Ronaldo stuns Salah's Egpyt

Cristiano Ronaldo hit two goals in stoppage time as European champions Portugal defeated Egypt 2-1 in a friendly international on Friday, winning his personal duel with Mohamed Salah who had put the seven-time African champions ahead.

Ronaldo, appearing in his 900th career match, made his mark to devastating effect as time ran out. First, he pulled his team level with a header from a Ricardo Quaresma cross, before adding the winner in almost identical circumstances in the fourth minute of injury time.

However, the 33-year-old Real Madrid star had to wait for the VAR system to validate his goal after a suspicion of offside. His two-goal salvo took his Portugal tally to 81.

Earlier, Salah, who has shone at Liverpool this season with 28 Premier League goals, broke the deadlock in Zurich after 56 minutes. After a quickfire exchange of passes, Abdallah El Said found Salah in space for his teammate to beat Beto in the Portuguese goal with a sweetly-timed left-foot strike from the edge of the area.

"In the last minutes we were better, created four chances and showed great determination to turn it around. They showed that they did not want to lose," said Portugal coach Fernando Santos. "And with Ronaldo, it's about a goal and another goal."

Egypt coach Hector Cuper said: "As far as measuring ourselves against a top team like Portugal, this was a good game for us in that sense" he said. "It's just a shame they scored in the 92nd and 94th minutes."

Spain, Germany want to improve after draw

Germany head coach Joachim Loew says he knows the areas where the defending champions must improve before the World Cup after drawing 1-1 with Spain on Friday.

Rodrigo Moreno put Spain ahead after just six minutes in Duesseldorf, but hosts Germany levelled when Thomas Mueller hit a superb equaliser in his 90th international.

"There was a good intensity to the game, it was a test in which we were able to learn a lot," said Loew. "Both teams have room to improve and you do not always want to show everything so soon before a World Cup."

Meanwhile, Spain coach Julen Lopetegui took the positives from having frustrated the Germans in their own backyard.

"Overall, I see this match very positively," said the Spain boss. "We played against the best of the world champions at (their) home.

"We played with personality, ambition, rigour and confidence in who we are. Of course, there are always things to improve."

FRANCE LOSE THEIR COOL

Substitute Juan Quintero lashed home a penalty five minutes from time as Colombia came back from 2-0 down to stun France 3-2 on Friday.

Centre-back Samuel Umtiti was penalised for a rash lunge on Jose Izquierdo as the South Americans received a morale boost ahead of the World Cup in Russia.

"My team showed World Cup character," beamed Colombia coach Jose Pekerman. "It's very important for this preparation for Russia."

France coach Didier Deschamps admitted the visitors had shown greater desire. "The Colombians gave us a lesson in aggressiveness, whereas we were too quick to settle for what we had," he told TMC television. "The top level is demanding and we didn't respond in the second half."

Olivier Giroud scored his 30th goal for France before Thomas Lemar doubled the lead but Luis Muriel gave the South Americans hope. Lemar's Monaco team-mate Radamel Falcao equalised and Quintero then had the last word, just two minutes after entering the fray.

NO MESSI, NO PROBLEM Ever Banega ensured Argentina weren't derailed by Lionel Messi's absence as La Albiceleste clinched a 2-0 win over Italy in Friday's friendly at the Etihad Stadium.

Without their talismanic star, who reportedly suffered a groin strain, Jorge Sampaoli's side showed they have strength in depth with a solid display capped by late goals from Banega and Manuel Lanzini.

"We played this game as a final," said Sampaoli. "The team had a lot of stability and the collective level was very good."

Italy remain in turmoil after failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1958.

"We suffered with their possession and lost some shape," Italy boss Luigi Di Biagio said. "We deserved more in the second half but let's not forget who we were up against.

"The group must develop. There are a lot of youngsters who need experience. We must realise this is a difficult moment for the team. We ask everyone to be patient."