Croatia, Romania, Poland win friendlies
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Article summary
Inter duo Ivan Perišić and Marcelo Brozović gave Croatia a 2-0 win against Israel, Romania debutant Nicolae Stanciu struck to beat Lithuania and Poland also prevailed in Wednesday's friendlies.
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- Full pre-UEFA EURO 2016 friendly fixture list
- Full rundown of March friendlies
- UEFA EURO 2016 final tournament fixtures
- 2018 FIFA World Cup: European Qualifiers
Croatia 2-0 Israel (Perišić 4, Brozović 34)
Croatia: Subašić (L Kalinić 46); Vida, Lovren, Ćorluka (Schildenfeld 46); Perišić, Badelj (Halilović 51), Modrić (Antolić 68), Brozović, Srna (Vrsaljko 44); Kalinić N (Kovačić 58), Mandžukić.
Croatia coach Ante Čačić fielded a new 3-5-2 formation and had Internazionale Milano midfielders Ivan Perišić and Marcelo Brozović to thanks for victory. Brozović set up Perišić for the first and got the second himself after Mario Mandžukić hit the post. Croatia looked good in attack but received a blow when captain Darijo Srna went down injured following Rami Gershon's sliding tackle; he was taken from the pitch in pain and replaced by Šime Vrsaljko. Croatia face Hungary on Saturday.
Romania 1-0 Lithuania (Stanciu 65)
Romania: Pantilimon; Mățel, Chiricheș, Moți, Filip (Toșca 86); Pintilii, Sănmărtean (Hoban 59); Torje (Ivan 58), Stancu (Hora 76), Tănase (Stanciu 46); Rusescu (Keșerü 46).
Substitute Nicolae Stanciu scored 20 minutes into his senior international debut to give Romania victory in an otherwise flat display against a well-organised Lithuania side. The first half was very even and Lithuania almost snatched a 43rd-minute lead when Lukas Spalvis's excellent free-kick was saved by Costel Pantilimon. Steaua București midfielder Stanciu was introduced at half-time and his long-range strike made it a dream debut. Fellow substitute Andrei Ivan forced a save from Zubas and Cosmin Moţi's header went just wide. Romania host Spain on Sunday.
Poland 1-0 Serbia (Błaszczykowski 28)
Poland: Fabiański (Szczęsny 46); Piszczek, Glik, Salamon (Pazdan 87), Rybus; Błaszczykowski, Krychowiak (Jodłowiec 75), Zieliński (Borysiuk 83), Grosicki (Kapustka 75); Milik, Lewandowski (Teodorczyk 73).
Jakub Błaszczykowski's first-half volley in Poznan in front of more than 38,000 fans was enough to keep up Poland's winning run after November friendly defeats of Iceland and the Czech Republic and their qualifying-capping 2-1 win against the Republic of Ireland the previous month. In the second half Arkadiusz Milik almost doubled the lead, striking the post. Poland welcome Finland to Wroclaw on Saturday.