Lionel Messi is instrumental as Argentina warm up for next month’s World Cup with a four-goal hammering of Haiti. Peru claim victory over Scotland, though Panama’s attack fails to find a way past Northern Ireland.
Argentina 4 Haiti 0
It was all about Lionel Messi as Argentina eased past Haiti in the early hours of this morning.
Partnered up front by Gonzalo Higuain in a 4-4-2, the Barcelona star played a part in all of his nation’s goals.
Messi fired a hat-trick (which included a converted spot-kick) before laying on the fourth for fit-again substitute, Sergio Aguero.
The stats say it all – all five of Messi’s efforts were on target, while he was also Argentina’s key creator with a total of five key passes.
Central midfielder Giovani Lo Celso played a pivotal part in Messi’s first two goals. The PSG playmaker was brought down for the spot-kick opener, while his rebounded effort led to the second.
Substitute Cristian Pavon – on for Angel De Maria – teed up the hosts’ third.
Jorge Sampaoli’s side have one final friendly, against Israel next Friday, before their tournament gets underway on June 16 against Iceland.
Argentina XI: Caballero; Salvio, Otamendi, Fazio (Rojo 45), Tagliafico (Acuna 71); Lanzini (Meza 59), Mascherano, Lo Celso (Banega 75), Di Maria (Pavon 59); Messi, Higuain (Aguero 59)
READ MORE: Is Cristiano Ronaldo worth signing for your World Cup Fantasy team? Our full analysis of Portugal
Peru 2 Scotland 0
Peru’s winning streak extended to four matches with a 2-0 home victory over Alex McLeish’s men.
The hosts lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Watford winger Andre Carrillo and Christian Cueva flanking lone frontman Jefferson Farfan.
Farfan boasted the South Americans’ main goal threat, firing six shots, with four efforts inside the box.
He played a part in the first goal, with Peru handed a penalty after Farfan’s cross into the area was handled. The spot-kick was duly converted by left winger Cueva.
Farfan then fired home his side’s second, having been teed up by Yoshimir Yotun. The latter, along with Cueva, was the top creator on show, supplying three key passes apiece.
Peru have two friendlies remaining – against Saudi Arabia and Sweden – before their World Cup campaign gets underway against Denmark on June 16.
Peru XI: Carvalho; Advincula (Corzo 87), Ramos, Rodriguez, Trauco; Flores, Tapia (Cartagena 84), Yotun (Ruidiaz 69); Carrillo (Polo 69), Farfan (Hurtado 81), Cueva (Aquino 80)
READ MORE: The World Cup Fantasy differentials on offer at hosts Russia
Panama 0 N Ireland 0
Panama goalless draw with Northern Ireland highlights their toils in attack ahead of next month’s tournament.
Hernan Dario Gomez’s side lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Luis Tejada and Blas Perez handed 45 minutes apiece to lead the line.
Yet a failure to find the net means that they have scored just one goal in four matches ahead of their first ever World Cup.
On the upside, they have back-to-back clean sheets after also keeping out Trinidad and Tobago last month.
Panama now play Norway a week today in their final friendly before a tough draw hands them showdowns with Belgium and England before facing Tunisia in their final Group G match.
Panama XI: Calderon; Machado, Escobar, Baloy (Torres 76), Ovalle; Gomez (Pimentel 45); Rodriguez (Nurse 60), Cooper (Camargo 45), Godoy (Avila 46), Barcenas; Tejada. (Perez 46)
Detailed World Cup Analysis by Team
Group A – Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
5 years, 11 months agoAn extra 2 weeks of reduced fixtures in the PL schedule
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/11389671/premier-league-winter-break-set-to-be-confirmed-in-next-fortnight
this will really make the chip strategies important.