16 Aug 2012

Spain have scratchy win over Puerto Rico; Australia lose to Scotland

4:58 pm on 16 August 2012

World and European football champions Spain missed a glut of scoring chances but still completed a 2-1 victory over lowly Puerto Rico in their international friendly.

With 2014 World Cup qualifying games beginning next month, Australia are still seaching for momentum after suffering a 3-1 loss to Scotland in Edinburgh.

In other matches Lionel Messi scored and missed a penalty in Argentina's 3-1 win in Germany while Belgium stunned Netherlands 4-2.

France had a dull start under their new coach drawing nil all with Uruguay while former England coach Fabio Capello's first game in charge of Russia ended in a 1-1 draw with Ivory Coast.