France gave themselves a pre-Euro 2012 boost with a 2-1 friendly win over an injury-depleted Germany in Bremen last night as the Germans suffered their first defeat in 11 games.
In London, Arjen Robben scored twice as the Netherlands overcame a brave England fightback to win a thrilling friendly 3-2.
A first-half goal by France’s Olivier Giroud, who then set up substitute Florent Malouda for the second, inflicted the first defeat on Joachim Loew’s Germany since they were beaten by the same margin to Australia last March.
Germany’s Brazil-born striker Cacau scored a late consolation for the hosts, but the French deserved the win.
It was a disciplined performance from France who open their Euro 2012 campaign against England in Donetsk on June 11 and Laurent Blanc’s side dominated a weakened German team lacking five first-choice players.
Germany were missing captain Philipp Lahm, his deputy Bastian Schweinsteiger, midfielders Mario Goetze and Lukas Podolski, plus defender Per Mertesacker with injury, but their replacements failed to cope with the French.
Loew opted to give youth a chance in midfield with Moenchengladbach’s exciting prospect Marco Reus alongside Real Madrid’s skilled playmaker Mesut Ozil and Leverkusen’s Andre Schuerrle.
Schuerrle failed to make it to half-time after an injury, Reus did not make his mark and it was only Ozil who really tested the French.
France now face Iceland, Serbia and Estonia at home in late May and early June, while Germany will be hoping for a more composed performance when they take on Switzerland in Basel on May 26 then Israel in Leipzig on June 1.
Futile late effort
England, playing their first match of the post-Fabio Capello era, looked to have snatched a draw after goals in the final five minutes from Gary Cahill and Ashley Young cancelled out efforts from Robben and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
But just as Young’s injury-time equaliser had sent a 76,283 Wembley crowd into raptures, Holland swept forward and Robben latched onto a Mark van Bommel pass to curl a superb winner beyond Joe Hart.
It was the dramatic final act of a memorable game which had seen England haul themselves back to parity after Holland had appeared to be coasting to victory.
Earlier, Robben and Huntelaar struck inside the space of two minutes to puncture the optimism surrounding interim coach Stuart Pearce’s youthful first squad.
Pearce had named an experimental side, opting for Tottenham’s Scott Parker as captain ahead of Steven Gerrard while handing starts to international novices Danny Welbeck, Chris Smalling, Cahill and Leighton Baines.
Meanwhile, Wales failed to mark their first match since the death of manager Gary Speed with a victory as they lost 1-0 to Costa Rica in an international friendly at the Cardiff City Stadium yesterday.
Arsenal youngster Joel Camp-bell scored the only goal for the Central Americans, warming-up for CONCACAF competition.
In Zagreb, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sebastian Larsson starred for Sweden in their well deserved 3-1 win over Croatia.
Ibrahimovic scored the first goal in the 13th minute from the penalty spot after Croatian goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa tackled Rasmus Elm.
Croatia levelled in the 44th minute through Jonas Olsson who accidentally lobbed his own goalkeeper.
Sebastian Larsson then put the game to bed with goals in in the 46th and the 69th minutes.
Yesterday’s results
Austria 3
Janko 32; Harnik 54; Ivanschitz 73 pen;
Finland 1
Furuholm 90;
Croatia 1
Olsson 44 og;
Sweden 3
Ibrahimovic 13p; Larsson 46, 69;
Cyprus 0
Serbia 0
Denmark 0
Russia 2
Shirokov 4; Arshavin 45;
England 2
Cahill 85; Young 90;
Netherlands 3
Robben 57; Huntelaar 59; Robben 90+1;
Georgia 2
Kobakhidze 47; Kankava 88;
Albania 1
Cana 3;
Germany 1
Cacau 90;
France 2
Giroud 21; Malouda 69;
Greece 1
Salpingidis 9;
Belgium 1
Chadli 33;
Red card: Lombaerts (B) 62.
Hungary 1
Szalai 42;
Bulgaria 1
Bojinov 87;
Ireland 1
Cox 86;
Czech Rep. 1
Baros 50;
Israel 2
Hemad 55 pen; Sahar 63;
Ukraine 3
Gusev 18 pen; Konoplyanka 45; Yarmolenko 61;
Italy 0
USA 1
Dempsey 55;
Latvia 0
Kazakhstan 0
Luxembourg 2
Deville 57, 90;
Macedonia 1
Hasani 25;
Moldova 0
Belarus 0
Malta 2
Mifsud 55, 64;
L’chtenstein 1
Buchel 47;
Montenegro 2
Jovetic 56, 88;
Iceland 1
Finnbogason 79;
N. Ireland 0
Norway 3
Nordtveit 44; Elyounussi 87; Ruud 90;
Poland 0
Portugal 0
Romania 1
Stancu 50;
Uruguay 1
Cavani 3;
Turkey 1
Toprak 85;
Slovakia 2
Weiss 24; Stoch 39;
Slovenia 1
Kirm 33;
Scotland 1
Berra 40;
Spain 5
Iniesta 37; Silva 40; Soldado 50, 53, 84;
Venezuela 0
Red card: Amorebiete (V) 65.
Missed penalty: Soldado (S) 66.
Switzerland 1
Shaquiri 50;
Argentina 3
Messi 20, 88, 90p;
Wales 0
Costa Rica 1
Campbell 7;