A first-half goal by Javier Saviola earned Argentina a clinical 1-0 victory over France in their friendly international at the Stade de France last evening. Barcelona's Saviola scored the only goal of the game in the 15th minute following a beautiful move he started himself.
World Cup finalists France, who had not played Argentina since a 2-0 victory over the Albiceleste in 1986, proved too clumsy in front of goal.
Juventus striker David Trezeguet, who was raised in Argentina, had France's clearest chance shortly before the interval but was denied by goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri.
Stand-in strikers Kevin Kuranyi and Mario Gomez led Germany to a 3-1 win over Switzerland. Kuranyi celebrated his recall from a 15-month exile by opening the scoring in the eighth minute, heading in on the rebound after a Michael Ballack header had been saved.
Gomez marked his Germany debut with a goal in the 30th minute, heading a Clemens Fritz cross past Diego Benaglio, and Torsten Frings made it 3-0 in the 66th with a free kick that drifted in at the far post.
The Swiss pulled one back five minutes later through Marco Streller, who nipped between two defenders to poke a shot past Jens Lehmann, but there was never any doubt about a German victory in the 49th meeting between the two old rivals.
With Miroslav Klose injured and Lukas Podolski suspended, Joachim Loew had to name an all-new strike partnership, and the combination of Kuranyi and Gomez did not disappoint.
That will be encouraging with a view to the Euro qualifier away to Czech Republic in March, when Klose will be suspended.
Four goals in the second half made up for a poor first half as the Netherlands scored a comfortable 4-1 win over Russia. Ryan Babel opened the scoring with a goal in the 68th minute with fellow substitute Wesley Sneijder doubling the lead two minutes later. Vladimir Bistrov scored the best goal of the night to give the visitors some hope, but Joris Mathijsen added a third with a header after 79 minutes before Rafael van der Vaart converted a penalty to finish things two minutes before time.
Coach Marco van Basten was missing a complete team through injury and improvised, going against the Dutch nature by starting without wingers and missing the early creativity to pierce the well-organised Russian defence.
