Int’l football returns with Lisbon stalemate

National teams with national anthems, flags and small number of fans returned to the field across the globe as International Friendlies made its return on Wednesday night in multiple continents. As some of these matches were decorated with plenty of goals, others were agonizingly breathtaking.

Portugal had to settle for a 0-0 draw at home to Spain in a heavyweight friendly encounter as they hammered the crossbar twice and missed a last-gasp open goal. Cristiano Ronaldo, who hit a hat-trick when the two sides met in a thrilling 2018 World Cup group stage game, almost gave the European champions the lead when he sent a shot crashing against the underside of the bar early in the second half.

Germany midfielder Florian Neuhaus scored on his national team debut but Turkey came back three times to earn a 3-3 draw in their friendly. The Germans, playing without Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig players who were rested and missed several due to illness and injury.

Having become France's second highest all-time top scorer on Wednesday by leapfrogging Michel Platini with 42 goals, Olivier Giroud is now gunning for Thierry Henry's all-time record of 51. Giroud netted twice in a 7-1 demolition of Ukraine in a friendly, celebrating his 100th cap in style in front of visitors' coach Andriy Shevchenko, one of his idols.

Forward Francesco Caputo scored on his Italy debut at the age of 33 as they routed Moldova 6-0 in a one-sided friendly.

Mexico handed new Netherlands coach Frank de Boer a defeat in his first game in charge as they enjoyed a deserved 1-0 win over their hosts in a friendly. Goals from midfielders Josip Brekalo and Mario Pasalic gave Croatia a 2-1 win at Switzerland.

Zambia secured a narrow 1-0 win over neighbours Malawi in Lusaka in the first international involving African countries since the Covid-19 pandemic shut down world sport in March.