Riyadh: Argentina shrugged off the absence of Lionel Messi as their second-string team eased past Iraq 4-0, while Kylian Mbappe inspired a fightback from World Champions France as they rallied from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw with Iceland in different international friendlies played Thursday.
Argentina interim coach Lionel Scaloni used the match to blood a host of new talent with goalkeeper Sergio Romero, defender Ramiro Funes Mori and striker Paulo Dybala the only experienced players in the line-up.
Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a near-post header from a left wing cross by Marcos Acuna, before Roberto Pereyra grabbed the second in the 53rd minute when the Watford player finished off a smart one-two with Dybala.
Fiorentina defender German Pezzella headed the third goal from a corner past over-worked Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan with Franco Cervi breaking through the defence for the fourth goal in stoppage time. The La Albiceleste face traditional rivals Brazil, also in Saudi Arabia next Tuesday.
Elsewhere, at Guingamp, Mbappe cameo helped France to come from two goals down and avoid a shock Iceland defeat.
Birkir Bjarnason swept Iceland ahead from the edge of the area on 30 minutes, and Kari Arnason’s excellent second-half header doubled their lead at Stade du Roudourou.
But Mbappe, brought on as a substitute for the final half-hour, gave France a lifeline when his shot was saved and then inadvertently turned in by Iceland defender Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward levelled from the penalty spot in the 90th minute after Kolbeinn Sigthorsson handled at a corner to save the blushes.
The Nordic nation with a population of around 350,000 stunned the hosts in Brittany as Aston Villa midfielder Bjarnason beat Hugo Lloris with a low strike after Alfred Finnbogason stole the ball from Presnel Kimpembe.
The scoreline could have been different had Ousmane Dembele wasn’t denied an equaliser by a terrific block from Iceland goalkeeper Runar Alex Runarsson.
Arnason made it 2-0 with a superbly connected corner on 58 minutes, heading in via the underside of the bar, as Iceland were well on course for a first win since beating Kosovo 2-0 last October.
But Mbappe had some other ideas as the 19-year-old’s shot from tight angle was well saved by Runarsson before the rebound flew straight into the unwitting Eyjolfsson, who was helpless as the ball rolled over the line.
The teenager then snatched a draw in the final minute with a nerveless spot-kick, before a clumsy foul on the jet-heeled forward in stoppage time sparked a confrontation between both sets of players over by the touchline.
However, Paco Alcacer made his case for a regular place in the Spain team as the on-loan Borussia Dortmund forward struck twice in his country’s 4-1 rout of Wales at Cardiff Thursday.
The 25-year-old maintained his blistering club form as he netted twice in the first half to make it eight goals in 14 Spain appearances, while Sergio Ramos and Marc Bartra were also on target for the visitors. Burnley’s Sam Vokes got a late consolation for Wales.
