LONDON - Three of the seven World Cup teams playing warmup matches Wednesday
came away with wins — France, Iran and Paraguay.
Italy and Switzerland had to settle for a 1-1 tie, while Trinidad and Tobago
lost to Slovenia 3-1 and Saudi Arabia was shut out by Turkey 1-0.
France beat Denmark 2-0 with Thierry Henry scoring in the 12th minute and
Sylvain Wiltord adding a second from the penalty spot in the 76th. Iran had to
overcome a two-goal deficit to beat Bosnia 5-2, while Paraguay defeated Georgia
1-0.
Henry scored his 32nd international goal, moving him into second place behind
Michel Platini on France's all-time scorers list. Wiltord now has 26 goals for
his country.
Henry missed other chances to score, but caused problems throughout for the
Denmark defense and left the field to a standing ovation. He was playing for the
first time since Arsenal lost to FC Barcelona in the Champions League final two
weeks ago.
France has one remaining exhibition against China in Saint-Etienne next
Wednesday, and travels to Germany the following day. The 1998 World Cup
champions open their World Cup campaign against Switzerland on June 13, and then
face South Korea and Togo in Group G.
Italy looked rusty against Switzerland despite the return of Francesco Totti,
who started his first game since breaking his leg in February.
Alberto Gilardino scored on Italy's first offensive opportunity in the 10th
minute, tapping in a cross from Fabio Grosso. Daniel Gygax tied it for
Switzerland with a long, rising shot in the 32nd.
Both teams made several substitutions in the second half and the level of
play dropped.
It was Italy's first match since routing Germany 4-1 in March. Switzerland
drew 1-1 with Ivory Coast on Saturday.
Switzerland, which beat Turkey in a playoff to qualify, is in Group G with
France, South Korea and Togo. Italy plays Ghana, the United States and the Czech
Republic in Group E.
Paraguay got a goal from Nelson Valdez in the 37th minute to beat Georgia in
Dormbirsh, Austria. The South American team is in Group B with England, Sweden
and Trinidad and Tobago.
In Tehran, Zvjezdan Misimovic and Sergej Barbarez scored for Bosnia in the
first 15 minutes, but Mehrzad Madanchi, Rahman Rezai and Vahid Hashemian
answered with three goals in the first half, and Reza Enayati added another in
the 89th before Rasoul Khatibi scored in injury time.
Iran will face Mexico, Angola and Portugal in Group D at the World Cup.
Milivoj Novakovic scored a hat trick in Slovenia's victory over Trinidad and
Tobago in Ljubljana. Christopher Birch scored for the visitors in the 26th
minute, trapping a pass on the edge of the penalty area and sending in a low
shot.
Novakovic scored his first goal in the fourth minute and added another in the
15th. He completed his hat trick in the 77th by pouncing on a fumbled save and
slotting it into an empty net.
Trinidad qualified by beating Bahrain in a playoff and was drawn into Group B
with England, Sweden and Paraguay.
Turkey got its goal from Necati Ates in the 61st minute to beat Saudi Arabia,
which plays in Group H with Spain, Ukraine and Tunisia.
Also, Estonia and New Zealand tied 1-1 and Singapore beat Malaysia 5-4 on
penalties after a 0-0 tie in matches that didn't involve any World Cup
participants.
