It was an exciting Friday for football fans. A lot of great international games were played.
Although it ended with a draw, one of the best games was the clash between Germany and Spain in Dusseldorf. Two former world champions should how football should be played and gave us a lot to hope for as we are waiting for the World Cup.
Within minutes, Spain took the lead as Rodrigo Moreno smashed the ball home, following a wonderful pass by Andres Iniesta.
Thomas Muller’s 25-yard equalizer in the 35th minute levelled the game in a fast-paced first half, to win a draw for the reigning world champions.
The second half was goalless, but nevertheless delightful to watch, with frequent changes and good chances on both sides that kept goalies busy.
Both sides continue their unbeaten run since Euro 2016, Germany with 22 games and Spain with 17.
Next up, Spain will face Argentina on Tuesday, with Germany meeting Brazil.
In Zurich, Cristiano Ronaldo won the battle for Portugal against Mohamed Salah’s Egypt 2-1 in a spectacular turn of events. Salah gave Egypt the lead at the beginning of the second half, and it looked like victory for Egypt, until the stoppage time, when Ronaldo stole the victory with two headers in the dying minutes of the match.
Line-ups
Germany
22 ter Stegen, 18 Kimmich, 17 Boateng, 5 Hummels, 3 Hector, 6 Khedira Substituted for Gündogan at 53′ minutes, 8 Kroos, 13 Müller Substituted for Goretzka at 81′ minutes, 10 Özil, 7 Draxler Substituted for Sané at 68′ minutes, 11 Werner Substituted for Gomez at 84′ minutes
Spain
1 de Gea, 2 Carvajal, 3 Piqué Substituted for Nacho at 51′ minutes, 15 Ramos, 18 Alba, 8 Koke, 10 Thiago Alcántara Substituted for Hernández Cascante at 82′ minutes, 6 Iniesta Substituted for Ñíguez at 45′ minutes, 21 Silva Substituted for Vázquez at 71′ minutes, 9 Rodrigo Substituted for Diego Costa at 65′ minutes, 22 Isco Substituted for Asensio at 59′ minutes
International Friendlies Scores
FRIDAY 23RD MARCH 2018
Russia 0 – 3 Brazil
Turkey 1 – 0 R. of Ireland
Japan 1 – 1 Mali
Azerbaijan 0 – 1 Belarus
Cyprus 0 – 0 Montenegro
Finland 0 – 0 Macedonia
Senegal 1 – 1 Uzbekistan
Germany 1-1 Spain
Italy 0-2 Argentina
Portugal 2-1 Egypt
France 2-3 Colombia
Netherlands 0-1 England
Poland 0-1 Nigeria
Scotland 0-1 Costa Rica
Turkey 1-0 Ireland
Greece 0-1 Switzerland
Tunisia 1-0 Iran
Saudi Arabia 1-1 Ukraine
Serbia 1-2 Morocco
Austria 3-0 Slovenia
Bulgaria 0-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Norway 4-1 Australia
Hungary 2-3 Kazakhstan