NEYMAR BACK WITH A BANG
Brazil brush aside Croatia, champs Germany go down to Austria on Neuer return
Liverpool, June 3: Neymar scored on his return to action after three months out through injury as Brazil warmed up for the World Cup with a 2- 0 friendly win over Croatia at Anfield on Sunday.
The most expensive player in the world has been sidelined since February 25, when he fractured a metatarsal and sprained his ankle playing for Paris St Germain in a French league match against Olympique de Marseille.
The former Barcelona forward, key to his country’s hopes in Russia, came on as a halftime substitute and provided the moment of inspiration for win the game in the 69th minute.
Neymar’s goal was his 54th for his country and he needs one to reach Romario as the third most prolific Brazil striker of all time behind Pele and Ronaldo.
Another substitute, Roberto Firmino, delighted the Liverpool fans in the Anfield crowd by adding the second in stoppagetime with a well- taken lob from inside the area.
In Klagenfurt, Manuel Neuer looks set to go to the World Cup, but Germany’s goalkeeper was unable to prevent his team crashing 1- 2 to Austria on his comeback. Neuer has proven his fitness after eight months sidelined by a fractured foot in timely fashion, with four names to be cut ahead of Germany naming their final 23- man World Cup squad on Monday. But the ‘ keeper was powerless to stop secondhalf goals by Martin Hinteregger and Alessandro Schoepf after Mesut Ozil gave the Germans an early lead.
The result is a big concern for Germany head coach Joachim Loew with the World Cup to kick off in less than a fortnight.
The world champions are now winless in their last five games since suffering back- to- back defeats after losing 0- 1 to Brazil in Berlin last March.
This was Austria’s first win over their neighbours in nearly 32 years — dating back to October 1986 when Rudi Voeller scored West Germany’s only goal in a 41 defeat in Vienna.
BELGIUM, PORTUGAL DRAW
In Brussels, Belgium and Portugal drew 0- 0 in an evenly balanced friendly on Saturday as each side showed attacking intent ahead of this month’s World Cup but without a knockout blow.
Vincent Kompany’s departure in the 55th minute may be a cause for concern for the hosts ahead of the tournament in Russia. The Belgian defender hurt himself when he lunged for the ball and almost immediately left the pitch.
England relied on goals from Gary Cahill and Harry Kane before slackening in the second half to beat Nigeria 2- 1 in London.
In Mexico City, Mexico beat Scotland in their penultimate warm- up, scoring a 1- 0 victory that gave them their fourth win in seven games against European opposition.
In Stockholm, Sweden were held to a goalless draw by Denmark at the Friends Arena.