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Italy stun Germans, Argentina, France also lose
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-02 09:15
DEJA VU
It was a case of deja vu for Argentina, who lost 3-2 to Croatia in neutral
Switzerland after conceding a stoppage time goal.
Argentina conceded a late goal to England in a 3-2 defeat in neutral
Switzerland in November -- but appeared set for a better night after two goals
in the opening six minutes from Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi cancelled out Ivan
Klasnic's third-minute opener for Croatia.
Barcelona teenager Messi's first goal for Argentina was to prove irrelevant,
however, as Croatia turned things around in the second half with headers from
Darijo Srna and Dario Simic -- who scored with a stoppage-time header.
There was also a shock defeat for France, who lost under coach Raymond
Domenech for the first time since he took over from Jacques Santini after Euro
2004.
Substitutes Szilard Nemeth and Jozef Valachovic netted for the Slovaks in the
second half before Les Bleus pulled a goal back with a penalty from Sylvain
Wiltord 15 minutes from time.
Slovakia failed to qualify for the World Cup in Germany in June while France
had gone 17 games without defeat since their quarter-final elimination by Greece
at Euro 2004.
BRAZIL WIN
Brazil began the final preparations for the defence of their title with a 1-0
win in Moscow over Russia where Ronaldo scored the only goal after 14 minutes.
"This was the coldest match I have ever been involved in with any sort of
team at any level," Parreira told reporters. "I've never been in a situation
like this before. I was freezing on the bench."
The goal warmed Brazil though, who played more defensively than usual and
survived a series of Russian attempts in the second half.
England's year began with a victory too, thanks to Joe Cole's winning strike
three minutes into stoppage time against Uruguay.
The South Americans, who failed to reach the finals, had taken the lead with
a spectacular volley from midfielder Omar Pouso after 26 minutes and held it
until Peter Crouch equalised for England with a header 15 minutes from time.
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