International Football 2024: In a thrilling match, Brazil draws with Spain
In an exciting friendly encounter at Santiago Bernabeu, Brazil defeated Spain 3–1 thanks to a late penalty scored by Lucas Paqueta.
The hosts jumped out to an early lead thanks to goals from Dani Olmo’s strike and Rodrigo’s penalty. However, Rodrigo closed the score just before halftime following an error by custodian Unai Simon.
Four minutes before the end, Brazil’s youthful player Andreas Pereira came off the bench to equalise from a corner, but in the 86th minute, Rodrigo gave Spain the lead once more. Even so, Brazil was able to tie the score once more in extra time when Paqueta scored a goal after Galeno was fouled inside the area.
Luis de la Fuente, the manager of Spain, voiced his displeasure after hearing certain supporters make fun of Atletico Madrid forward Alvaro Morata during their match against Real Madrid. “I feel guilty as a Spaniard when I hear those remarks. Club allegiances must be set aside. When it comes to formal competition or friendly matches, this is the Spanish national team.
Germany won their international friendly against the Netherlands 2-1 with to a goal by Nicholas Fulcrum in the 85th minute, giving them two victories in as many days.
After years of underwhelming international results, the Germans’ 2-0 victory against France on Saturday was a major morale booster as they look to field a competitive team at home for the tournament. They have won their last six international games in a row for the first time under head coach Julian Nagelsmann, who came over in September.
Their opponents struck quickly after defender Maximilian Mittelstadt’s mistake, with Jay Veerman finding the net with a volley four minutes later. On Saturday, they had scored just seven seconds after France’s 2-0 victory.
Seven minutes later, Mittelstadt’s penalty kick at the top corner tied the score, and the home team—who had possessed the ball for more than 70% of the first half—leveled the scores with the Netherlands.
In the first half, Nagelsmann’s squad had another opportunity to score, which would have forced the Dutch to play a strong defence to prevent further goals.
After the break, things slowed down and fans got to see more of Memphis Depay and Donnyell Malen, both of whom were quite close. In the 76th minute, Jamal Musiala—who has been playing well for both club and country this season—retaliated, but Dutch custodian Bart Verbruggen produced a superb save.
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A few minutes later, he returned to stop a shot by Thomas Muller, saving the Netherlands, who had defeated Scotland 4-0 on Friday, from losing. But in the 85th minute, with Fulcrum leading by his 11th goal in his 15th international game, Verbruggen was forced to concede a defeat.
Georgia defeated Greece 4-2 in a penalty shootout to advance to their first major tournament, Euro 2024, following a tight 0-0 draw in the playoff final. Georgia’s Nika Kvekveskiri scored a goal off a spot kick after Greece’s Giorgos Giakoumakis missed one, sending home fans wild as their team advanced.
The game was an intensely stressful event with little opportunities during regular time and brief bursts of enthusiasm. Both teams had chances to win the game during extra time, which added a little more entertainment value, but penalties appeared to be coming.
Beginning on June 14, Germany, Georgia, Portugal, Turkey, and the Czech Republic will compete in Group F of Euro 2024.
Thanks to goals from Yussuf Poulsen, Randal Kolo Muani, and Olivier Giroud, France overcame an early scare to defeat Chile 3-2 in a friendly match at Stade Velodrome.
The visitors’ early pressure paid off for the hosts, who took the lead six minutes in with a beautiful passing move and a low strike from Marcelino Nunez. But in the eighteenth minute, Kylian Mbappe set up Fofana for a goal for France as the defenseman’s shot was deflected past custodian Claudio Bravo.
Theo Hernandez’s precise cross found Muani, who headed in from close range to give the home team the lead in the 26th minute. Giroud then completed the victory in the 72nd, becoming France’s all-time best scorer with 57 goals.