brazil 2-1 in November 1993 and on Wednesday he upstaged the visitors' own 19-year-old starlet, Neymar.
Goetze scored in the 67th - six minutes after Schweinsteiger's spot kick - when he rounded goalkeeper Julio Cesar before slotting the ball into the net from a tight angle.
In Bari, the Italians demonstrated how they are rebuilding after an embarrassing first-round exit from last year's World Cup.
The hosts took the lead in the 11th when Riccardo Montolivo lifted a shot over charging goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
There was another setback for Spain three minutes later when striker Fernando Torres came off with a slight concussion. But the Chelsea striker's replacement, Fernando Llorente, won a penalty after being fouled by Gioergio Chiellini before halftime and Alonso leveled for Spain for the spot.
Aquilani, though, produced Italy's winner in the 84th. The Liverpool midfielder's shot from the edge of the area was deflected in by Spain defender Raul Albiol.
"We're on the right road," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said. "This is a young team and when we perform like this against great teams our self-confidence improves."
Qualifier
Italy has a five-point lead in its qualifying group for the 2012 European Championship. Northern Ireland climbed to third in Group C two points behind Slovenia after beating the Faeroe Islands 4-0 in the night's only qualifier.
Like Italy, France is also showing signs of a resurgence after a dismal World Cup and it extended its unbeaten run to 11 matches by drawing 1-1 with Chile.
In Montpellier, Loic Remy gave France the lead with a powerful diving header in the 20th after being set up by Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.
But Nicolas Cordova equalized for Chile with a curling shot past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the 76th.
There was a somber tone to Norway's 3-0 victory over the Czech Republic in Oslo. A minute's silence was held before kickoff and both teams wore black armbands to honor the 77 people killed in last month's attacks.
In Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo scored once as the hosts routed Luxembourg 5-0.
Scotland beat Denmark for the first time since 1975, with Robert Snodgrass scoring his first international goal on his first start to clinch a 2-1 victory.
British rival Wales lost 1-2 at home to Australia, whose goals were scored by Tim Cahill and Robbie Kruse.
Bastian Schweinsteiger opened the scoring from the penalty spot in Germany's 3-2 victory over Brazil in Stuttgart before Mario Goetze and Andre Schuerrle also netted for the hosts.
Robinho and Neymar scored for five-time World Cup winner Brazil, which hosts the 2014 tournament.
Spain, which won the 2010 World Cup, saw an under-strength side fall 1-2 in Italy.
While Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso canceled out Riccardo Montolivo's opener, Alberto Aquilani scored a late winner for Italy.
The Germans saw another glimpse of the importance of the 19-year-old Goetze to their future title hopes. Goetze was just one when the three-time world champion last beat Brazil 2-1 in November 1993 and on Wednesday he upstaged the visitors' own 19-year-old starlet, Neymar.
Goetze scored in the 67th - six minutes after Schweinsteiger's spot kick - when he rounded goalkeeper Julio Cesar before slotting the ball into the net from a tight angle.
In Bari, the Italians demonstrated how they are rebuilding after an embarrassing first-round exit from last year's World Cup.
The hosts took the lead in the 11th when Riccardo Montolivo lifted a shot over charging goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
There was another setback for Spain three minutes later when striker Fernando Torres came off with a slight concussion. But the Chelsea striker's replacement, Fernando Llorente, won a penalty after being fouled by Gioergio Chiellini before halftime and Alonso leveled for Spain for the spot.
Aquilani, though, produced Italy's winner in the 84th. The Liverpool midfielder's shot from the edge of the area was deflected in by Spain defender Raul Albiol.
"We're on the right road," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said. "This is a young team and when we perform like this against great teams our self-confidence improves."
Qualifier
Italy has a five-point lead in its qualifying group for the 2012 European Championship. Northern Ireland climbed to third in Group C two points behind Slovenia after beating the Faeroe Islands 4-0 in the night's only qualifier.
Like Italy, France is also showing signs of a resurgence after a dismal World Cup and it extended its unbeaten run to 11 matches by drawing 1-1 with Chile.
In Montpellier, Loic Remy gave France the lead with a powerful diving header in the 20th after being set up by Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.
But Nicolas Cordova equalized for Chile with a curling shot past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the 76th.
There was a somber tone to Norway's 3-0 victory over the Czech Republic in Oslo. A minute's silence was held before kickoff and both teams wore black armbands to honor the 77 people killed in last month's attacks.
In Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo scored once as the hosts routed Luxembourg 5-0.
Scotland beat Denmark for the first time since 1975, with Robert Snodgrass scoring his first international goal on his first start to clinch a 2-1 victory.
British rival Wales lost 1-2 at home to Australia, whose goals were scored by Tim Cahill and Robbie Kruse.
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