Argentina slam five past Canada

Impressive England score 3-1 win over Mexico

Winger Angel Di Maria, striker Carlos Tevez and substitute Sergio Aguero also scored in front of a 55,000 crowd at the Monumental stadium against a Canada side who were overwhelmed at times by the speed and precision of Argentina's attacks.

Diego Maradona's side, featuring reserve centre backs and without the rested Lionel Messi, went ahea

d after quarter of an hour with a right-footed free kick from Rodriguez.
Just past the half-hour mark he scored again, finishing off a lightning break that demonstrated the strength of Maradona's team on the counter-attack.

The ball came out of defence to Gonzalo Higuain, who laid it off to Carlos Tevez breaking through the middle. Faced with two defenders Tevez passed it to his right where Rodriguez hit a low first-time shot under goalkeeper Patrick Onstad.

Di Maria made it 3-0 shortly before the interval when he surprised the Canada defence by curling the ball inside the far post with the outside of his left foot.
The hard-working Tevez also got on the scoresheet just past the hour from a lay-off in the box by Higuain. Sergio Aguero replaced Tevez and had only been on the pitch a minute when he took a long pass out to the left, cut inside, wrong-footed a defender and scored the fifth.

England win
England enjoyed a triumphant home send-off as well when an unfamiliar team packed with reserves outmuscled a skilful Mexico side 3-1 in their last home friendly at Wembley on Monday.

Manager Fabio Capello may have learned little that he did not know before a contest in which England recovered from a ragged first half showing to ensure victory.
Goals from defender Ledley King, with a well-placed header, and striker Peter Crouch, with what appeared to be his right arm, put England 2-0 ahead before striker Guillermo Franco pulled one back from close range three minutes into first half added time.
In the second period England right-back Glen Johnson cut in and beat five defenders before scoring with a left-foot drive that effectively settled the outcome after just 48 minutes.

Meanwhile, a lacklustre Portugal were held to a disappointing 0-0 home draw by 117th-ranked Cape Verde.In Johannesburg, World Cup hosts South Africa stretched their unbeaten run to nine games since the return of coach Carlos Alberto Parreira with a 1-1 draw against Bulgaria.