Argentina win without Messi

Lionel Messi remained on the bench as Argentina defeated Italy 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester last night.

Goals by Ever Banega and Manuel Lanzini settled the issue, but there was an emotional return by Italy’s goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon, who had retired from international football following his country’s failure to qualify for the World Cup finals.

Winning his 176th cap, a European record, he said the death of his close friend Davide Astori, the Fiorentina captain who died last month, was partly responsible for his decision to make a comeback.

Germanyandspainwarmed up for the World Cup with a 1-1 draw in Dusseldorf.

The visitors led after only six minutes when Andres Iniesta set up Rodrigo, but the world champions equalised via Rodrigo’s powerful drive ten minutes before the interval.

Brazil’s preparations gathered pace as they cruised past Russia 3-0 in Moscow last night. Miranda, Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho scoring in a 13-minute second-half spell at the Luzhniki Stadium.

It was an ideal warm-up for the five-time World Cup winners against this summer’s hosts. Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus continued his recovery from a knee injury, playing 65 minutes before being replaced by Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino.