Brazil, Argentina cruise in World Cup test run
Messi’s absence poses no problem for former champions
FC Barcelona pair Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho struck late goals as Brazil recovered from a slow start to beat Russia 3-0 in their international friendly here. Argentina, meanwhile, beat Italy 2-0 in another friendly.
Inter Milan defender Miranda also scored with a secondhalf header at the recently refurbished Luzhniki Stadium on Friday, which will host the Word Cup final on July 15.
Brazil began with Juventus winger Douglas Costa on the left side of attack and Coutinho in a central role in the absence of injured talisman Neymar.
After a first half in which Brazil dominated possession without posing a major threat in attack, the visitors emerged from the break with greater creativity and incision.
Miranda made the breakthrough by blasting a closerange shot into the top of the net after goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev saved a bullet Thiago Silva header.
Paulinho missed a golden chance to double Brazil’s lead minutes later when he failed to beat Akinfeev from five yards following a mazy Coutinho run.
The former Guangzhou Evergrande player made amends almost immediately, winning a penalty after being dragged down by Aleksandr Golovin.
Coutinho sent Akinfeev the wrong way to net his ninth goal in 33 international appearances.
Paulinho then joined in on the act by heading in after a pinpoint Willian cross from the right.
Russia’s best chance came 12 minutes from time when Anton Zabolotny deftly chipped Alisson before Thiago Silva headed off the line.
Taking no risk
Without a slightly injured Lionel Messi, Ever Banega and Manuel Lanzini provided late goals for Argentina in a 2-0 win over Italy in a pre-World Cup friendly on Friday.
Messi was left on the bench due to a minor muscular problem, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Giovani Lo Celso getting the start instead at the Centre of Argentina’s attack.
“(Messi) will probably play against Spain,” Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli said, looking ahead to Tuesday’s match in Madrid. “I didn’t want to risk him tonight.”
In the 75th, Banega scored from the edge of the area in between three defenders after Italy’s Jorginho gave up possession near midfield.
Ten minutes later, Lanzini blasted a shot over two defenders into the top corner, past an outstretched Gianluigi Buffon.
Until he was taken off, Angel Di Maria was Argentina’s most influential player. The PSG midfielder provided an inspired through ball for Gonzalo Higuain before the break that resulted in a difficult save from Buffon.
Di Maria injured a muscle in his right thigh and won’t play against Spain.