Our coverage of the pre-World Cup action gets underway this morning, with a couple of Premier League players already on the scoresheet.
Tottenham’s Son Heung-min steers South Korea to victory over Honduras, while Chelsea frontman Olivier Giroud opens the scoring as France see off Republic of Ireland.
South Korea 2 Honduras 0
Tottenham’s Son Heung-min was among the goals as South Korea kicked off a run of four pre-World Cup friendlies with a win.
Shin Tae-young’s side – who face Sweden, Germany and Mexico in Group F – operated in a 4-4-2 formation, with the Spurs man stationed up front.
Handed the captain’s armband, with former Swansea midfielder Ki Sung-yeung on the bench, Son fired home from distance on the hour-mark before he made way on 78 minutes.
After a raft of second-half changes, substitute Moon Seon-min added a second from close range late on. Lee Seung-Woo and Hwang Hee-Chan supplied the assists.
South Korea XI: Cho Hyun-Woo; Ko Yo-Han (Lee Yong 77), Jung Seung-Hyeon (Oh Ban-Suk 71), Kim Young-Gwon, Hong Chul (Kim Min-Woo 56) ; Lee Chung-Yong (Moon Seon-Min 56), Ju Se-Jong, Jung Woo-Young, Lee Seung-Woo (Park Joo-Ho 85); Hwang Hee-Chan, Son Heung-Min (Kim Shin-Wook 78)
Turkey 2 Iran 1
Iran fell to defeat in their penultimate friendly of the summer thanks to a brace from Everton’s Cenk Tosun.
Lining up in a 4-5-1 formation, Carlos Quieroz’s men had to wait until stoppage time before finding the net. Nottingham Forest winger Ashkan Dejagah – one of many second-half subs – converted a penalty after their hosts had handled on the line.
They now head to a training camp in Russia and will play a final friendly against Lithuania on June 8.
Iran face a daunting task to make it out of Group B, where they are set to face Morocco, Spain and Portugal.
Iran XI: Alireza Beiranvand; Ramin Rezaeian, Rouzbeh Cheshmi, Morteza Pouraliganji, Milad Mohammadi; Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Mehdi Torabi 57), Karim Ansarifard (Ashkan Dejagah 71), Masoud Shojaei (Omid Ebrahimi 68), Ehsan Haji Safi (Vahid Amiri 58), Mehdi Taremi (Saman Ghoddos 59); Sardar Azmoun (Reza Ghoochannejhad 80)
Portugal 2 Tunisia 2
The Euro 2016 winners were without a number of regulars, including Cristiano Ronaldo, for last night’s draw with Tunisia.
Lining up in a 4-3-3, Portugal went two goals ahead thanks to goals from AC Milan’s Andre Silva (Ricardo Quaresma assist) and Joao Mario, who fired home after a Bernardo Silva corner was headed towards the edge of the area.
But Tunisia proved they are made of stern stuff by coming back for a draw.
Anice Badri (Naim Sliti assist) notched their first before the break, while Fakhreddine Ben Youssef – on as a second-half substitute – grabbed the equaliser thanks to a Ali Maaloul assist.
In terms of friendlies, Portugal have two more (against Belgium and Algeria) before their Group B schedule gets underway. Meanwhile, Tunisia take on Turkey and Spain over the next fortnight.
Portugal XI: Lopes, Pereira, Pepe (Fonte 63), Dias, Guerreiro (Rui 45); Mario (Moutinho 80), Carvalho, Adrien Silva (Fernandes 63); Bernardo Silva (Guedes 72), Andre Silva, Quaresma
Tunisia XI: Hassen; Naguez, Benalouane, Meriah, Haddadi (Maaloul 45); Badri (Akaichi 87), Skhiri, Sassi, Sliti (Srarfi 76); Khaouri (Ben Youssef 45), Khalifa (Chaalali 67)
Italy 2 Saudi Arabia 1
A run of back-to-back wins over Algeria and Greece came to an end for Saudi Arabia last night as their hosts triumphed in Roberto Mancini’s first match in charge.
Lining up in a 4-2-3-1 set-up, the visitors went two goals behind before right winger Yahya Al Shehri fired a consolation midway through the second-half, with substitute Salem Al Dawsari supplying the assist.
The Saudis have two more friendlies left- against Peru and Germany – before kicking off the World Cup against hosts Russia on June 14.
Saudi Arabia XI: Al Owais; Al Shahrani, Omar Hawsawi (Hawsawi 90), Osama Hawsawi (Albulayhi 84), Al-Harbi; Ateef, Al Faraj (Al-Mogahwi 90); Al Shehri, Kanno Al Dawsari 45), Al Jassam; Aseri (Al Muwallad 69)
France 2 Republic of Ireland 0
Les Bleus kick-started their batch of pre-tournament friendlies with a win over Republic of Ireland last night.
Lining up in a midfield diamond formation, Didier Deschamps’ side went ahead when Olivier Giroud scored from a rebound after his initial header had been saved.
Liverpool target Nabil Fekir – handed a central support role – netted the second, with PSG’s Kylian Mbappe supplying the assist.
Big-hitters such as Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba and Ousmane Dembele earned minutes off the bench in the second period.
France have still to play Italy and United States before their World Cup gets underway.
France XI: Mandanda; Sidibe (Pavard 82), Rami, Umtiti (Kimpembe
64), Mendy (Hernandez 63); N’Zonzi; Tolisso (Pogba 77), Matuidi; Fekir (Griezmann 64); Mbappe (Dembele 77), Giroud
Mexico 0 Wales 0
Hugo Ayala and Chicharito were the only two players who started Mexico’s last friendly match – a 1-0 loss to Croatia in March – to retain their places.
Despite the numerous changes, the Mexicans were unable to find a way past Wayne Hennessey in a match that took place in California.
Having now failed to score in their last two, they’ll be hoping to find some form in their pair of remaining friendlies against Scotland and Denmark, given that their first group match is against Germany.
Mexico XI: Corona; Alvarez, Ayala, Alanis (Salcedo 45), Gallardo; Herrera (J dos Santos 61), Molina (Damm 45), Gutierrez (Fabian 74); Corona (G dos Santos 69, Chicharito (Peralta 59), Aquino
