International round-up

Portugal 0-1 Germany (Euro 2012 Group B, Lviv)

Where else to begin but with Germany's impressive 1-0 win in their opening game of Euro 2012 against Portugal? Having been drawn in the ‘group of death' along with previous tournament winners Holland and Denmark, the first game was always going to be extremely important. Many people have tipped Germany to win the competition this year, but they were made to work by a disciplined Portuguese outfit. The best chance of the first half fell to Real Madrid defender Pepe, whose close range strike from a corner struck the under-side of the bar but did not cross the line. The second period was also a tight and tense affair, but the deadlock was finally broken on 72 minutes when Mario Gomez, selected ahead of Miroslav Klose, planted a superb header into the corner. Manuel Neuer saved well from FC Porto's Silvestre Varela to preserve the result and Germany now go into Wednesday's crunch game with Holland with the best possible preparation. 1899 Hoffenheim's Tim Wiese witnessed the action from the substitute's bench.

USA 3-1 Antigua and Barbuda

On the back of three friendly games against Scotland (4-1), Brazil (1-5) and Canada (0-0), The USA began their preparation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup with a qualifier against Antigua and Barbuda. And it was a successful day for Jürgen Klinsmann's men in Tampa. Carlos Bocanegra scored early on before Fulham striker Clint Dempsey made it 2-0 from the penalty spot just before half-time. The away side pulled one back through Peter Byers, but Herculez Gomez restored the two-goal lead mid-way through the second period. Hoffenheim's Fabian Johnson and Daniel Williams missed out through calf and shoulder problems respectively. In the early hours of Wednesday morning (04.00 CET) the Americans take on Guatemala in the second of their two qualifiers.

Zambia 1-0 Ghana

Things did not go so well for Ghana as they were narrowly defeated by recently crowned African Champions Zambia in their World Cup qualifier. Hoffenheim's Isaac Vorsah returned to the starting eleven after missing the 7-0 rout of Lesotho, but he could not prevent Christopher Katongo giving Zambia the three points. The Black Stars now sit in third place in Group D, a point behind Sudan.