Thaindian News

By Peter Auf der Heyde
Berlin, Aug 12 (DPA) The top three World Cup finishers were all held to draws in friendly international football matches played Wednesday.

David Villa scored an equaliser for world champions Spain two minutes into injury time to level Javier Hernandez’s first half lead for Mexico in Mexico City.

Villa, who has just joined Barcelona, spared Vicente Del Bosque’s side a first defeat in a friendly since November 2006.

Runners up Netherlands, meanwhile, were held in Ukraine, while Germany drew 2-2 in Denmark.

Only Uruguay, who finished fourth in South Africa, managed to win, when they beat Angola 2-0 in Lisbon through goals from Edinson Cavani and Italian-based Abel Hernandez.

Argentina, who were knocked out at the quarter-final stage at the World Cup won 1-0 in Ireland, while Sweden beat Scotland 3-0. England, who also did not live up to expectations at the finals in South Africa beat Hungary 2-1.

In the Wembley Stadium captain Steven Gerrard struck twice as the hosts came from behind to win.

Looking for a morale-boosting win after a miserable World Cup campaign, England fell behind to a Phil Jagielka own goal in the second half, before Gerrard turned the game with two goals in the space of four minutes.

New French coach Laurent Blanc did not get the start he was hoping for as the Les Bleus, which in effect was a reserve side as Blanc did not pick any of the 23 players from the disastrous World Cup campaign, lost 2-1 in Norway.

Hatem Ben Arfa gave the French side the lead in Oslo three minutes after the restart, but Erik Huseklepp levelled matters just three minutes later.

The Brann striker added to France’s misery in the 71st minute with the winner.

In Dublin, Angel Di Maria scored a controversial winner for Argentina in the 20th minute as interim coach Sergio Batista saw his side hold on to hard-earned win.

The Real Madrid winger looked offside as he lobbed over Shay Given after being fed by Gonzalo Higuain, but the referee allowed the goal to stand.

For their match against the Ukraine, Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk called up just one player from his World Cup squad, but saw his side take the lead in the 72nd minute after a long-range effort from Theo Janssen crashed against the bar. The rebound came to midfielder Jeremain Lens who made no mistake.

Their lead lasted just two minutes though as Alexander Aliev equalised with a well-taken free-kick.

In Stockholm Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was returning to the Swedish side after changing his mind about retiring, gave the hosts an ideal start with a fourth minute goal.

Emir Bajrami added a second six minutes from the break with a lob over the Scottish goalkeeper and Ola Toivonen scored with a header in the 56th minute.

Sweden could have scored even more goals, but goalkeeper Alan McGregor, who came back into the side after a 16-month lay-off for a disciplinary infringement, pulled off a number of good saves to deny the hosts.

In Copenhagen, Denmark came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Germany.

Goals by Mario Gomez and Patrick Helmes gave Germany a two-goal lead, but Dennis Rommedahl, who was earning his 100th cap and Mads Junker equalized for the home side.

Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland were stunned 3-0 at home by Cameroon, who disappointed at the World Cup finals in South Africa and are currently without a coach.

Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto’o scored in the 30th and 52nd minute, with Vincent Aboubakar scoring his side’s third five minutes from the end to give the West Africans a good win.

In other matches Russia beat Bulgaria 1-0, while Lithuania lost 2- 0 at home to Belarus. Iran scored a 3-1 victory in Armenia and Finland beat Belgium 1-0.

The Czech Republic enjoyed a high-scoring 4-1 victory against Latvia, while Wales also ran in the goals in their 5-1 victory against Luxembourg.

Turkey beat Romania 2-0, while Switzerland and Greece both won 1-0 away, with the Swiss beating Austria, while Greece won in Serbia.