Portugal have thrown away a two-goal lead in a confidence denting 2-2 World Cup warm-up with Tunisia, while France have impressed 2-0 over Ireland.
Andre Silva and Joao Mario sent Portugal ahead in Braga as Fernando Santos’s team came out flying on Monday, even though talismanic captain Cristiano Ronaldo is yet to join them after Champions League final duty with Real Madrid.
However Anice Badri pulled a goal back for the African side, in Group G with England, Belgium and Panama, before Fakhreddine Ben Youssef completed the comeback.
The Euro 2016 winners were caught out by Tunisia’s speedy counter-attacks, as their Group B opponents Spain, Morocco and Iran will happily note.
“The result (I wanted) was not this, it was to win,” said Santos.
“Results are important and a draw is never a good result, it will never be.
“We didn’t play well in the second half, we allowed Tunisia to play. We could have killed the game and then it happened (the equaliser).”
Iran beat Turkey 2-1 in Istanbul thanks to a brace from Everton striker Cenk Tosun, with the visitors not looking ready for the tournament yet, netting a late consolation from Ashkan Dejagah’s penalty.
On this showing Carlos Queiroz’s side will find it extremely hard to progress from a group containing 2010 World Cup champions, Spain.
In Paris Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud opened the scoring on his third bite of the cherry, after Colin Doyle saved his header from a corner and then an initial follow-up attempt.
The Ireland goalkeeper let himself down for the second goal, punching Nabil Fakir’s shot into the net.
Didier Deschamps side outclassed their opponents in all areas, showing why they head into Russia as a favourite and issuing a warning to Group C rivals Peru, Denmark and Australia.
“We showed a lot of character, the desire to impose our game on them, we had a lot of fun tonight,” said Giroud, who equalled Zinedine Zidane’s total of 31 goals to become France’s joint fourth top scorer.
Ahead of him are Thierry Henry (51), Michel Platini (41) and David Trezeguet (34), although Antoine Griezmann looks likely to start ahead of him at the World Cup.
Mario Balotelli struck on his return to Italy duty after nearly four years as his former Manchester City coach debuted at the helm of the Azzurri, starting a new era after failing to reach Russia.
Italy beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 in St Gallen, Switzerland, with Andrea Belotti doubling the four-time world champions lead before Yahya Al-Shehri pulled back a consolation goal for the Group A side.
South Korea downed Honduras 2-0 in Daegu.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung Min scored on the hour and debutant Moon Seon Min doubled the lead in the 73rd minute.
South Korea face Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bolivia and Senegal in further tune-ups before heading to Russia in a group including reigning champions Germany.
Nigeria were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo in Port Harcourt, Bursaspor defender William Troost-Ekong opening the scoring with his first international goal.
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