By FRANCO PANIZO
The international fixture date was in full swing this weekend, but one game grabbed headlines for all the wrong reasons.
In Brazil's 2-0 victory over Scotland at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, Neymar was on the receiving end of racial abuse. Just before Neymar scored his second goal of the game on a penalty kick, a banana was thrown onto the field. Neymar told reporters after the game that he had been racially abused by spectators in the match, a claim that coincides with that of teammate Lucas Leiva.
England was on the end of good news this weekend, as the Three Lions easily disposed of Wales, 2-0. Frank Lampard and Darren Bent scored in the opening 14 minutes, setting the tone for a smooth England win in Group G of Euro 2012 qualifying.
One result U.S. national team fans were likely surprised by was Mexico's 3-1 win against Paraguay. In a game that saw Rafael Marquez receive his 100th cap, Mexico jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first half through a Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez brace and Andres Guardado goal. Cristian Riveros got Paraguay's consolation goal in the second half.
Here are the results from Saturday and Sunday's international matches:
SATURDAY
EURO CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING
Group A
Germany 4-0 Kazakhstan
Group B
Armenia 0-0 Russia
Andorra 0-1 Slovakia
Ireland 2-1 Macedonia
Group D
Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-1 Romania
Albania 1-0 Belarus
Group F
Georgia 1-0 Croatia
Israel 2-1 Latvia
Malta 0-1 Greece
Group G
Wales 0-2 England
Bulgaria 0-0 Switzerland
Group H
Cyprus 0-0 Iceland
Norway 1-1 Denmark
AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS QUALIFYING
Malawi 1-0 Togo
Tanzania 2-1 Central African Republic
Kenya 2-1 Angola
Rwanda 3-1 Burundi
Chad 0-1 Botswana
Guinea-Bissau 0-1 Uganda
Cape Verde Islands 4-2 Liberia
Senegal 1-0 Cameroon
South Africa 1-0 Egypt
Burkina Faso 4-0 Namibia
Mali 1-0 Zimbabwe
FRIENDLIES
Colombia 2-0 Ecuador
Portugal 1-1 Chile
Mexico 3-1 Paraguay
United States 1-1 Argentina
SUNDAY
AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS QUALIFYING
Madagascar 1-1 Guinea
Mozambique 0-2 Zambia
Congo DR 3-0 Mauritius
Congo 0-3 Ghana
Niger 3-1 Sierra Leone
Sudan 3-0 Swaziland
Ivory Coast 2-1 Benin
Nigera 4-0 Ethiopia
Algeria 1-0 Morocco
FRIENDLY
Scotland 0-2 Brazil
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What do you think of these friendlies? How do you feel about Neymar's racial abuse? Surprised Mexico beat Paraguay so easily?
Share your thoughts below.
