Neymar scored twice as Brazil ran out convincing 4-0 winners in an international friendly against Turkey at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in ...
Neymar scored twice as Brazil ran out convincing 4-0 winners in an international friendly against Turkey at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul.
The South Americans were in front after 20 minutes when the Barcelona forward connected with a long ball from Fernandinho to slot home.
And barely three minutes later the lead was doubled. Home defender Semih Kaya tried to intercept a pass from Danilo but could only turn the ball into his own net.
Brazil were in complete control two minutes before the interval with Neymar again playing a part, darting down the left before picking out Willian with a perfectly weighted ball which the Chelsea midfielder drilled low into the net.
And it was Neymar who rounded off the scoring on the hour, combining once more with Willian before providing the finishing touch.
A Premier League-laden Argentina came from behind to beat an experimental Croatiaside 2-1 in their friendly at Upton Park.
The home of West Ham saw the end of Carlos Tevez's international exile, but the former Hammers favourite had to wait until after the hour mark to grace the east London stage once again.
Until then coach Gerardo Martino still had the likes of captain and star attraction Lionel Messi to call upon but it was a first international goal for Rijeka's Anas Sharbini that gave Croatia a half-time lead.
Atletico Madrid full-back Christian Ansaldi also notched his maiden international strike to level matters after the break, albeit in fortuitous circumstances, before Messi put Argentina in front from the penalty spot - with his 45th international goal sealing the win.
Second-half goals from substitute pair Divock Origi and Romelu Lukaku lifted Belgium to a 3-1 friendly victory over plucky Iceland in Brussels.
The visitors entered the contest on the back of a five-match winning run, which included a 2-0 triumph over Holland last month, and held their own against their opponents, for whom stars such as Eden Hazard, Marouane Fellaini and Adnan Januzaj started.
Despite Belgium, who have four points from their opening two European Championship qualifiers, taking a 10th-minute lead through Nicolas Lombaerts, they were pegged back almost straight away by Alfred Finnbogason.
But second-half substitutes Origi and Everton striker Lukaku struck in the 62nd and 73rd minutes to end the resolve of Iceland, who top their Euro 2016 qualifying group after three straight wins.
They will be looking to move on to 12 points in Group A when they travel to the Czech Republic on Sunday, when Belgium will be looking to topple Wales in Group B.
Elsewhere, Carlos Vela marked his international return with two goals as Mexico heaped more woe on Guus Hiddink's Netherlands in a friendly at the Amsterdam ArenA on Wednesday night.
Vela, who had not played for his national team for over three years, took just eight minutes to get back on the scoresheet as Miguel Herrera's men held out for an exciting 3-2 win.
Wesley Sneijder's fine strike levelled matters before Vela scored his second. Javier Hernandez put Mexico 3-1 up before Manchester United's Daley Blind reduced the deficit but the Netherlands failed to avoid their fourth defeat in five games sicne the World Cup.
Norway slipped to a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to Estonia, who scored the only goal of the game through Konstantin Vassiljev's strike midway through the first half.
Per-Mathias Hogmo's men could not find a way back in Oslo, despite 15-year-old prodigy Martin Odegaard coming off the bench just before the hour mark for his fourth cap.
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