Germany survive Saudi scare in 2018’s first win

Timo Werner furthered his case for inclusion in World Cup Fantasy squads after starring in Germany’s first win of 2018.

Meanwhile, Uruguay’s top players all impressed ahead of Russia’s finals.

We’ve got all the goals and assists from the latest round of international friendlies.

GERMANY 2-1 SAUDI ARABIA

Germany survived a scare to record their first win of 2018 by beating Saudi Arabia 2-1 in Leverkusen, but only just.

In the eighth minute Timo Werner scored his second goal in his fourth friendly start since qualification. He fired high into the net from close range after a square ball from Marco Reus.

Werner was involved in the second as it was his cross which was diverted into the net by defender Omar Hawsawi.

However, Saudi Arabia still asked questions of the German defence on a night when substitute Ilkay Gundogan was booed by his own fans following a controversial meeting he and Mesut Ozil had with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ozil missed the match with a slight knee problem but is not doubtful for the World Cup.

The Saudis finally made a breakthrough in the 84th minute when Sami Khedira fouled Taissir Al-Jassim in the box, conceding a penalty.

With regular spot-kick taker Nawaf Al Abed missing out on a place in the final squad for Russia, Mohammad Al-Sahlawi took the penalty only to see substitute Marc-Andre ter Stegen make a save.

However, Al-Jassim, who registered three assists in qualifying, scored the rebound, slotting home his third friendly goal of the season.

Saudi Arabia should have had another penalty in the closing stages as Mats Hummels fouled Al-Sahlawi, but nothing was given.

GERMANY XI (4-2-3-1): Neuer (ter Stegen 46’); Hector, Hummels, Boateng (Sule 46’), Kimmich (Ginter 81’); Kroos, Khedira; Draxler, Reus (Gundogan 57’), Muller (Brandt 74’); Werner (Gomez 62’).

SAUDI ARABIA XI (4-1-4-1): Al-Maiouf; Al-Harbi (Al-Burayk 46’), Omar Hawsawi, Osama Hawsawi (Albulayhi 83’), Al-Shahrani; Otaif (Al-Mogahwi 75’); Al-Dawsari (Babhir 87’), Al-Faraj (Alkhaibari 91’), Al-Jassim, Al-Shehri; Al-Muwallad (Al-Sahlawi 62’).

CROATIA 2-1 SENEGAL

Croatia came from behind to record just their second victory since qualification in beating Senegal 2-1.

On Sadio Mane’s return to the starting line-up, Alfred N’Diaye set-up Ismaila Sarr’s opening goal in the 48th minute.

Ivan Perisic levelled things up with a heavily deflected free-kick in the 63rd minute.

Luka Modric was the creator for the winner in the 78th minute as he provided the assist for substitute Andrej Kramaric to net the winner.

Mario Mandzukic was back in the starting line-up for Croatia after missing the last three matches. However, he failed to have an impact on proceedings and was replaced by Nikola Kalinic at half-time.

For Croatia, Mane and Diafra Sakho were preferred up front to Mame Biram Diouf, who appeared as a 74th minute substitute.

CROATIA XI (4-2-3-1): Subasic (L Kalinic 67’); Strinic, Lovren (Jedvaj 46’), Corluka, Vida; Rakitic (Kovacic 65’), Badelj (Kramaric 46’); Perisic, Modric, Rebic (Brozovic 61’); Mandzukic (N Kalinic 46’).

SENEGAL XI (4-4-2): Diallo; Sabaly, Koulibaly (Mbodji 82’), Sane, Gassama; Niang (Balde 63’), Gueye (N’Doye 88’), A N’Diaye (B N’Diaye 75’), Sarr (Diouf 74’); Mane, Sakho (Sow 86’).

POLAND 2-2 CHILE

Robert Lewandowski scored his second goal in as many friendly starts for Poland, his 53rd international strike in total.

However, Adam Nawalka’s side let a 2-0 lead slip as they are now without a clean sheet in four matches.

West Bromwich Albion midfielder Gregor Krychowiak provided the assist for Lewandowski’s opener in the 25th minute.

Piotr Zielinski made it 2-0 in the 34th minute following a cross from Kamil Grosicki, who has now been involved in three goals in as many friendly starts (one goal, two assists).

Diego Valdes headed Angelo Saga’s cross four minutes later to put Chile back into the game before Miiko Albornoz scored a sensational equaliser from outside the box in the second-half.

POLAND XI (4-2-3-1): Szczesny (Fabianski 46’); Rybus (Bereszynski 82’), Pazdan, Bednarek, Piszczeck (Cionek 46’); Linetty (Milik 46’), Krychowiak; Grosicki (Goralski 67’), Zielinski, Blaszczykowski; Lewandowski (Teodorczyk 74’).

SWITZERLAND 2-0 JAPAN

Defender Ricard Rodriguez furthered his Fantasy appeal ahead of the World Cup as he converted another penalty in a 2-0 win over Japan.

The designated spot-kick taker also helped the Swiss to their 11th clean sheet in 14 internationals and ensured they go into Russia’s finals undefeated since October.

Substitute Haris Seferovic sealed the victory in the 82nd minute with fellow replacement Francois Moubandje claiming the assist.

Meanwhile it was another match for Japan where both Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okasaki were named on the bench.

The former came on for Keisuke Honda in the 77th minute while Leicester’s Okasaki did not make an appearance.

SWITZERLAND XI (4-2-3-1): Burki; Rodriguez (Moubandje 73’), Akanji (Elvedi 46’), Schar, Lichsteiner; Xhaka, Behrami; Embolo (Zuber 64’), Freuler (Dzemaili 64’), Shaqiri (Drmic 83’); Gavranovic (Seferovic 64’).

JAPAN XI (4-2-3-1): Kawashima; Nagatomo, Makino, Yoshida, G Sakai (H Sakai 56’); Oshima (Shibasaki 70’), Hasebe; Usami (Inui 55’), Honda (Kagawa 77’), Haraguchi; Osako (Muto 40’).

IRAN 1-0 LITHUANIA

Substitute Karim Ansarifard scored a late winner for Iran as they played Lithuania behind closed doors.

It was the Asian nation’s first match since the end of May after friendlies against Greece and Kosovo were cancelled.

The result represents their seventh victory in ten friendlies since qualification was secured last year.

However the performance was not what coach Carlos Quieroz will be hoping for when Iran start their World Cup campaign, as Ansarifard spared them from registering an embarrassing draw against lowly opposition.

URUGUAY 3-0 UZBEKISTAN

Luis Suarez registered a goal and an assist as Uruguay rounded off their World Cup preparation with a 3-0 win over Uzbekistan.

The Barcelona forward flicked the ball onto Giorgian De Arrascaeta, making his third start in four matches, in the 32nd minute who fired Uruguay into the lead from just inside the box.

Suarez then netted his nation’s second goal from the penalty spot after Rustamjon Ashurmatov was penalised for a handball.

Substitute Carlos Sanchez added to his seven assists in qualifying by providing one for Atletico Madrid centre-back Jose Gimenez from a corner.

Matias Vecino and Rodrigo Bentancur started alongside each other in central midfield for the third fixture in a row, throwing further doubt on Sanchez’s starting berth when Uruguay face Egypt on June 15.

Elsewhere, Guillermo Varela ended a run of two consecutive starts as Maxi Pereira was preferred at right-back.

Uruguay have now won three in a row and have lost just once in their last nine matches.

URUGUAY XI (4-4-2): Muslera; Caceres, Godin, Gimenez, M Pereira (Laxalt 59’); De Arrascaeta (C Sanchez 65’), Bentancur, Vecino (Torreira 59’), Nandez (C Rodridguez 46’); Suarez (Stuani 83’), Cavani (Gomez 76’).

World Cup Preivews by Team

Group A – Egypt, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

Group B – Iran, Morocco, Portugal, Spain

Group C – Australia, Peru, France, Denmark

Group D – Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria

Group E – Brazil, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Serbia

Group F – Germany, Mexico, Sweden

Our editor’s Fantasy World Cup tips as told to Proper Sport

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