Brazil strolled to a 3-0 win over Andorra yesterday in a friendly which brought together the world champions and one of football's tiniest nations.
The game was the biggest moment in Andorra's brief football history, but despite its romantic appeal, the encounter was of dubious value to Brazil, who did not seem interested in topping their biggest score of 10-1 against Bolivia, recorded in 1949, and were content to pass, move and evade some tough Andorran tackling.
The match, Brazil's last before their World Cup opener against Scotland in a week's time, was dictated by Brazil and played at the pace of a training session.
Andorra held out for 24 minutes before Giovanni gave Brazil the lead. Then Rivaldo made it two, while Cafu grabbed the third in 53 minutes.
Brazil's previous two performances have been unconvincing and there was still enough in the game to have left coach Mario Zagallo worried. Ronaldo looked off-colour and his striking partner Bebeto, who replaced the injured and homebound Romario, was again subdued.
qSaudi Arabia produced a solid performance against a patchy Mexican side yesterday to force a 0-0 draw. For the Saudis, the result put the team back on track after last week's 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Norway interrupted a five-match spell in which the team had not lost and had conceded just two goals.
q SPAIN had little difficulty in beating Northern Ireland 4-1 in Santander last night before a crowd of 15,000, the goals coming from Juan Pizzi and Fernando Morientes, with two each. The Irish strike came after 44 minutes from Gerry Taggart.
q Croatia were far from convincing in defeating fellow finalists Iran 2-0 in Rijeka. Goals from Robert Prosinecki and Davor Suker gave the home team victory.
While Croatia were never at their best, the result at least will have restored their morale after last Friday's 2-1 home defeat by Slovakia.
q COLOMBIA'S build-up has not been smooth and last night in Brussels they were beaten 2-0 by Belgium, with two first-half strikes by Danny Boffin and Marc Wilmots.
Now Colombia must travel to France with only modest ambitions after having failed to win any of their last eight matches.
q Thomas Haessler, a vital part of Germany's World Cup squad, has signed a three-year contract with Borussia Dortmund.
The player joins the 1997 European Cup winners from Karlsruhe, who were relegated from the German first division last season.
qBobby Gould, the Wales manager, last night hailed Craig Bellamy's first full international performance after the youngster scored the first and made the second goal in last night's 3-0 win against Malta in Valletta.
''I had a special feeling about Bellamy in this match. I felt the boy could explode from midfield - and that's just what he did,'' said Gould.
''He took the first goal so well and then created a brilliant second for John Hartson. Watching a boy come into the side and doing things like that makes a manager very happy.
''I had a lot of youngsters out there and I could not be more pleased with them.''
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