Spain control Bolivia, England hit three

ByESPN staff ESPN logo
Monday, June 2, 2014

Goals from Fernando Torres and Andres Iniesta helped Spain warm up for their defence of the World Cup trophy with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Bolivia in Seville.

Vicente del Bosque made seven substitutes during the second half and, after the outgoing Torres notched the opener from the penalty spot, substitute Iniesta contributed a clever side-footed finish in the 84th minute at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Luis Alberto Gutierrez fouled Javi Martinez in the box and Torres coolly struck his penalty straight down the middle of the goal.

Bolivia rarely left their own half, but goalkeeper Romel Quinonez kept the scoreline respectable.

England warmed up for the World Cup with a 3-0 win over Peru which looked far more convincing on paper than in reality.

Daniel Sturridge curled home a stunning opener to put England ahead in their final game on home soil before the finals.

Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill then scored from two set-pieces after the break to give the result an encouraging appearance.

Yet it was clear from this performance that there is still much work to be done if England are to hit the ground running -- as they must -- when they land in Brazil to take on Italy in their Group D opener.

Northern Ireland showed England they have little to fear from a Uruguay side lacking Luis Suarez as they battled to an honourable 1-0 defeat in Montevideo.

The goal came when Christian Rodriguez skipped towards the byline and cut back towards Edinson Cavani.

He took a heavy first touch but made amends by finding Christian Stuani at the near post, where he poked home ahead of Chris Baird.

Josip Drmic's emergence as Switzerland's best source of World Cup goals continued, striking late in a 1-0 warm-up win over Jamaica.

The Bayer Leverkusen forward's assured finish with the outside of his right foot in the 84th minute marked his third goal in two international friendlies this year.

Drmic, a half-time substitute, earlier shot over a gaping goal from three yards out. He also forced Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake into a diving save from a rising shot.

Switzerland improved after a lacklustre first half, when coach Ottmar Hitzfeld started with only five players from his likely World Cup lineup.

Iran equalised in the second half to draw 1-1 with Angola, stretching their winless streak to four matches.

Karim Ansarifard scored the equaliser in the 56th minute after being set up by defender Ehsan Hajsafi and delivering a low diagonal shot past Angola keeper Delgado Elber.

Silva had scored with a header on his international debut to give Angola the lead three minutes before half-time.

Iran have not won since beating Kuwait in Asian Cup qualification in March. Coach Carlos Queiroz' team recorded goalless draws with Belarus and Montenegro in their other warm-up games in Austria.

Chile battled back to a 3-2 victory over Egypt in a friendly in Santiago.

Egypt had taken the lead after 12 minutes when Chelsea's Mohamed Salah took advantage of a Gary Medel error.

They were two up shortly afterwards thanks to Khaled Kamar, who produced an impressive chip over Chile keeper Claudio Bravo.

However, Barcelona star Alexis Sanchez inspired a stirring comeback. He first provided an assist on 26 minutes, racing down the right before squaring for Marcelo Diaz to reduce the arrears, and then set up Eduardo Vargas to level with an hour played.

With 12 minutes remaining, Sanchez provided a third assist of the game to set up Vargas, who completed his brace to secure victory.

Edin Dzeko scored twice as Bosnia and Herzegovina began their World Cup preparations with a 2-1 win over the Ivory Coast.

The Manchester City striker scored in the 17th and 53rd minutes to set his side on the way to victory with veteran forward Didier Drogba responding in stoppage time for the Africans.