In the months leading up to Euro 2012 a
limited number of international matches were played with the Philippines excelling
in the rankings after defeating India 2-0, Tajikistan 2-1 and finally
overcoming Palestine 4-3 in Nepal to finish 3rd in the AFC Challenge
Cup, but as June approached, the world sprang into action with preparatory
matches for the Euro 2012 participants and World Cup qualifiers for other FIFA
members. In European friendly matches the Netherlands suffered a shock 2-1 loss
to Bulgaria and Germany were sunk 5-3 away to the Swiss while Italy were routed
3-0 by Russia in Zurich. Portugal were held to a goalless draw at home to
Macedonia and later stunned 3-1 by non qualifiers Turkey who went on to conquer
co hosts Ukraine 2-0 in Germany while the Czech Republic lost 2-1 to the
visiting Magyars. Latvia
went on to beat Finland on
penalties and win the Baltic Cup after having belittled Lithuania 5-0 in Estonia.
In World Cup qualifiers Iran picked up 3
vital points with a stoppage-time goal in Uzbekistan while in South America champions
Uruguay were brought down to earth with a 1-1 draw at home to Venezuela. Argentina eased past Ecuador
4-0 and Colombia scored a
single goal to win in Peru
while Brazil lost a friendly
2-0 to Mexico in the U.S.A. New
Zealand may have beaten Honduras 1-0 in an American friendly, but their narrow
1-0 and 2-1 wins over Fiji and Papua New Guinea in the Oceania Nations Cup/World
Cup qualifiers held on the Solomon Islands were far less impressive while Tahiti
defeated 9-man New Caledonia 4-3 before hammering Vanuatu - who had already
lost 5-2 to New Caledonia - 4-1 to top their group.
In Africa, Sudan
celebrated a 2-0 home triumph over Zambia,
and Central African Republic
enjoyed the same success over Botswana
while Cape Verde lost 2-1 in
Sierra Leone and Mali lost to a single goal in Benin. Ethiopia picked up a dazzling 1-1 draw in South Africa and Uganda
achieved the same result in Angola.