World Cup Friendlies / Warm-ups – Russia 2018

[Abdullah719]

World Cup Friendlies – Russia 2018

We have put together a list of all the friendlies taking place in 2018, all of which are being used as warm-up matches for the World Cup later this year.

Most of the teams participating in the tournament are playing a few warm-up games to make sure they are sharp in Russia. This list will only include friendlies for countries participating in the tournament, so teams like Italy and Netherlands will not be included unless they are playing a qualified team.

England will warm up against the Netherlands (23rd March), Italy (27th March), Nigeria (2nd June), and Costa Rica (7th June).

World Cup Friendlies
14th January

Indonesia 1 vs Iceland 4
27th January

South Korea 1 vs Moldova 0
30th January

South Korea 2 vs Jamaica 2
1st February

Mexico 1 vs Bosnia 0
3rd February

South Korea 1 vs Latvia 0
26th February

Saudi Arabia 3 vs Moldova 0
28th February

Iraq 4 va Saudi Arabia 1
17th March

Iran 4 vs Sierra Leone 0
22nd March

Denmark 1 vs Panama 0
23rd March

Japan 1 vs Mali 1
Russia 0 vs Brazil 3
Senegal 1 vs Uzbekistan 1
Norway 4 vs Australia 1
Greece 0 vs Switzerland 1
Tunisia 1 vs Iran 0
Saudi Arabia 1 vs Ukraine 1
Serbia 1 vs Morocco 2
Argentina 2 vs Italy 0
Germany 1 vs Spain 1
Netherlands 0 vs England 1
Poland 0 vs Nigeria 1
Portugal 2 vs Egypt 1
Scotland 0 vs Costa Rica 1
France 2 vs Colombia 3

24th March

Peru 2 vs Croatia 0
Mexico 3 vs Iceland 0
Northern Ireland 2 vs South Korea 1
Sweden 1 vs Chile 2
26th March

Portugal 0 vs Netherlands 3
27th March

Japan 1 vs Ukraine 2
Russia 1 vs France 3
Iran 2 vs Algeria 1
Switzerland 6 vs Panama 0
Denmark 0 vs Chile 0
Egypt 0 vs Greece 1
Senegal 0 vs Bosnia-Herzegovina 0
Romania 1 vs Sweden 0
Belgium 4 vs Saudi Arabia 0
Germany 0 vs Brazil 1
Poland 3 vs South Korea 2
Colombia 0 vs Australia 0
England 1 vs Italy 1
Morocco 2 vs Uzbekistan 0
Tunisia 1 vs Costa Rica 0
Spain 6 vs Argentina 1
Nigeria 0 vs Serbia 2
28th March

Iceland 1 vs Peru 3
Mexico 0 vs Croatia 1
18th April

Trinidad and Tobago 0 vs Panama 1
9th May

Saudi Arabia 2 vs Algeria 0
15th May

Saudi Arabia 2 vs Greece 0
18th May

Iran 1 vs Uzbekistan 0
26th May

Kuwait 1 vs Egypt 1
28th May

Iran 1 vs Turkey 2
South Korea 2 vs Honduras 0
Mexico 0 vs Wales 0
France 2 vs Republic of Ireland 0
Italy 2 vs Saudi Arabia 1
Nigeria 1 vs DR Congo 1
Portugal 2 vs Tunisia 2
29th May

Argentina 4 vs Haiti 0
Panama 0 vs Northern Ireland 0
Peru 2 vs Scotland 0
30th May

Japan 0 vs Ghana 2
Austria 1 vs Russia 0
31st May

Luxembourg 0 vs Senegal 0
Morocco 0 vs Ukraine 0
1st June

South Korea 1 vs Bosnia-Herzegovina 3
Czech Republic 0 vs Australia 4
Tunisia 2 vs Turkey 2
France 3 vs Italy 1
Egypt 0 vs Colombia 0

2nd June

Thailand 0 vs China PR 2
Austria 2 vs Germany 1
England 2 vs Nigeria 1
Sweden 0 vs Denmark 0
Greece vs Iran cancelled
Belgium 0 vs Portugal 0
Iceland 2 vs Norway 3
3rd June

Mexico 1 vs Scotland 0
Brazil 2 vs Croatia 0
Costa Rica 3 vs Northern Ireland 0
Saudi Arabia 0 vs Peru 3
Spain 1 vs Switzerland 1
4th June

Serbia 0 vs Chile 1
Morocco 2 vs Slovakia 1
5th June
Russia 1 vs Turkey 1
6th June

Czech Republic 0 vs Nigeria 1
Norway 1 vs Panama 0
Belgium vs Egypt (19.45)
7th June

England vs Costa Rica (20.00)
South Korea vs Bolivia (20.10)
Portugal vs Algeria (20.15)
Iceland vs Ghana (21.00)
8th June

Uruguay vs Uzbekistan (00.00)
Croatia vs Senegal (15.00)
Iran vs Lithuania (16.00)
Switzerland vs Japan (18.00)
Germany vs Saudi Arabia (18.30)
Poland vs Chile (19.45)
9th June

Hungary vs Australia (16.30)
Estonia vs Morocco (17.00)
Sweden vs Peru (18.15)
Israel vs Argentina (19.30)
Denmark vs Mexico (20.00)
France vs USA (20.00)
Spain vs Tunisia (20.00)
10th June

Austria vs Brazil (15.00)
11th June

Belgium vs Costa Rica (19.45)
South Korea vs Senegal (21.00)
12th June

Paraguay vs Japan (14.05)
Poland vs Lithuania (17.00)

http://www.worldsoccer.com/world-cup/world-cup-friendlies-400572

 

[MenInG]

France showed they will be a force in Russia by blowing away Italy in a World Cup warm-up match in Nice.

France took the lead in the eighth minute when Antoine Griezmann’s free-kick was only half cleared to the right-back Benjamin Pavard, who crossed to Kylian Mbappé at the back post. His volley was stopped by Salvatore Sirigu’s legs but Samuel Umtiti was free to sweep the ball home.


Super Eagles feeling heat as Gernot Rohr yet to finalise World Cup squad
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Italy found it difficult to deal with France’s speed and after the marauding left-back Lucas Hernández was brought down, Griezmann stepped up to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot after 29 minutes.

Mario Balotelli played a part in bringing Italy back into the game seven minutes later when he fired a free-kick at Hugo Lloris. The goalkeeper obligingly patted the ball down to Italy’s captain, Leo Bonucci, who tucked away the chance.

France’s third goal in the 63rd minute was again a demonstration of their pace. Mbappé burst through the middle before being tackled on the edge of the area just as he was lining up a shot. Unfortunately for Italy Ousmane Dembélé was on hand to clip deftly into the far corner.

England’s opening World Cup opponents Tunisia drew 2-2 with Turkey, who had Cenk Tosun sent off after scoring the opening goal. The Everton forward converted a penalty and was then dismissed after remonstrating with supporters behind the dugout in Geneva. He appeared to be angry at something he had seen in the stands and had to be held back by team-mates.


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Anice Badri’s stunning goal and Ferjani Sassi’s close-range finish put Tunisia in front but Caglar Soyuncu equalised in injury time for Turkey.

It was Tunisia’s second 2-2 draw of the week, after they came back from 2-0 down against Portugal on Monday.

Earlier on Friday Edin Visca scored a hat-trick to give Bosnia and Herzegovina a 3-1 victory over South Korea in Jeonju on Friday.

The Asian side, who face Germany, Mexico and Sweden in Group F at the World Cup, lacked accuracy in attack and looked fragile with a three-man defence at the back. Their head coach, Shin Tae-yong, will cut three players from his squad before they head to Austria to make their final preparations for the finals.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...y-tunisia-turkey-world-cup-buildup-friendlies

 

[KingKhanWC]

England beat Nigeria 2-1 with Harry Kane scoring the second who will be key for England if they want to progress deep into the tournament.

 

[Kroll]

Brazil have beaten a strong Croatia side and are looking good with Neymar back in the side after injury. They have an exceptional attacking forward line backed up by a strong defensive style midfield. They are justifying the expectations to be finalists this summer.

 

[MenInG]

England 1 (Rashford 13') Costa Rica 0 so far....

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Portugal 2-0 Algeria at HT

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Full Time Scores:

England 2-0 Costa Rica (Rashford 13’,Welbeck 76’)

Portugal 3-0 Algeria(Guedes 17’ and 55’,Fernandes 37’)

South Korea vs Bolivia 0-0

 

[MenInG]

Luis Suarez scored a penalty as Uruguay comfortably defeated Uzbekistan in their final warm-up game before the World Cup in Russia.

Giorgian De Arrascaeta fired in from 15 yards for the South Americans after a flick on by Sanchez.

After the break the Barcelona forward doubled their lead from the spot following a handball before Jose Maria Gimenez headed in from a corner.

Uzbekistan finished with 10 men after Akramjon Komilov was sent off.

Victory marked Uruguay's third in a row and they have lost just once in their last nine games.

The 1930 and 1950 World Cup winners open their campaign on 15 June against Egypt, play Saudi Arabia five days later before finishing their Group A fixtures against hosts Russia.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44409977

 

[MenInG]

LEVERKUSEN, Germany (Reuters) – World champions Germany failed to hit top gear as they edged to a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia in a lacklustre World Cup dress rehearsal on Friday, less than a week before the tournament starts.

It was their first win in six matches but the Germans, who leave for Russia in four days, rarely put their foot on the gas, seemingly fearful of any last-minute injuries, while the Saudis confirmed their good form heading into the World Cup.

With keeper Manuel Neuer starting for the second consecutive game after a nine-month injury break and Jerome Boateng also back from a muscle injury, Germany fielded as close as they could to their tournament team.

Mesut Ozil was left out of the squad, recovering from a minor knock on the knee, but they quickly went ahead with Timo Werner finding the net from an assist by Marco Reus.

Yet they failed to maintain the tempo and their defence suffered a few lapses of concentration as the Saudis showed off their speed and skill, putting central defender Mats Hummels under pressure in the first half.

Omar Hawsawi scored an own goal just before the break after Germany twice hit the woodwork and they could have added a few more were it not for a string of fine saves from Saudi goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf.

The Saudis pulled a goal back when Taisir Al-Jassim scored on the rebound after Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved a penalty in the 85th minute and he missed a golden opportunity to level in stoppage time.

Germany’s Ilkay Gundogan, who came on in the second half, had to endure his every touch of the ball being whistled and jeered for a second straight game. German fans are angry over a picture he took with Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan last month, addressing him in a message as “my president”.

Germany are in Group F along with Sweden, South Korea and Mexico. Saudi Arabia take on hosts Russia in the tournament’s opening match on June 14 and also play Egypt and Uruguay in Group A.

http://www.euronews.com/2018/06/08/lacklustre-germany-beat-saudi-arabia-2-1-in-world-cup-warmup

 

[MenInG]

Poland 2 - 2 Chile

 

[MenInG]

Today's warmups

 

[MenInG]

Wow US go 1 up against France - terrible defending by France

 

[Abdullah719]

Wow US go 1 up against France - terrible defending by France

Finished 1-1. Underwhelming outcome for the French.

 

[Smbhayi]

Double happy today, both Rafa and Brazil wins..

 

[Kroll]

World Cup warm-up match: Austria 0-3 Brazil

Gabriel Jesus, Neymar and Philippe Coutinho scored as Brazil swept aside Austria 3-0 in their final World Cup warm-up game in Vienna.

Manchester City striker Jesus calmly curled past Heinz Lindner to open the scoring on 35 minutes.

Neymar, making his first start since February, doubled the lead midway through the second half, slotting in after a nice piece of skill.

Barcelona midfielder Coutinho added the third goal shortly afterwards.

He latched onto a through ball from former Liverpool team-mate Roberto Firmino before sliding home.

It could have been worse for Austria, Coutinho rattling the bar with a delicate effort after 76 minutes, and Firmino denied by a fine save in the closing moments.

Austria, who failed to qualify for Russia and have not competed at a World Cup since 1998, failed to pose much of a threat, though West Ham forward Marko Arnautovic did go close in the first half.

Brazil have not lost since June 2017, a run of 10 games, and have kept 16 clean sheets in 21 games since Tite took over in June 2016.

The five-time world champions, drawn in Group E, begin their World Cup campaign against Switzerland on Sunday, 17 June before facing Costa Rica and Serbia.

Tite wanted to test his team against opposition that would close down spaces, in order to mimic the test posed by defence-minded Switzerland in their World Cup opener in Rostov-on-Don.

And he will have been pleased to see the Selecao do well against a spirited Austrian side that arrived for this friendly on the back of a 2-1 victory over Germany, and a seven-game unbeaten run.

Tite opted for a 'lighter but quicker' midfield, with Coutinho alongside Casemiro and Paulinho (at the expense of Manchester City's Fernandinho) and his selection gave Brazil more fluidity, which enabled them to find gaps in Austria's five-man defensive line at will.

Neymar stole the limelight by scoring his 55th international goal and becoming Brazil's joint-third all-time leading scorer, but Coutinho and Willian also impressed.

Overall, it was an almost faultless team performance that will give fans in Brazil some confidence as the Selecao chase of a record sixth World Cup in Russia.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44415449

 

[MenInG]

 

[MenInG]

Senegal completed their World Cup preparations with a 2-0 victory over South Korea in a friendly that was played behind closed doors in Austria.

Moussa Konate doubled Senegal's lead after an own goal put the African nation ahead in the second half.

The Amiens forward netted a penalty to secure victory for Aliou Cisse's side.

South Korea open their World Cup campaign against Sweden in Group F on Monday, 18 June, while Senegal face Poland in Group H the following day.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44439501

 

[DeadBall]

Belgium win 3-1 after an earlier scare against Costa Rica.