Neymar scores on return in Brazil win
TOP FRIENDLIES
LIVERPOOL: 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 Feb. 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 half-time substitute and provided the moment of inspiration for win in the 69th minute.
Willian, impressive throughout for Brazil, picked the ball up in midfield and threaded the ball to Philippe Coutinho who found Neymar in the inside-left channel. The 26-year-old cut inside and skipped past two defenders before blasting the ball home off the underside of the crossbar.
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 stoppage-time with a well-taken lob from inside the area.
The five-times world champions have one more friendly before the tournament, against Austria in Vienna on June 10.
LOEW ANGRY AT LOSS
BERN: England manager Gareth Southgate was delighted with his side’s performance in a 2-1 win over Nigeria but Germany’s Joachim Loew was angry after the world champions suffered a historic loss to Austria in Saturday’s World Cup warm-up friendlies.
Four other World Cup finalists failed to score between them as European champions Portugal drew 0-0 in Belgium and the Scandinavian derby between Sweden and Denmark also ended goalless.
Germany’s 2-1 defeat in Klagenfurt, which saw Manuel Neuer play his first game for club or country after a nine-month injury layoff, was their first against their smaller neighbours -- who have not qualified for Russia -- for 32 years. Although Loew was happy at Neuer’s return, he was not at all pleased with his team’s overall effort.
“Of course, the defeat angers me,” he said. “We lost too many balls which normally doesn’t happen with us... a lot of things were bad today.
Mesut Ozil capitalised on a dreadful clearance by Austria goalkeeper Joerg Siebenhandl to give Germany an early lead. However, second-half goals from Martin Hinteregger, who met a corner with a stunning far post volley, and Alessandro Schoepf turned the game around.
England capitalised on an error-strewn first-half performance by Nigeria as Gary Cahill and captain Harry Kane put them ahead before Alex Iwobi pulled one back for the Super Eagles. “That was as good a half as we’ve had,” said Southgate.
“We used the ball well and we were a threat. I liked the interchange of movement and passing between our front four.”
SALAH POSITIVE
LONDON: Mohamed Salah has posted a positive social media update on his injury recovery.
Liverpool and Egypt have indicated Salah’s recovery is likely to take around three weeks, leaving the 25-year-old a potential doubt for the June 15 opener against Uruguay. But Salah appears confident of being ready as he offered Twitter followers an update on his condition on Sunday. “Good feelings,” Salah wrote alongside a photograph of him carrying out a stretching exercise on his damaged left shoulder.
TUNISIA PICK KHAZRI
TUNIS: Tunisia have included Wahbi Khazri, who has battled to overcome a thigh injury, in their final 23-man squad.
Squad: Goalkeepers: Farouk Ben Mustapha, Moez Hassan, Aymen Mathlouthi. Defenders: Rami Bedoui, Yohan Benalouane, Syam Ben Youssef, Dylan Bronn, Oussama Haddadi, Ali Maaloul, Yassine Meriah, Hamdi Nagguez. Midfielders: Mohamed Amine Ben Amor, Ghaylene Chaalali, Ahmed Khalil, Seifeddine Khaoui, Wahbi Khazri, Ferjani Sassi, Elyes Skhiri. Forwards: Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, Anice Badri, Saber Khalifa, Naim Sliti, Bassem Srarfi.
NIGERIA NAME SQUAD
ABUJA: Nigeria on Sunday named a final 23-man squad for the World Cup with Chelsea defender Ola Aina and Mikel Agu from FC Porto placed on standby.
However, both Aina and Agu will travel with the team for a training camp in Austria.
Squad: Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi, Francis Uzoho.
Defenders: William Troost-ekong, Shehu Abdullahi, Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo, Bryan Idowu, Chidozie Awaziem, Elderson Echiejile, Tyronne Ebuehi. Midfielders: Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, John Ogu, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Joel Obi.
Forwards: Odion Ighalo, Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Simeon Nwankwo, Victor Moses.
RUSSIA SELECT SQUAD
MOSCOW: Russia named their squad with their hopes of performing respectably as hosts riding on attacking duo Fyodor Smolov and Artem Dzyuba.
Squad: Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev, Vladimir Gabulov, Andrey Lunev.
Defenders: Vladimir Granat, Fyodor Kudryashov, Ilya Kutepov, Andrey Semyonov, Igor Smolnikov, Mario Fernandes, Sergei Ignashevich,
Midfielders: Yury Gazinsky, Alan Dzagoev, Alexander Golovin, Alexander Erokhin, Yury Zhirkov, Daler Kuzyaev, Roman Zobnin, Alexander Samedov, Anton Miranchuk, Denis Cheryshev.
Forwards: Artem Dzyuba, Alexei Miranchuk, Fyodor Smolov.