International roundup: Paquetá levels late for Brazil in thriller against Spain
Lucas Paquetá scored a penalty deep in added time to rescue Brazil a fortunate 3-3 draw with Spain in an ill-tempered friendly at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The hosts dominated proceedings early on and opened a two-goal lead with a penalty from Rodri and a Dani Olmo strike, but Rodrygo reduced the deficit before the break after a mistake by goalkeeper Unai Simón.
The Brazil teenager Endrick came off the bench to equalise from a corner four minutes into the second half, but Rodri put Spain back in the lead from the spot in the 86th minute. However, Brazil managed to level again five minutes into added time when Galeno was fouled inside the box and Paquetá stroked home from the spot.
Niclas Füllkrug headed in an 85th minute goal to give Euro 2024 hosts Germany a 2-1 comeback victory over the Netherlands in their international friendly and make it two victories from two matches in the past four days.
The result gave the Germans another big shot of confidence following Saturday’s 2-0 win against France, as they look to field a battle-worthy team for the tournament on home soil after years of disappointing international performances. It was also the first time in his six internationals in charge that coach Julian Nagelsmann, who took over in September, earned back-to-back wins.
They had scored after only seven seconds in their 2-0 win over France on Saturday but this time it was their opponents who struck after four minutes with Joey Veerman volleying in following a mistake by defender Maximilian Mittelstädt.
The hosts, who had more than 70% possession in the first half hour, levelled seven minutes later with Mittelstädt making amends with a perfectly curled shot into the top corner. Nagelsmann’s team could have scored again in a strong first half with the Dutch forced to defend deep to stem the pressure.
The tempo dropped considerably after the break and the visitors started gaining more space, coming close with Donyell Malen and Memphis Depay. Jamal Musiala, who is in superb form for club and country this season, responded in the 76th, forcing a fine save from the Dutch keeper Bart Verbruggen.
He came again came to the rescue minutes later to stop Thomas Müller’s effort and keep the Netherlands, winners 4-0 against Scotland on Friday, in the game. Verbruggen was beaten, however, in the 85th with Füllkrug heading in from close range for his 11th goal in his 15th international.
Georgia qualified for Euro 2024, their first major tournament, thanks to a 4-2 shootout win over Greece after a tense playoff final ended 0-0. Georgia’s Nika Kvekveskiri converted his spot kick after Greece’s Giorgos Giakoumakis put his penalty wide to send the home crowd wild as their side edged through.
The game was a scrappy, nervy affair, with chances in normal time few and far between. Extra time brought a little more entertainment with both sides creating opportunities to win the tie, but a penalty shootout seemed inevitable. Georgia will be in Group F alongside Portugal, Turkey and Czech Republic at the Euros in Germany which begin on 14 June.
France rallied from an early deficit to beat Chile 3-2 thanks to goals from Youssouf Fofana, Randal Kolo Muani and Oliver Giroud in a friendly at the Stade Vélodrome.
The visitors’ early pressure paid off as they opened the scoring after six minutes with a low shot from Marcelino Núñez following a fine passing move from the right. But Fofana equalised for France in the 18th minute when Kylian Mbappé set him up on the edge of the box to fire past goalkeeper Claudio Bravo off a deflection from the defence.
Kolo Muani put the hosts in front with a close-range header from Theo Hernández’s pinpoint cross in the 26th minute before Giroud sealed the win in the 72nd, extending his tally as France’s all-time top scorer to 57 goals.