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International friendlies round-up: Germany beaten by Austria in World Cup warm-up

Austria
Image: Austria beat Germany on Saturday after a lengthy rain delay

World Cup holders Germany saw their winless run extended by defeat in Austria on Saturday evening.

Joachim Low's side have not won a game since October, drawing with England, France and Spain and losing to Brazil and now Austria since beating Azerbaijan.

Germany led early on through Mesut Ozil's strike but second-half goals from Martin Hinteregger and Alessandro Schopf turned the match on its head and gave Austria, who will not be at the World Cup in Russia, a seventh successive victory.

The game at the Worthersee Stadion in Klagenfurt, which was delayed by 100 minutes because of heavy rain, was the first of two friendlies for defending world champions Germany, who will also face Saudi Arabia at the BayArena before beginning the defence of their title against Mexico with their Group F opener on June 17 in Moscow.

Ozil goal
Image: Mesut Ozil scored early on for Germany

It was a chance for the fringe players in Low's 27-man squad to earn their spot in the final 23 and Freiburg striker Nils Petersen was handed his debut. Meanwhile, Manuel Neuer made his first start since September after recovering from a broken foot.

Belgium and Portugal will both head to Russia with hopes of reaching the latter stages of the competition, but neither looked particularly threatening in their match.

There was a nice moment pre-match as Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen was presented with a special cap to commemorate his 100th appearance for his country by his mother.

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Vertonghen had the best moment of the game too, forcing Beto into a flying save midway through the second half with a curling effort from the edge of the box. Bernardo Silva had Portugal's best moments, flashing a couple of dangerous efforts just wide.

Jan Vertonghen made his 100th appearance for Belgium against Portugal
Image: Jan Vertonghen made his 100th appearance for Belgium

Belgium were dealt a blow when Vincent Kompany limped off the pitch early on in the second half.

Alan Judge came off the bench to blast the Republic of Ireland to victory over the United States, handing John O'Shea the perfect send-off.

The Brentford midfielder's 90th-minute winner came just seconds after his introduction on a night when Shamrock Rovers striker Graham Burke claimed his first international goal to cancel out Bobby Wood's opener.

 during the International Friendly match between the Republic of Ireland and The United States at Aviva Stadium on June 2, 2018 in Dublin, Ireland.
Image: John O'Shea made his 118th and final appearance for the Republic of Ireland

It clinched a 2-1 win at the Aviva Stadium to ensure O'Shea's 118-cap international career ended in style.

Norway put a dent in Iceland's World Cup preparations by winning 3-2 in Reykjavik with a few Premier League players getting on the scoresheet.

Bjorn Maars Johnsen put the visitors in front with a fine goal before Alfred Finnbogason equalised from the penalty spot.

Everton's Gylfi Sigurdsson dinked Iceland into the lead with a fine finish but late goals from Bournemouth's Josh King and Crystal Palace's Alexander Sorloth turned the game in Norway's favour.

Striker Isaac Kiese-Thelin spooned a late shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy as his Sweden side were held to a goalless draw by Denmark in their friendly at the Friends Arena on Saturday.

On a balmy evening, both sides took the opportunity to ease some players back into the fold in a feisty encounter.

Martin Olsson battles with Henrik Dalsgaard
Image: Sweden and Denmark played out a goalless draw in their meeting

Operating from the wings, Sisto and Yussuf Poulsen showed glimpses of the electric pace that Denmark can call on in Russia when they kick off their World Cup Group C campaign against Peru on June 16. Two days later, Sweden face South Korea in their Group F opener in Nizhny Novgorod.

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