Kerolin Nicoli, Yamashita and Fujino in action during international friendlies | OneFootball

Kerolin Nicoli featured in Brazil’s late 3-2 loss to France, whilst Ayaka Yamashita and Aoba Fujino’s Japan fell to a 3-1 defeat against Spain.

For the European teams, the international friendlies served as vital Euro 2025 preparation before the tournament begins next week.

So it made sense that they took on two of the best teams outside of Europe, which saw three City stars feature.

For Brazil, Kerolin Nicoli led her nation’s line alongside Gio Garbelini and it didn’t take her long to have an impact on the game.

She teed up Luany to put the visitors ahead on seven minutes before she doubled her nation’s advantage five minutes later with a composed close-range finish.

Goals on either side of half-time for Grace Geyoro had France back level with just over half an hour left to play.

And it would be Marie-Antoinette Katoto’s goal for the hosts on 76 minutes that saw Brazil defeated at the Stade des Alpes.

WATCH: City players heading to Euro 2025

A short leap to Spain and the 2023 World Cup winners welcomed Yamashita and Fujino’s Japan to the Estadio Municipal de Butarque on Friday evening.

Fujino featured mostly on the left wing for her nation and opted to look clinical on the counter, with Spain dictating most of the play.

Against the run of play, and with Japan’s first shot on target, Mina Tanaka scored the opening goal on the half-hour mark.

Claudia Pina replied with an equaliser just before the break. Fujino was replaced by Hina Sugita at half-time with Head Coach Nils Nielsen utilising his as many substitutes as possible in the friendly.

Spain then found the lead through Vicky Lopez on 66 minutes and an 88th-minute strike from Athenea del Castillo put the game out of reach for Japan. Yamashita was once again a mighty presence in between the sticks with the hosts only able to convert three of their seven shots on target.