- REUTERS
Collin Samuel of Trinidad and Tobago is challenged by Andrew Crofts and James Collins of Wales (left to right) during their friendly international in Graz, Austria yesterday. Wales won 2-1.
LONDON (Reuters):
GERMANY SHRUGGED off the absence of Michael Ballack to crush Luxembourg 7-0 yesterday as the hosts' World Cup preparations moved up a gear.
On a busy day of international friendlies featuring 11 of the 32 nations competing in next month's finals, France and the Netherlands also chalked up victories, albeit against much stiffer opposition.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was on target for the Dutch as they beat Cameroon 1-0 in Rotterdam, while France were also 1-0 winners against fellow finalists Mexico, Florent Malouda thumping in the winner just before halftime.
Zinedine Zidane, who will retire after the World Cup, celebrated his 100th cap for France, although he was substituted in the second half after a low-key display in the Stade de France, scene of his country's 1998 World Cup triumph.
FEEL-GOOD FACTOR RAISED
Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski and Oliver Neuville all grabbed a couple of goals to raise the feel-good factor in Juergen Klinsmann's Germany squad after some unflattering headlines in recent months.
Germany captain Ballack missed the friendly in Freiburg, still nursing a strained ankle which he sustained in Thursday's workout against Servette Geneva's under-18s.
Argentina, who are among the favourites for the tournament, are resigned to possibly being without teenage sensation Lionel Messi for their first game against the Ivory Coast on June 10.
MESSI IN ROME
The 18-year-old Barcelona player, who has not played competitively since damaging a thigh muscle against Chelsea in the Champions League in March, arrived in Rome with the Argentina squad on Friday.
"Today, I don't think I'll be in the team," Messi said yesterday. "I know I still have some way to go ... I think I'll get into the rhythm in the time left."
Ivory Coast came from behind to draw 1-1 with Switzerland in their warm-up in Basel. Emerse Fae equalised in the 47th minute after the Swiss, who are in Group G in Germany along with France, had gone ahead through Tranquillo Barnetta.
Another of Argentina's opponents in Group C, Serbia & Montenegro, suffered a blow yesterday when striker Mirko Vucinic was ruled out of the World Cup with a knee injury.
Coach Ilija Petkovic said he will name a replacement in a few days.
In his absence midfielder Dejan Stankovic was on target as Serbia drew 1-1 with Uruguay in their final warm-up game at a half-empty Marakana stadium in Belgrade.
A hat-trick by striker Pauleta gave Portugal a 4-1 victory over the Cape Verde Islands and Spain were held 0-0 at home in Albacete by Russia.
Paraguay drew 1-1 with Denmark in Aarhus while Trinidad and Tobago, who will make their World Cup debut in the same group as the Paraguayans, England and Sweden, lost 2-1 to Wales in Austria.
