Ballack injured in easy German win

STAND-IN strikers Kevin Kuranyi and Mario Gomez led Germany to a 3-1 win over Switzerland in a friendly international last night, but there was bad news for Chelsea as Michael Ballack limped off injured a minute before the break.

Ballack is uncertain how long he will be sidelined after straining his right thigh.

Kuranyi celebrated his recall from a 15-month exile by opening the scoring in the eighth minute, heading in on the rebound after a Michael Ballack header had been saved.

Gomez marked his Germany debut with a goal in the 30th minute, heading a Clemens Fritz cross past Diego Benaglio, and Torsten Frings made it 3-0 in the 66th with a free kick that drifted in at the far post.

The Swiss pulled one back five minutes later through Marco Streller, who nipped between two defenders to poke a shot past Jens Lehmann, but there was never any doubt about a German victory.

The Republic of Ireland’s other Euro 2008 Group D opponents the Czech Republic, enjoyed a 2-0 win away to Belgium. Jan Koller (6) and Marek Kulic (74) were the goal scorers in King Boudwijn Stadium, Brussels.

In Paris, a first half goal by Javier Saviola earned Argentina a clinical 1-0 victory over France at the Stade de France. Argentina played their punchy, inventive football throughout to give Alfio Basile his first win in his second spell as national team coach. Barcelona forward Saviola, who had a pretty average spell when he was playing in Ligue 1 for Monaco in 2004/05, struck the winner in the 15th minute following a typical South American move.

The Albiceleste, knocked out of last year’s World Cup by hosts Germany in the quarter-finals, never gave Les Bleus the chance to come back despite Franck Ribery’s efforts in midfield. The match, played in front of a record 79,862 attendance, was the first between the two teams since France beat Argentina 2-0 at the Parc des Princes in 1986.

Four Dutch goals in the second half made up for a poor first half as the Netherlands scored a comfortable 4-1 win over Russia. Ryan Babel opened the scoring with a goal in the 68th minute with fellow substitute Wesley Sneijder doubling the lead two minutes later.

Vladimir Bistrov scored the best goal of the night to give the visitors some hope but Joris Mathijsen added a third with a header after 79 minutes before Rafael van der Vaart converted a penalty to make it 4-1 two minutes before time.

Marco van Basten was missing a complete team through injury and improvised, going against the Dutch nature by starting without wingers and missing the creativity to pierce the well-organised Russian defence.

Romania warmed up for their vital Euro 2008 qualifier in Holland next month with a 2-0 victory over Moldova in an international friendly in Bucharest. Ionut Mazilu scored the opening goal after 76 minutes with Adrian Mutu sealing the win two minutes from time.

A goal in either half for Watford striker Tamas Priskin earned Hungary a 2-0 victory over Latvia, while Israel were held to a 1-1 draw on home soil by Ukraine.