Tuesday’s international friendlies: Argentina vs Curaçao, Germany vs Belgium, Morocco vs Peru, Korea Republic vs Uruguay, Japan vs Colombia, Australia vs Ecuador, Armenia vs Cyprus, Saudi Arabia vs Bolivia, Uzbekistan vs Venezuela and IR Iran vs Kenya.
📰 Table Of Contents
Argentina vs Curaçao
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The party is set to continue in Argentina.
On Thursday night, after all the pre-match celebrations and ceremonies, Argentina beat Panama 2-0 in a friendly at Estadio Monumental.
Thiago Almada and, who else, Lionel Messi, with a trademark free-kick no less, on target.
La Albiceleste will continue to celebrate their third World Cup triumph here as they head north west to Santiago del Estero.
Curaçao will be looking to play the roll of party-poopers, as unlikely as that may be.
So, if Remko Bicentini’s side are going to feature at this summer’s Gold Cup, they’ll have to win two preliminary round ties in June.
Argentina are likely to cruise to victory at Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades?
Germany vs Belgium
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Having qualified as hosts, all Germany can do ahead of Euro 2024 is look impressive in these friendly matches.
On Saturday night, die Mannschaft beat Peru 2-0 in Mainz, thanks to Niclas Füllkrug’s first half brace.
Hansi Flick is under big pressure to win next summer’s home tournament, after Germany crashed out in the World Cup group stages for the second tournament in a row.
Belgium meanwhile began life under an Italian-German on Friday, claiming a statement win in Domenico Tedesco’s first game at the helm.
Romelu Lukaku bagged all three in a qualifying win over Sweden in Stockholm, leaving the Red Devils well-placed, even after just one game.
Germany have won all nine meetings with their neighbours in the last 41 years, with Belgium’s last victory in this fixture coming in 1954.
Will this friendly at RheinEnergieStadion in Köln continue those trends?
Morocco vs Peru
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After a famous victory over Brazil at the weekend, will Morocco’s great results continue as they head to Madrid?
On Saturday, goals from Sofiane Boufal and then Abdelhamid Sabiri saw the Atlas Lions beat the five-times World Champions 2-1 in Tangier.
This just continues the positivity surrounding Walid Regragui’s side right now, after they became Africa’s first-ever World Cup semi-finalists last December.
With next January’s AFCON in mind, Morocco have to be amongst the favourites to win that competition.
Peru meanwhile were beaten 2-0 by Germany in Mainz in a friendly over the weekend.
La Blanquirroja are looking to prepare for CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying, which kicks off in September with games against Paraguay and Brazil.
Backed by a partisan crowd, will Morocco win again at Cívitas Metropolitano, home of Atlético Madrid?
Korea Republic vs Uruguay
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After both were involved in friendly draws on Friday, will there be a winner in Seoul?
Korea Republic raced into a two goal lead against Colombia, Son Heung-min scoring both, only for los Cafeteros to battle back and earn a draw in Ulsan.
The Taegeuk Warriors reached the World Cup knockout stages on foreign soil for just the second time last year, before being smashed by Brazil.
So, under new manager Jürgen Klinsmann, they have to be amongst the favourites to win next January’s Asia Cup.
Uruguay meanwhile were in Tokyo on Friday, with Fede Valverde’s opener helping them to a 1-1 draw with Japan.
La Celeste missed out on a World Cup knockout stage place in Qatar thanks to their hosts, finishing below South Korea in Group H by virtue of goals scored.
Just 124 days ago, these two played out a dull goalless draw in Al Rayyan, but more excitement is expected at Sangam Stadium
Japan vs Colombia
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After earning a draw with Uruguay on Friday, will Japan claim a win over a South American powerhouse here?
Last time out, Takuma Nishimura’s late equaliser saw the Samurai Blue hold Uruguay to a 1-1 draw in Tokyo.
Hajime Moriyasu guided his nation to the World Cup knockout stages last year, hoping for more success going forward.
Japan’s World Cup qualifying campaign will commence in November before, next January, they’ll be hoping to win their fifth Asian Cup, having lost in the final last time round.
As for Colombia, this is the second match of their two-game trip to the Far East, drawing 2-2 with Korea Republic four days ago.
James Rodríguez, remember him, and Jorge Carrascal on target as they came from 2-0 down to draw in Ulsan.
Los Cafeteros missed out on a place in Qatar, so the pressure is on new boss Néstor Lorenzo to deliver 2026 qualification.
Their campaign begins in September with a very winnable home match against Venezuela.
In this Kirin Cup friendly at Yodoko Sakura Stadium, will Japan make home advantage count?
Australia vs Ecuador
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The second of two friendlies between these two this week, with Australian supporters hoping for a similar outcome.
On Friday night in Sydney, the Socceroos took an early lead through Jackson Irvine, only for Félix Torres to equalise shortly after.
Nevertheless, Awer Mabil restored Australia’s lead on the half hour mark, before teenaged wonder-kid Garang Kuol secured the win with his first international goal.
This just continued the positivity that exists around Graham Arnold’s team, after they reached the World Cup knockout stages back in December.
The Socceroos will begin their next qualification campaign in November, before flying back to Qatar for the Asia Cup in January.
As for Ecuador, having flown over 8,600 miles for this two-game friendly series, they will not want to leave empty handed.
La Tri also featured at the World Cup last year, with Félix Sánchez Bas’ side starting their new qualification cycle with a trip to world champions Argentina in September.
As they did four days ago, will Australia make home advantage count at Docklands Stadium?
Armenia vs Cyprus
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After both tasted defeat in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier, who will bounce back in Yerevan?
On Saturday, Armenia were beaten 2-1 by fierce rivals Türkiye at home, despite taking the lead through an early own goal.
This is not the start new manager Oleksandr Petrakov was dreaming of but, in a very tough group, the Mountaineers’ hopes of featuring at a first-ever major tournament seem slim.
Cyprus meanwhile were swatted aside 3-0 by Scotland at Hampden at the weekend.
They too have never featured at a tournament, actually winning just four of their last 27 competitive internationals.
When these two last met in 2017, Armenia won a five-goal thriller 3-2, with another home win expected at Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium.
Saudi Arabia vs Bolivia
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Can either of these two teams bounce back from friendly defeats on Friday?
Hosts Saudi Arabia were beaten 2-1 by Venezuela last time out, with Salem Al-Dawsari unable to spark a second half comeback.
The Green Falcons made history at the World Cup, beating eventual winners Argentina, but all that optimism has evaporated.
That’s largely due to the fact manager Hervé Renard looks set to leave to take over the French women’s national team Head Coach.
With World Cup qualifying kicking off in November, and then the Asia Cup getting underway in January, Saudi Arabia will want a morale-boosting win here.
Also in Jeddah on Friday, Bolivia were beaten 1-0 by Uzbekistan.
La Verde haven’t qualified for a World Cup since USA ‘94, with their last competitive win outside La Paz coming at Copa América 2015 against Ecuador.
Given that, a home win seems likely at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium.
Uzbekistan vs Venezuela
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After beating one South American struggler on Friday, can Uzbekistan repeat that feat here?
Four days ago, star man Eldor Shomurodov was the only scorer as his team beat Bolivia 1-0 in Jeddah.
Srečko Katanec’s side are using these friendlies to prepare for some big games to come, with World Cup qualifying kicking off in November, and the Asia Cup taking place next January.
Now that AFC has, potentially, nine World Cup spots, the White Wolves are hopeful of making their debut in 2026.
Venezuela meanwhile are the only CONMEBOL member to have never featured at a World Cup and, despite the fact up to seven of ten South American nations can qualify, they’re still a long shot to change that.
La Vinotinto did at least cause an upset in their Middle Eastern friendly on Friday, beating hosts Saudi Arabia 2-1, with both star strikers Josef Martínez and Salomón Rondón on target.
That was a dream start for new Head Coach Fernando Batista and provides optimism ahead of their qualifying campaign beginning away to Colombia in September.
Will there be a winner at King Abdullah Sports City?
IR Iran vs Kenya
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Will IR Iran make home advantage count in this friendly?
Last Thursday, Iran drew 1-1 with the Football Union of Russia in a friendly, with Mehdi Taremi equalising from the penalty spot.
Of course, it’s very controversial that this match even took place, with Russia have been banned from both FIFA and UEFA competitions following their invasion of Ukraine.
Team Melli themselves were in the headlines for geo-political reasons during the World Cup, at which they beat Wales, just the country’s third World Cup win ever.
Here, they face a Kenya team who were disqualified from entering Africa Cup of Nations qualification due to allegations of corruption and match-fixing.
The Harambee Stars are hoping to be eligible to feature in CAF World Cup qualification which kicks off next year.
This will be Kenya’s first international since November 2021, with the Iranian supporters inside Azadi Stadium likely to witness a home win.
