A Portugal side missing Cristiano Ronaldo were shocked 2-0 by African islanders Cape Verde in Estoril.
The FIFA Ballon d'Or winner was released from international duty ahead of this international friendly meeting at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota and Portugal dearly missed his guile and killer instinct. Odair Fortes and Gege scored the Blue Sharks' goals before half-time and the dismissal of Portugal defender Andre Pinto on the hour mark made a comeback even more unlikely. It would not materialise.
Spain failed to avenge their FIFA World Cup™ humiliation by the Netherlands as they fell to a 2-0 defeat in Amsterdam. The Oranje hammered Vicente del Bosque's men 5-1 in the group stages back in Brazil and got the former world champions on the ropes again, with Stefan de Vrij and Davy Klaassen both notching inside the first 16 minutes.
The FIFA Ballon d'Or winner was released from international duty ahead of this international friendly meeting at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota and Portugal dearly missed his guile and killer instinct. Odair Fortes and Gege scored the Blue Sharks' goals before half-time and the dismissal of Portugal defender Andre Pinto on the hour mark made a comeback even more unlikely. It would not materialise.
Spain failed to avenge their FIFA World Cup™ humiliation by the Netherlands as they fell to a 2-0 defeat in Amsterdam. The Oranje hammered Vicente del Bosque's men 5-1 in the group stages back in Brazil and got the former world champions on the ropes again, with Stefan de Vrij and Davy Klaassen both notching inside the first 16 minutes.
England could not quite atone for their own South American disappointment as they fought back to draw 1-1 with Italy in Turin. Beaten 2-1 in Manaus, Graziano Pelle's first-half header gave England more reason to resent the Azzurri. However, with time ticking away, substitute Andros Townsend levelled to spare his side's blushes.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his 54th goal in 103 appearances for Sweden as the Scandinavians downed Iran 3-1 at the Friends Arena. The Paris Saint-Germain striker headed home an opener before turning provider for Marcus Berg. A penalty from Javad Nekounam reduced the deficit but Sebastian Larsson rubber-stamped victory at the death.
Luxembourg almost secured a rare draw but Hakan Calhanoglu's late winner saw Turkey clinch a 2-1 victory. Slovakia trumped neighbours Czech Republic 1-0 thanks to a goal from Ondrej Duda while Marc Janko and Izet Hajrovic exchanged strikes as Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina played out a 1-1 draw at the Ernst Happel Stadion.
Elsewhere, Estonia drew 1-1 with Iceland, Ukraine held Latvia to the same scoreline and Russia's meeting with Kazakhstan ended goalless. Liechtenstein triumphed 1-0 over fellow minnows San Marino. Valentin Stocker cancelled out Brek Shea's opener as Switzerland played out a 1-1 draw with the ten-man USA, who lost Jozy Altidore to a late red card.
In Asia, Japan thumped Uzbekistan 5-1, Korea Republic edged out New Zealand 1-0 and China PR drew 1-1 with Tunisia in Guangzhou.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his 54th goal in 103 appearances for Sweden as the Scandinavians downed Iran 3-1 at the Friends Arena. The Paris Saint-Germain striker headed home an opener before turning provider for Marcus Berg. A penalty from Javad Nekounam reduced the deficit but Sebastian Larsson rubber-stamped victory at the death.
Luxembourg almost secured a rare draw but Hakan Calhanoglu's late winner saw Turkey clinch a 2-1 victory. Slovakia trumped neighbours Czech Republic 1-0 thanks to a goal from Ondrej Duda while Marc Janko and Izet Hajrovic exchanged strikes as Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina played out a 1-1 draw at the Ernst Happel Stadion.
Elsewhere, Estonia drew 1-1 with Iceland, Ukraine held Latvia to the same scoreline and Russia's meeting with Kazakhstan ended goalless. Liechtenstein triumphed 1-0 over fellow minnows San Marino. Valentin Stocker cancelled out Brek Shea's opener as Switzerland played out a 1-1 draw with the ten-man USA, who lost Jozy Altidore to a late red card.
In Asia, Japan thumped Uzbekistan 5-1, Korea Republic edged out New Zealand 1-0 and China PR drew 1-1 with Tunisia in Guangzhou.
By: Editor
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