The Saturday of international friendlies brings a historic page to world football. Two absolute records broken: Christoph Baumgartner, Austria midfielder, scored the fastest goal ever in a match between national teams, scoring after just 6 seconds against Slovakia in Bratislava. A few hours later, Florian Wirtz, Germany’s midfielder, tried to imitate him, finding the net after 7″ in Lyon against France, only equaling the old absolute record held by his compatriot Podolski, who scored against Ecuador in 2013. The other historical page was written by Palmeiras striker Endrick who resolved the match between England and Brazil (0-1), becoming, at 17 years and 246 days, the youngest player to have scored at Wembley.
Brazil returns to win in England after 29 years
In Danilo’s first as captain, Brazil returned to winning in England after 29 years (last success 1-3 in June 1995, ed.) thanks to a late tap-in by the boy thrown into the mix late on (71′) by Dorival Junior: Endrick scored into an empty net by recovering a short clearance from Pickford on a shot from Vinicius Jr, launched on the counterattack on the edge of offside. The Palmeiras striker also had the ball at his feet for the brace in the 95th minute but he wasted it by kicking at Pickford, face to face with the goalkeeper. Game deservedly won by the Seleçao who had already come very close to taking the lead in the first half with Vinicius Jr (shot saved on the line by Walker) and with former AC Milan player Paquetá (post). England thus interrupts the streak of 11 useful results in a row that began the day after the defeat against France at the World Cup in December 2022.
Germany overcomes a bad France: Wirtz equals Podolski
In the other luxury friendly of the evening, a feat in Lyon by Germany which after 11 years returned to winning ways (0-2) in France. Breath of fresh air for Nagelsmann, fresh from 2 knockouts in a row. The match was immediately broken by Wirtz who blasted Samba, preferred to Maignan, with a great right-footed shot under the crossbar from 25 meters following a vertical throw from Kroos, returning to the national team after almost 3 years. France, with Rabiot and Thuram starting, was unable to mount a noteworthy reaction, collecting the second goal at the start of the second half (49′) with a touch from close range by Havertz, who scored after an assist from the left by Musiala. AC Milan players Theo Hernandez and Giroud were only introduced in the last half hour.
Calzona, bitter return to the Slovakia bench: 0-2 against Austria
The return to the Slovakia bench was not a lucky one for Napoli coach Francesco Calzona who showed up with Gyomber, Duda, Lobotka and Suslov as starters and introduced Duris in the 62nd minute. Austria, scoring with the aforementioned lightning goal from Baumgartner (slaloming directly from the midfield spot and diagonally from the right from 25 metres, ed.) secured the victory in the 83rd minute with Weimann. Posch only played for the last half hour.
Denmark-Switzerland, injuries to Sommer and Kjaer
The friendly match in Copenhagen between Denmark and Switzerland, which ended 0-0, does not bring good news to Inter and Milan fans. Sommer, who started alongside Ricardo Rodriguez, Ndoye, Freuler and Okafor, had to leave the field after 37′ due to a strong blow to the instep of his right foot suffered in a challenge with Hojlund. The Inter goalkeeper was left on his own two feet, suggesting that it was not a serious injury. The problem suffered by Kjaer could be more serious as he had to come off in the 64th minute due to a muscle problem. In Denmark Viktor Kristensen started on the left while in Switzerland Aebischer only played the last 14 minutes.
Belgium draws 0-0 in Ireland with Lukaku on the bench, equal to Croatia
Other matches worth mentioning include the 0-0 draw in Dublin between Ireland and Belgium which kept Lukaku on the bench for the entire 90′. The hosts had a great opportunity to break the deadlock in the 28th minute but Ferguson had a penalty saved by Sels. Finally, Croatia, Italy’s rival at the next European Championships, did not go beyond a 0-0 draw in Cairo against Tunisia. Erlic and Pasalic played an hour while Vlasic came on for the last half hour.
2024-03-23 22:28:03
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