🇪🇺 Netherlands win thriller; Victories for Spain, Germany, England | OneFootball

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Joel Sanderson-Murray·26 March 2022

🇪🇺 Netherlands win thriller; Victories for Spain, Germany, England

Article image:🇪🇺 Netherlands win thriller; Victories for Spain, Germany, England

We had a host of international friendlies to look forward to on Saturday as countries continue their preparations for the World Cup.

Here’s what went down.


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Eriksen scores on return as Denmark lose

Scorers: Bergwijn 16′, 71′, Aké 29′, Depay (pen) 38′; Vestergaard 19′, Eriksen 47′.

Christian Eriksen came off the bench to score with his first touch on his return to international football with Denmark.

It wasn’t enough to earn a draw for the Danes as three first-half goals helped Netherlands on their way to the win.

Steven Bergwijn scored 16 minutes into the game heading home from Daley Blind’s cross to break the deadlock.

They weren’t ahead for long as Jannick Vestergaard produced a flying header to equalise three minutes later but Nathan Aké moved Netherlands back in front with another header.

Memphis Depay slotted home from the spot to give Louis van Gaal’s side a two-goal cushion going into the break but Eriksen arrived from the bench at half-time before grabbing the moment of the match.

Andreas Skov Olsen’s pull-back found the Brentford midfielder arriving into the box before he smashed the ball into the top corner with his first touch.

It was the 30-year-old’s first game for his national side since suffering a cardiac arrest in the Euro 2020 encounter with Finland in June.

However, Eriksen wasn’t going to end up on the winning side as Bergwijn grabbed his second in the 71st minute to seal the victory for Netherlands.


Chelsea boys combine to earn win for Germany

Scorers: Havertz 36′, Werner 45′.

Two first-half goals earned Germany a ninth-straight victory under Hansi Flick.

Chelsea’s Kai Havertz rose highest to head home David Raum’s corner to break the deadlock for the hosts after 36 mins.

Blue continued to be the colour for Germany as just before half-time Timo Werner poked home İlkay Gündoğan’s free-kick to double their advantage.


Olmo spares Spanish blushes

Scorers: Torres 75′, Olmo 90′; Uzuni 85′.

Spain needed a last-minute winner as they struggled to overcome a resilient Albania side in Barcelona.

Luis Enrique’s side had over 70% of possession and mustered eight shots on target before Ferran Torres eventually made the breakthrough 15 minutes from time.

Substitute Yeremy Pino robbed an Albanian defender before sliding the ball into the path of the Barça forward to slot home.

But it looked as if Edoardo Reja’s men had nicked a draw when Myrto Uzuni took advantage of a mix-up between debutant goalkeeper David Raya and Pau Torres to equalise.

However there was still time for Dani Olmo to spare their blushes with a sublime curled effort into the top corner after being set up by Jordi Alba.


Kane hits 49 to earn England win

Scorers: Shaw 45+1, Kane (pen) 78′; Embolo 22′.

A landmark goal for Harry Kane was enough to earn England a comeback win over Switzerland.

The Swiss had taken the lead against the run of play when Xherdan Shaqiri’s cross was headed home by Breel Embolo, that advantage was nearly doubled moments later when Fabian Frei’s effort was turned on to the crossbar by Jordan Pickford.

It looked as if it was going to turn out to be a tricky evening for Gareth Southgate’s men before Kyle Walker-Peters pressurised Frei into an error which led to Conor Gallagher setting up Luke Shaw to lash home from outside the box.

Tyrick Mitchell came off the bench to join Walker-Peters and Marc Guéhi in earning their first cap but it was the captain who provided the decisive moment.

Steven Zuber handled in the box which allowed Kane to dispatch a penalty for the winner and to join Bobby Charlton with 49 on the all-time goalscorers list.


Ireland come from behind to earn draw

Scorers: Ogbene 35′, Browne 85′; Batshuayi 12′, Vanaken 58′.

Ireland came from behind twice to salvage a draw against Roberto Martínez’s Belgium.

Michy Batshuayi opened the scoring after 12 minutes when he cut inside from the right-hand side of the penalty area and curled the ball into the bottom corner.

Chiedozie Ogbene equalised for the hosts with a delightful overhead kick after Belgium had failed to clear a ball into the box before Hans Vanaken headed home from a corner to restore their lead.

Ogbene then turned provider for Alan Browne as Stephen Kenny’s side extended their unbeaten run to six games.