Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine were beaten 3-2 by Austria in Innsbruck on Friday in their penultimate warm-up friendly ahead of the tournament. The visitors were caught cold after three minutes when Zlatko Junuzovic curled an excellent free kick beyond the goalkeeper. Ukraine levelled after 56 minutes, Oleh Gusyev tapping the ball in from close range following a through ball from Andriy Yarmolenko.
Marko Arnautovic restored Austria’s lead six minutes later with a powerful effort low into the corner. Gusyev, though, struck again in the 65th minute with a long-range thunderbolt of a shot into the top corner. Arnautovic then grabbed the winner with two minutes left to play. Ukraine, drawn with France, England and Sweden in Group D, take on Turkey in a final warm-up in Ingolstadt on Tuesday. Their first match in the Euros is against Sweden in Kiev on June 11. Poland are also co-hosts.
Egypt get first win of African WC qualifiers: Egypt recorded the first win of the group phase of Africa’s qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup by beating Mozambique 2-0 behind closed doors in Alexandria on Friday. Mahmoud Fathallah opened the scoring with a far-post header after 56 minutes and Mohamed Zidan set up the second goal nine minutes later in the Group G encounter. Zidan, who came on as a second-half substitute to pep up an ineffective home attack in an eerie atmosphere at the empty Borj Al Arab Stadium, thumped a shot against the crossbar and the ball bounced into the net off the back of goalkeeper Kampagno.
The Egyptian government ordered the match to be played behind closed doors due to security concerns. There has been no football in the country, apart from games in the pan-African club competition, since February’s attack at the Port Said Stadium where 74 fans were killed. Friday’s match marked the competitive debut for Egypt’s American coach Bob Bradley. Both countries play another qualifier next week when Egypt travel to Guinea and Mozambique host Zimbabwe.
Italy thrashed 3-0 by Russia in Euro warm-up: Italy’s troubles mounted as they produced some slapstick defending in a 3-0 defeat by fellow Euro 2012 finalists Russia on Friday in their only warm-up match for the tournament.
The game at the Letzigrund in Zurich was played against the backdrop of a match-fixing scandal back home that prompted Italy coach Cesare Prandelli to say he would not mind his side pulling out of the European Championship if it was the right move.
Friday’s performance was a defensive nightmare for Italy, who conceded only twice in 10 games during qualifying, with Russia’s second and third goals coming from defensive mix-ups involving substitute goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis.
Italy had created more chances in the opening hour but their rearguard always looked shaky and they fell to pieces when Russia, who could have scored three times ahead of the break, went ahead through Alexander Kerzhakov just before the hour. Roman Shirokov then added two late goals.
It was Italy’s third successive match without scoring following 1-0 defeats by Uruguay in November and the United States in February and their heaviest loss since Prandelli took charge following the 2010 World Cup. Italy have been drawn in a tough Group C at Euro 2012 with world and European champions Spain, Croatia and Ireland. Mario Balotelli drew a blank for the Italians, disappearing from the action in the last half hour after a bright opening.
