Germany, Portugal get big wins in World Cup warmups

London, May 28: Germany and Portugal cruised to big wins in world cup warmups, while the Netherlands and

France both won 1-0. Germany beat lowly Luxembourg 7-0, and Portugal beat Cape Verde islands 4-1. The Netherlands beat visiting Cameroon in steady rain, while France beat fellow world cup qualifier Mexico.

In other games involving world cup-bound teams, Ivory Coast drew with 1-1 Switzerland, and Trinidad and Tobago lost 2-1 to Wales.

Paraguay drew 1-1 at Denmark, and Serbia-Montenegro was held to the same score by Uruguay.

In yesterday’s warmups for the June 9-July 9 tournament in Germany, it was: Spain vs. Russia, and Colombia vs Romania.

Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski each scored twice to lead world cup host Germany to victory in Freiburg, Germany. Torsten Frings scored a first-half penalty before substitute Oliver Neuville notched another two in injury time.

Germany captain Michael Ballack, who injured his left ankle in practice two days ago, stayed at the team's training base in Geneva, Switzerland. He was replaced by Tim Borowksi, one of 17 players used by coach Juergen Klinsmann.

"It was important to see how we would play after hard training, when the players' legs are tired. We tried to have some fun and score some goals," Klinsmann said.

Pedro Pauleta scored a hat trick for the home team in Evora, Portugal. He opened the scoring in the first minute, sprinting through the defence to meet a long pass from Maniche and sidefoot the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.

After an own goal had made it 1-1, the Paris saint-German striker scored with a 37th-minute glancing header from Luis Figo's corner. Midfielder Armando Petit got on the scoresheet in the 59th and, with seven minutes left, Pauleta completed the scoring with a curling free kick from just outside the area.

Pauleta, Portugal's all-time top scorer and highest scorer in the French league last season, took his international tally to 46 goals. It was his second hat trick for Portugal.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy scored to give the Netherlands victory in Rotterdam. The Dutch dominated the game on a slippery pitch, helped by Arsenal forward Robin Van Persie.

The home team went ahead in the 23rd minute after defender Joris Mathijsen spotted Andre Ooijer free in the center.

A 40-meter (yard) pass gave the PSV player time to flick the ball in the path of Manchester United striker Van Nistelrooy, who beat goalkeeper Idriss Kameni from close range.

"He got his chance, he played well and he took his chance," captain and goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar said.

Florent Malouda scored for France as Zinedine Zidane played his 100th game for France and last at the Stade de France national stadium. He was given an ovation as he left the field, but his performance was unusually slack.

Mexico had plenty of possession but failed to threaten until captain Rafael Marquez's 36th-minute header went just over. With seconds remaining until halftime, Djibril Cisse crossed from the right and Malouda finished powerfully.

Zidane led the French team out to rapturous applause and chants of "Zizou, Zizou," but boos rang out from the crowd when coach Raymond Domenech's name was announced over the loudspeaker.

In Basel, Switzerland, midfielder Emerse Fae scored two minutes after coming on as a substitute to give Ivory Coast a 1-1 draw. Fae's strike from outside the area equalized a first-half goal by Switzerland's Tranquillo Barnetta.

The second half was marked by a string of substitutions, with neither side able to create clear chances.

Trinidad and Tobago, which will be making its World Cup debut in Germany, fell to a 2-1 defeat to Wales, which got two goals by Robert Earnshaw.

Trinidad's record scorer Stern John gave his side the lead in the 32nd minute, poking in a free kick from Christopher Birchall past Wales goalkeeper Jason Brown. It was John's 65th international goal.

Earnshaw Leveled for Wales in the 38th and scored the winner in the 87th.

Paraguay, which unlike Denmark has qualified for the June 9-July 9 World Cup, took the led after 20 minutes on a goal by Jose Cardozo. Denmark leveled the score six minutes after halftime when Jon Dahl Tomasson scored from a narrow angle from a pass by substitute Daniel Jensen.

Serbia-Montenegro drew 1-1 against visiting in its last warmup before the start of the world cup. Dejan Stankovic put the home side ahead in the 17th minute with a deflected shot from the left side of the area, but Uruguay scored in the 82nd when forward Diego Godin got to a free kick from Nicolas Olivera.

Bureau Report