World champion Germany drew 1-1 with Spain in a high tempo friendly on Friday as it launched its preparations for a title defence in Russia and Spain’s Diego Costa made his comeback following a transfer ban.
Germany was made to work hard against the Spaniards, unbeaten under coach Julen Lopetegui, but still managed to stretch its own unbeaten run to 22 matches, one shy of the German record of 23 dating back to 1978-80.
The visitors, with captain Sergio Ramos earning his 150th cap, went ahead when Rodrigo Moreno timed his run perfectly to pick up a superb through ball from Andres Iniesta and beat ’keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the sixth minute.
The Germans, who at times struggled with their opponents’ quick passing, managed to draw level with an unstoppable 20-metre strike from Thomas Muller in the 35th.
Emphatic win
At Moscow, a string of second-half goals helped a Brazil side deprived of talisman Neymar to an emphatic 3-0 win over World Cup host Russia.
Inter Milan full-back Miranda scored the opener while Barcelona midfield pair Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho scored one apiece.
Late goals from Ever Banega and Manuel Lanzini helped an Argentina side deprived of talisman Lionel Messi edge past Italy 2-0 at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.
With the Barcelona forward missing through a muscle problem, it was a game that saw plenty of profligate finishing in front of goal, with goalkeepers Gianluigi Buffon and Willy Caballero.
Substitute Juan Quintero lashed home a penalty five minutes from time as Colombia came back from 2-0 down to stun France 3-2 in a friendly in Paris.
Cristiano Ronaldo hit two goals in stoppage time as European champion Portugal defeated Egypt 2-1 winning his personal duel with Mohamed Salah who had put the seven-time African champion ahead.
Jesse Lingard scored his first England goal as a reshaped side beat the Netherlands 1-0 in Amsterdam.
The results :
At Moscow : Russia 0 lost to Brazil 3 (Miranda 53, Coutinho 62-pen, Paulinho 66).
At Baku : Azerbaijan 0 lost to Belarus 1 (Medvedev 42-og).
At Oslo : Norway 4 (Kamara 36, 57, 90+2, Reginiussen 48) bt Australia 1 (Irvine 19); At Casablanca : Senegal 1 (Moussa Konate 63) drew with Uzbekistan 1 (Shukurov 21-pen); At Athens : Greece 0 lost to Switzerland 1 (Dzemaili 59); At Turin : Morocco 2 (Ziyech 29-pen, Boutaib 42) bt Serbia 1 (Tadic 37); At Manchester : Argentina 2 (Banega 75, Lanzini 85) bt Italy 0; At Dusseldorf : Germany 1 (Muller 35) drew with Spain 1 (Moreno 6); At Amsterdam : Netherlands 0 lost to England 1 (Lingard 59); At Glasgow : Scotland 0 lost to Costa Rica 1 (Urena 14); At Zurich : Portugal 2 (Ronaldo 90+2, 90+4) bt Egypt 1 (Salah 54); At Paris : France 2 (Giroud 11, Lemar 26) lost to Colombia 3 (Muriel 28, Falcao 62, Quintero 85-pen).
At Tunisia : Tunisia 1 (Mohammadi 71-og) bt Iran 0; At Poland : Poland 0 lost to Nigeria 1 (Moses 61-pen); At Belgium : Mali 1 (Diaby 43-pen) drew with Japan 1 (Nakajima 90+5); At Gambia : Gambia 1 (Ceesay 58) drew with Central African Republic 1 (Kethevoama 75); At Miami : Peru 2 (Carrillo 12, Flores 48) bt Croatia 0; At San Jose : Mexico 3 (Fabian 37, Layun 64, 90) bt Iceland 0 .
