Former world champions Italy stunned the team who succeeded them just over a year ago with a 2-1 victory over Spain in Bari last night.
Alberto Aquilani scored the winner six minutes from time after Riccardo Montolivo had given the hosts a deserved lead before Xabi Alonso equalised from the penalty spot.
In another lucrative friendly yesterday, Germany’s young guns proved they are fast becoming a force to be reckoned with as they turned on the style to beat Brazil 3-2 with rising star Mario Goetze in dazzling form.
This is the first time Germany have beaten Brazil for 18 years and only the fourth time the hosts have beaten the South American giants in 21 meetings.
While Italy enjoyed by far the best of the opening period, Spain controlled the second half until a spate of substitutions robbed the match of any rhythm.
Cesare Prandelli’s Italy can be proud of themselves, although with just two Barcelona players in Vicente Del Bosque’s starting line-up – seven started the World Cup final against Holland – it is debatable whether this really was the Spanish first team.
Prandelli was pleased with his team’s first-half showing.
“We have to take this (result) in the right way. Until we ran out of legs and fluidity we played very well,” he said.
“Then we lacked order and we had to work harder. But we showed character and courage.”
Spain were pushing hard in the late stages and David Silva tested Gianluigi Buffon’s reactions before Andrea Pirlo kept substitute goalkeeper Victor Valdes busy at the other end.
But then Aquilani’s weak shot deflected off Raul Albiol and left Valdes wrong-footed and Italy in raptures.
After a goalless first 45 minutes in Stuttgart, a second-half penalty by Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger and a superb individual effort from Goetze put the hosts ahead before Brazil’s Robinho converted a penalty on 71 minutes.
The Germans made sure of victory when Bayer Leverkusen’s Andre Shuerrle came off the bench to score the Germans’ third on 80 minutes while Brazil’s Neymar scored his side’s second in the 92nd minute.
This was the first time the two teams had met since 2003 and with the game at Stuttgart’s Mercedes-Benz-Arena being televised in 190 countries, it lived up to its billing as the clash of two of football’s biggest names.
“I am pleased that I have so many options now,” said Germany coach Loew after youngsters Goetze, Schuerrle, Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller all shone with playmaker Mesut Ozil left out to recover after touring with Real Madrid.
“Mario Goetze has exceptional awareness and looks to find solutions to every problem on the pitch.
“It is the simple things he does which makes him so strong.”
In Montpellier, France and Chile drew 1-1 in an entertaining friendly encounter, with Loic Remy’s first-half strike for the hosts cancelled out by substitute Nicolas Cordova late on.
Cordova produced a measured first-time finish from the edge of the box after being set up by fellow sub, the Barcelona-bound Alexis Sanchez, to hand the South American nation, quarter-finalists at last month’s Copa America, a thoroughly deserved draw.
Friendlies results
Albania 3
Bogdani 33; Lika 64; Salihi 69;
Montenegro 2
Savic 40, 47
Azerbaijan 0
Macedonia 1
Pandev 59;
Austria 1
Hoffer 62;
Slovakia 2
Kucka 21; Jez 30;
Belarus 1
Stoyanov 33 og;
Bulgaria 0
Bosnia 0
Greece 0
Cyprus 3
Avraam 13, 51, 89;
Moldova 2
Armas 23; Ovsyannikov 45;
France 1
Remy 20;
Chile 1
Cordova 76;
Germany 3
S’steiger 61 pen; Goetze 67; Schurrle 80;
Brazil 2
Robinho 72 pen; Neymar 90;
Hungary 4
Koman 32; Rudolf 45; Dzsudzsak 67; Elek 88;
Iceland 0
Italy 2
Montolivo 11; Aquilani 84;
Spain 1
Alonso 37 pen;
Ivory Coast 4
Yaya Toure 44; Yakonan 45; Kone 66; Drogba 81;
Israel 3
Shechter 75; Melicsohn 79, 86;
Latvia 0
Finland 2
Hamalainen 58; Furuholm 87;
L’htenstein 1
Ritzberger 51;
Switzerland 2
Derdiyok 15; Stocklasa 34 og;
Lithuania 3
Klimavicius 9; Cesnauskis 74; Beniusis 77;
Armenia 0
Red card: Haroyanas (A) 59.
Norway 3
Abellaoue 22, 88; J.A. Riise 72;
Czech Rep. 0
Poland 1
Blaszczykowski 36;
Georgia 0
Ireland 0
Croatia 0
Russia 1
Pogrebnyak 53;
Serbia 0
Scotland 2
Kvist 22 og; Snodgrass 44;
Denmark 1
Eriksen 31;
Slovenia 0
Belgium 0
Turkey 3
Belozoglu 8 pen; Kazim 28, 36;
Estonia 0
Ukraine 0
Sweden 1
Hysen 90;
Wales 1
Blake 82;
Australia 2
Cahill 44; Kruse 60;
Portugal 5
Postiga 23; Ronaldo 43; Coentrao 47; Almeida 58, 73;
Luxembourg 0