Brazil cruise while Argentina crawl

Brazil cruise while Argentina crawl

Brazil's talismanic forward Neymar celebrates his opening goal against Turkey in an international friendly at Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
Brazil's talismanic forward Neymar celebrates his opening goal against Turkey in an international friendly at Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Barcelona teammates Neymar and Lionel Messi were both on target as Brazil and Argentina claimed international friendly wins Wednesday but struggling Netherlands slumped to another defeat.

In Istanbul, Brazil defeated Turkey 4-0 as coach Dunga celebrated a fifth successive win since taking the hot-seat following his country's traumatic World Cup.

Neymar opened the scoring after 19 minutes when he picked up a cross from Fernandinho before dribbling the ball into the area and stabbing it past a static Suleyman Demirel in the Turkish goal.

Five minutes later it was 2-0 when defender Suat Kaya put through his own goal under pressure from Luiz Adriano who was trying to reach a cross from Danilo.

Willian steered in the third just before the interval after a Neymar cross was not cleared with the Barcelona star adding his second on the hour mark after a neat one-two with Willian.

For Argentina, Carlos Tevez ended his three-year international exile as World Cup runners-up Argentina came from behind to beat a second-string Croatia 2-1 in London.

Tevez last played for Argentina at the 2011 Copa America, having been frozen out by former coach Alejandro Sabella, but he made his comeback at the home of his old club West Ham after being recalled by new coach Gerardo Martino.

The Juventus striker came on as a substitute for Sergio Aguero, who cancelled out Anas Sharbini's early opener for Croatia with a fortuitous equaliser before Lionel Messi scored the winner with a 57th-minute penalty.

Messi's goal was the 45th of his international career.

In Amsterdam, the Netherlands lost 3-2 to Mexico, four days out from a crucial Euro 2016 clash against Latvia, which could lead to the resignation of coach Guus Hiddink should the Dutch lose again.

Wednesday's loss, which saw Carlos Vela score twice for Mexico in his first appearance in three years, was Holland's fourth in five games since the World Cup.

In other friendlies, Belgium beat Iceland 3-2 while Estonia edged Norway 1-0.

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