PARIS — Denmark's
Christian Eriksen made an emotional
goal-scoring return to international football on Saturday as England, Germany
and Spain carved out friendly victories.
اضافة اعلان
Eriksen found the net two minutes after coming on with a
powerful drive in a 4–2 defeat against fellow World Cup qualifiers Netherlands
in Amsterdam.
It was his first national team appearance since suffering a
cardiac arrest in
Denmark's opening game of the
European Championships against
Finland in Copenhagen last June.
On Saturday, to the resounding applause of fans and even
Dutch manager Louis van Gaal, the 30-year-old came off the bench and raised his
hands to the sky in thanks.
His goal was 37th in 110 appearances. It was fitting he
scored in the Amsterdam Arena, the home of Ajax.
Eriksen came through the ranks at the Dutch side, making 162
appearances for the club and winning five trophies, including three consecutive
league titles between 2011 and 2013.
Meanwhile,
Harry Kane converted a late penalty to close in
on the all-time England goal-scoring record and secure a 2–1 win over
Switzerland who will also be at the World Cup in Qatar in November.
Kane netted from the spot to reach 49 England goals, moving
him ahead of
Gary Lineker and into a second place tie with Bobby Charlton.
Only Wayne Rooney, with 53 goals, has scored more times for
England.
Breel Embolo put
Switzerland ahead at Wembley after 22
minutes in a first half dominated by the visitors before Luke Shaw's equaliser
in first-half injury time.
Kane restored order with his 78th-minute winner.
"You have to be ready for any chance at any moment.
Penalties are a great way of getting on the scoresheet, I practice and work on
them a lot," said Kane.
'Amazing company'
"It is amazing company to be with, super proud to be
doing that but we look forward to the next one. A big year ahead to get more
caps and more goals."
Chelsea pair
Kai Havertz and Timo
Werner both hit the net as Germany eased past Israel 2–0 in Sinsheim.
After the Premier League pair scored first-half goals,
Germany's stand-in captain Thomas Mueller and Israel sub Yonatan Cohen
both failed to convert late penalty attempts.
Germany head coach Hansi Flick has now won his first eight
internationals to extend his record start.
"On the whole, it was a good performance from us for
the first game of the new year," Werner told broadcaster ZDF.
Spain, World Cup winners in 2010, had to work hard to carve
out a 2–1 win against Albania in Barcelona, the team's first game in Catalonia
since 2004.
Ferran Torres opened the scoring for Spain in the 75th
minute at Espanyol's RCDE Stadium with Myrto Uzuni equalising 10 minutes later.
However,
Dani Olmo saved Spain's blushes with a last-minute
winner as Spain secured an eighth win in eight matches against Albania.
"We knew it was going to be difficult. Albania are a
team who defend very well," Olmo told Spanish public television.
Top-ranked Belgium led twice in Dublin but were still held
2–2 by Ireland.
Belgium held
Playing without the influential Kevin de Bruyne, who has
been rested for the international window, Belgium took the lead after 12
minutes through
Michy Batshuayi who brushed past Seamus Coleman to beat
Caoimhin Kelleher in the Irish goal.
Ireland, who missed qualification for the World Cup after
finishing third in their group behind
Serbia and
Portugal, levelled in the 36th
minute through Chiedozie Ogbene.
Belgium were back in front just before the hour mark thanks
to a Hans Vanaken header.
However, substitute Alan Browne grabbed his side's second
equaliser with a powerful 86th-minute header.
In Doha,
2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia were held to a 1–1
draw by Slovenia.
Andrej Kramaric, who plays in Germany with
Hoffenheim, gave
Croatia the lead in the 39th minute but Jaka Bijol levelled in stoppage time
for Slovenia.
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