Germany held 0-0 by a youthful England
LONDON: England held world champions Germany to a 0-0 draw after giving debuts to five players as their inexperienced team came through a first-half lesson to hold their own in a friendly at Wembley on Friday. With a host of established players missing, England’s defence was routinely sliced open in the first period and they needed goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to keep the Germans at bay.
But England also had some bright moments, with midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek and striker Tammy Abraham making assured debuts and having chances to put England ahead. England manager Gareth Southgate, short of many of his first choice eleven was pleased with what he saw, despite the result leaving England still searching for their first home win over their old rivals since 1975.
“In the first half we needed a couple of really good saves from Jordan Pickford - we caused our own problems with a couple of those. But we posed our own questions and I thought we used the ball well,” Southgate said.
FRANCE BEAT WALES
PARIS: Strike partners Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud scored as France began its World Cup warm-up program with a comfortable 2-0 home win over Wales in a friendly on Friday. Griezmann volleyed in the opening goal in the 18th minute and Giroud’s composure under pressure allowed him to pick his spot in the 71st for his 29th international goal.