Test match Saturday

Croatia win European Championship dress rehearsal in Portugal 2:1!

The cheers of the Croatians ...(Bild: AFP)

Six days before the start of the European Football Championship in Germany, Croatia have won their top-class dress rehearsal. The Croatians defeated Portugal 2:1 (1:0) in Oeiras on Saturday. Belgium (against Luxembourg), Hungary (against Israel) and Serbia (in Sweden) each celebrated 3:0 victories.

While Portugal's superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was only on the substitutes' bench, veteran Luka Modric was in the starting eleven for the Croatians and gave them the early lead. The 38-year-old scored from the penalty spot after Vitinha had fouled Mateo Kovacic (8'). After Diogo Jota equalized (48'), Ante Budimir (56') gave the visitors a successful test for the tough start to the EURO. Croatia start against Spain next Saturday, while Portugal take on the Czech Republic in their first match on June 18.

Denmark prevailed against Norway, who did not qualify for the European Championship, thanks to goals from Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg (12), Jannik Vestergaard (21) and Yussuf Poulsen (90). Star striker Erling Haaland had scored for Norway to make it 1-2 (72'). Belgium bid farewell to Germany with a relaxed victory in Brussels. Romelu Lukaku gave the hosts a 2-0 lead (42nd/penalty, 57th), Leandro Trossard scored the final goal (81st).

Varga Hungary's outstanding player
Barnabas Varga of Ferencvaros was the outstanding player in Hungary's commanding 3-0 (3-0) win over Israel in Debrecen. The top scorer in the Hungarian championship set up the opening goal by Roland Sallai (11th) and scored the other two goals (19th, 22nd).

Serbia win 3:0 in Sweden
Serbia, who lost 2-1 to the ÖFB team in Vienna last Tuesday, won just as comfortably in Solna. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (18), Aleksandar Mitrovic (60) and Dusan Tadic (70) scored in a 3-0 (1-0) win over Sweden.

Slovenia drew 1:1 (1:1) with Bulgaria. Sturm Graz legionnaire Tomi Horvat came on for the home side in the first half, while his club colleague Jon Gorenc Stankovic was substituted in the 82nd minute.

The test match results:

Switzerland - Austria 1:1 (1:1)
Goals: Widmer (26.) and Baumgartner (5.)

Portugal - Croatia 1:2 (0:1)
Goals: Diogo Jota (48.) and Modric (8./penalty), Budimir (56.)

Hungary - Israel 3:0 (3:0)
Goals: Sallai (11.), Varga (19., 22.)

Sweden - Serbia 0:3 (0:1)
Goals: Milinkovic-Savic (18.), Mitrovic (60.), Dusan Tadic (70.)

Denmark - Norway 3:1 (2:0)
Goals: Höjbjerg (12.), Vestergaard (21.), Poulsen (90.) and Haaland (72.) respectively

Belgium - Luxembourg 3:0 (1:0)
Goals: Lukaku (42nd/penalty, 57th), Trossard (81st)

Slovenia - Bulgaria 1:1 (1:1)

Latvia 0:2 (0:0) - Lithuania

Moldova - Cyprus 3:2 (1:0)

Estonia - Faroe Islands 4:1 (1:1)