With France, Colombia and Croatia all qualified for this summer’s World Cup, the three teams were in friendly action in the USA on Thursday. Luis Díaz’s Colombia faced Bayern teammate Josip Stanišić and Croatia, while Michael Olise and Dayot Upamecano featured for France against Brazil.
Olise assist in France win
Olise and Upamecano are both key members of France’s squad as they look to reach a third straight final at the World Cup. Didier Deschamps’ team were in Foxborough, Massachusetts, to face Brazil and Vinícius Júnior, whose Real Madrid side will face Bayern in April’s Champions League quarter-finals. Olise was his usual impressive self and produced a lovely assist with the outside of his boot for Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitiké to make it 2-0 in the 65th minute before he was replaced in added time. Upamecano was shown a red card in the 55th minute as last man against Wesley.
Kylian Mbappé put Les Bleus ahead in the 32nd minute. After Ekitiké doubled the lead, Bremer got a goal back for Brazil with 72 minutes gone. The nations will remain in the USA for their second game of this break. Brazil face Croatia in Orlando on Tuesday evening, while France take on Colombia in Maryland on Sunday.
Croatia comeback against Colombia
Bayern teammates Stanišić and Díaz were rivals in their Stateside clash. Lucho took his usual position on the left wing and played for 71 minutes in Orlando alongside ex-Munich man James Rodríguez. Stanišić played the second half and came up against his clubmate.
Jhon Arias had put Los Cafeteros ahead after just two minutes, but Croatia turned the game around with two Bundesliga-based players as Hamburg’s Luka Vušković levelled four minutes later and Freiburg’s Igor Matanović hit the decisive goal before half-time in the 2-1 win.
See who’s on international duty this week:
Bayern players called up for their national teams
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