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Ronaldo, Messi quiet as Portugal wins; England, Germany also soar
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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 halftime at Old Trafford, with Ronaldo rarely shining in a stadium he graced for six seasons with Manchester United.
Messi, however, 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 lineups.
Brazil made it six straight wins since a humiliating end to its home World Cup. The winning goal came in the 83rd against Austria as newcomer Roberto Firmino’s 25-meter 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.
“We expected to win the game and we were the better team,” said Rooney, who has now scored 46 international goals.
Elsewhere on a busy day of friendlies, it was: France 1, Sweden 0; Italy 1, Albania 0; Ireland 4, United States 1; Uruguay 2, Chile 1; Colombia 1, Slovenia 0; Belarus 3, Mexico 2; Peru 2, Paraguay 1; Bolivia 3, Venezuela 2; and Japan 2, Australia 1 in a clash of 2015 Asian Cup favorites.
The main attraction was an anticipated Ronaldo-Messi duel which failed to deliver in a lackluster game.
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 semifinals.
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.
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.
David Luiz appeared to foul an Austria defender before connecting with Oscar’s corner to open the scoring in the 64th. Austria defender Aleksandar Dragovic leveled in the 75th from a penalty kick.
“We have to work on details,” Dunga said through an interpreter. “This is the beginning and we can build on it next year.”
On a cold, rainy night, Neymar was seldom a factor, and Dunga took off his captain in stoppage time, allowing him to symbolically hand over the armband to Thiago Silva. The former skipper had recently complained about the coach’s choice of Neymar to lead the team.
France captain Raphael Varane, like his Real teammate Kroos, scored a late winning goal, heading in a corner from Antoine Griezmann in the 83rd against Sweden in Marseille. Another Real player, Karim Benzema, shot his penalty over the bar three minutes later. Sweden was uninspired and had rested striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Another 83rd-minute header, by Italy debutant Stefano Okaka, secured a 1-0 win against Albania in Genoa. The match was organized last month to aid the port city’s recovery from devastating flooding.
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