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France, Japan and United States recorded solid victories on Tuesday as the finalists continued their preparations with the start of the World Cup just over two weeks away. |
In Paris, France winger Mathieu Valbuena was in a class of his own as he set up three goals in a 4-0 victory at home to Norway to help his side start their World Cup warm-up games in style.
Valbuena excelled in a one-sided encounter, providing perfect crosses for Paul Pogba and Olivier Giroud, who netted twice, to get on the scoresheet along with substitute Loic Remy. “Scoring four goals is never easy at international level, it’s good for our confidence,” France coach Didier Deschamps said.
In San Francisco, the United States got their World Cup preparations off to a positive start with a comfortable 2-0 friendly win over a well-disciplined Azerbaijan at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.
Substitute Mix Diskerud pounced to drive home from close range in the 75th minute before Aron Johannsson headed a second eight minutes later. Juergen Klinsmann suffered a blow shortly before kick-off when Clint Dempsey was withdrawn with a ‘sore groin’ but the German said that the forward should recover from his injury in a few days.
In Saitama, fullback Atsuto Uchida slotted the only goal as a dominant Japan grabbed a 1-0 victory over Cyprus in a largely uninspiring World Cup send-off in front of 59,000 fans.
The Schalke O4 defender, on his return to the Japan side after a thigh injury curtailed his season in Germany, drove home at the second attempt two minutes before half-time after his initial effort was blocked. Shinji Kagawa, Yoichiro Kakitani and Keisuke Honda went close to adding to the lead for the Japanese, who dominated possession and were rarely tested in defence.
“I think the team did okay. We had a physically hard training camp in Ibusuki so there was not so much sharpness, but our decision making was good,” Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni told reporters.
Tunisia stun South Korea
In Seoul, Tunisia beat South Korea 1-0 yesterday in a psychological setback for the former World Cup semi-finalists before they leave for the June-July edition in Brazil. Midfielder Zouhaier Dhaouadi netted the game’s only goal late in the first half at Seoul World Cup Stadium, as the visitors handed Georges Leekens a victory on his debut as coach.
While Tunisia celebrated, this was not the send-off the Taeguk Warriors would have wanted as the 2002 semi-finalists set off for their eighth consecutive World Cup. Goal-shy South Korea, who will face Belgium, Algeria and Russia in Group H, travel to Miami on Friday where they will play another friendly against Ghana on June 9.
After a cautious start, South Korean captain Koo Ja-Cheol had the first dangerous attempt from outside the box in the 14th minute, but fired just wide of the right post. The hosts were shading possession but were not able to threaten. Bayer Leverkusen’s Son Heung-Min got a sight of goal on the half-hour but his shot went straight at goalkeeper Farouk Ben Mustapha.
Tunisia came into the game late in the first half, with Wissem Yahya forcing South Korean ’keeper Jung Sung-Ryong into a sharp save in the 42nd minute.
And the visitors broke the deadlock two minutes later, when Dhaouadi took the ball in midfield and sprinted virtually uncontested into the area before putting it past the diving Jung.
South Korea came out with more life after the break. On-loan Arsenal striker Park Chu-Young struck a low shot from the edge of the box, but Ben Mustapha parried. And the home team found themselves frustrated by Tunisia, who put bodies behind the ball to make sure of holding on to their slim lead.
Second-half substitute Ha Dae-Sung nearly equalised at the death, but his shot moments before the whistle skidded wide of the left post.