Anthony Martial and Olivier Giroud scored as France beat Italy 3-1
France beat Italy 3-1 in a friendly match at the Stadio San Nicola in Bari as the two teams prepare to begin their qualification campaigns for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Manchester United striker Anthony Martial and Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud either side of Graziano Pelle’s 21st minute strike gave France a 2-1 half-time lead.
Anthony Martial scored in the 17th minute, beating Gianluigi Buffon from 18 yards out after Paul Pogba’s through ball set him free behind the Italian defence.
However, France’s lead wouldn’t last, as Eder’s hard-charging run down the right flank and cross into the box found Graziano Pelle, who calmly controlled the ball and scored from six yards out.
A poor clearance from Italy following a set piece minutes later was headed back into the penalty area by Layvin Kurzawa and Olivier Giroud volleyed first time to put France ahead 2-1.
Kurzawa’s strong showing for France continued, as the Paris Saint-Germain defender scored a late insurance goal to reach the final 3-1 scoreline.
The match was the first in charge for Italy manager Giampiero Ventura, who replaced Antonio Conte last month and pledged to carry on the good work of the current Chelsea manager following the Azzurri’s impressive march to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.
He’ll lead the Azzurri into their first qualifier away to Israel on Sept. 5, while France travel to Belarus the following day.
BELGIUM 0-2 SPAIN
David Silva scored twice as new Spain coach Julen Lopetegui made a winning start with a deserved 2-0 friendly victory over Roberto Martinez’s Belgium.The Manchester City midfielder picked up a nice cut-back pass from Vitolo in the 34th minute and slotted home first-time between three Belgium defenders and Thibaut Courtois. Silva was at it again in the 62nd minute, beating Courtois from the penalty spot after Jordan Lukaku fouled Vitolo in the area. Spain play Liechtenstein to open World Cup qualification on Sept. 5, while Belgium travel to Cyprus to start their quest for a spot in Russia.
NETHERLANDS 1-2 GREECE
Netherlands’ bid to put the ignominy of failing to reach Euro 2016 behind them emphatically failed as they lost 2-1 at home to Greece. Goals from Konstantinos Mitroglou and Giannis Gianniotas turned the game on its head after Georginio Wijnaldum’s opener in Eindhoven as defeat turned up the heat on Netherlands boss Danny Blind. The Dutch were the most high-profile side not to qualify for the Euros, finishing in fourth place in their group, behind the Czech Republic, Iceland and Turkey and begin their 2018 World Cup campaigns in the coming days; Netherlands travelling to Sweden, Greece to Gibraltar.
PORTUGAL 5-0 GILBRALTAR
Nani scored two goals as Protugal beat Gibraltar 5-0 in a friendly match at the Estadio do Bessa XXI ahead of their first qualifier away to Switzerland next week. The Valencia winger started things off in the 27th minute and scored again in the second half to put his team up 2-0. Pepe, Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva all added second-half goals of their own in the runaway victory.
Earlier in the day, Hong Kong beat Cambodia 4-2, while Maldives and Bangladesh played out a 0-0 draw. Singapore’s trip to Bahrain was spoiled as the hosts cruised to a 3-1 win.
