Paris (AFP)

Germany were hooked by Turkey (3-3) and Portugal were unable to beat Spain (0-0), while Italy and France had fun against Moldova (6-0 ) and Ukraine (7-1), Wednesday in friendly matches.

These meetings were mainly used to prepare the next matches of League of Nations, at the end of the week, with in some cases, as for Germany, very young staff.

Germany-Turkey allowed Joachim Low to turn his workforce around a captain-scorer from Paris SG, Julian Draxler, who opened the scoring.

But the young Germans, if they led three times, were joined three times by the Turks, the last after four minutes of stoppage in five.

Portugal-Spain, which marked the return of supporters of the Seleção de Cristiano Ronaldo in the stands, despite the Covid-19, gave birth to a small draw, without a goal and therefore without great enthusiasm.

Among the other contenders for the title at the next Euro (June 11-July 11, 2021), Roberto Mancini's Italy, who received modest Moldova, put their attackers to work: 6-0, including two goals from El Shaarawy.

Poland did not need Robert Lewandowski, the insatiable scorer of Bayern Munich, to dispose of Finland (5-1) and it was Kamil Grosicki, author of a hat-trick in the first period, who took advantage to shine.

As for the Croatian vice-world champions, who had just conceded eight goals in two matches, against Portugal (4-1) and France (4-2), they went to reassure themselves with the way in Switzerland (2 -1), after having yet been led 1-0.

The only surprise of the evening came from the Netherlands, beaten at home for the second time in a row, by Mexico (1-0), after their loss in September against Italy, by the same score.

Thursday, Belgium, still at the top of the Fifa ranking but still in search of a first great title, will receive Côte d'Ivoire, a selection that has not played since November 2019, and England will receive Wales .

Results of the main friendlies played on Wednesday to prepare for the League of Nations at the end of the week:

France - Ukraine 7-1

Portugal - Spain 0-0

Germany - Turkey 3-3

Netherlands - Mexico 0-1

Italy - Moldova 6-0

Poland - Finland 5-1

Switzerland - Croatia 1-2

Austria - Greece 2-1

Thursday:

Russia - Sweden

Belgium - Ivory Coast

England - Wales

© 2020 AFP