By JOHN BOSCHINI
They may be playing meaningless friendlies, but the defending World and European champions are stuck in a run of form unbecoming of the top-ranked team in the world.
After trailing 2-0, Spain scored twice in the final 10 minutes to salvage a 2-2 away draw with Costa Rica in a match in which much of the first-team saw action. Manchester City standout David Silva scored in the 83rd minute to cut the deficit to 2-1 before David Villa completed the comeback with a headed goal in stoppage time.
The goals canceled out first-half strikes from Randall Brenes and Joel Campbell. The draw follows up a 1-0 loss to England at Wembley on Saturday and continues a trend of Spain under-performing in friendlies after last summer's World Cup with losses to Argentina, Portugal and Italy.
Elsewhere in international soccer:
ARGENTINA COMES BACK ON COLOMBIA
Argentina has been struggling in the early stages of CONEMBOL World Cup qualifying, but second-half goals from Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero gave the South American giants a vital victory against Colombia. Dorlan Pabon put the Colombians up just before halftime before Argentina, which is up to second in the qualifying table with seven points from three games, mounted its comeback.
URUGUAY TOPS ITALY IN FRIENDLY
Uruguay continued to show why many consider them one of the best teams in the world with a 1-0 victory over Italy in Rome. Sebastian Fernandez scored within the first five minutes for the understrength Uruguay side, and Italy was unable to find an equalizer despite having 20 shots. Uruguay is unbeaten in 2011 and have skyrocketed to fourth in the FIFA Rankings.
GERMANY ROUTS NETHERLANDS
Germany was thoroughly dominant throughout a 3-0 shellacking of the Netherlands in a friendly matchup of top-five teams. Thomas Mueller, Miroslav Klose and Mesut Ozil secured the goals for the Germans. The victory wraps up a stellar 2011 for Joachim Low’s side that included a perfect qualifying campaign for EURO 2012.
CANADA FINISHES OFF QUALIFYING WITH BLOWOUT
Canada wrapped up advancement into the next round of CONCACAF qualifying with a comfortable 4-0 victory over St. Kitts and Nevis during which Dwayne De Rosario scored his 19th international goal to pull even for Canada's all-time lead.
Group winners Panama, El Salvador and Guatemala cruised in their final games while Haiti and Trinidad & Tobago regained some pride with largely symbolic victories.
CHINA ELIMINATED FROM WC QUALIFYING
The world's most populous nation, China, saw its faint hopes for qualifying for its first World Cup since 2002 extinguished despite a 4-0 victory over Singapore. Australia, on the other hand, is already through to the next round along with Iraq and Iran.
Here's the scoreboard for all of Tuesday's international results:
CONCACAF WC QUALIFYING
Group A
El Salvador 4, Suriname 0
Group B
Trinidad & Tobago 2, Guyana 0
Group C
Panama 3, Dominica 0
Group D
Canada 4, St. Kitts and Nevis 0
Group E
Guatemala 4, Grenada 1
Belize 2, St. Vincent and Grenadines 0
Group F
Haiti 2, Antigua and Barbuda 1
Curaco 6, US Virgin Islands 1
CONEMBOL WC QUALIFYING
Argentina 2, Colombia 1
Ecuador 2, Peru 0
Chile 2, Paraguay 0
Venezuela 1, Bolivia 0
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES
Macedonia 0, Albania 0
Slovenia 2, United States 3
Ukraine 2, Austria 1
Denmark 2, Finland 1
Switzerland 1, Luxembourg 0
Romania 3, Greece 1
Poland 2, Hungary 1
Germany 3, The Netherlands 0
Uruguay 1, Italy 0
England 1, Sweden 0
France 0, Belgium 0
Costa Rica 2, Spain 2
AFC WC QUALIFYING
Group A
China 4, Singapore 0
Iraq 3, Jordan 1
Group B
Lebanon 2, South Korea 1
Kuwait 2, United Arab Emirates 1
Group C
Uzbekistan 3, Tajikistan 0
Group D
Australia 1, Thailand 0
Saudi Arabia 0, Oman 0
Group E
Iran 4, Indonesia 1
Qatar 0, Bahrain 0
CAF WC QUALIFYING
Madagascar 2, Equatorial Guinea 1
Kenya 4, Seychelles 0
Chad 1, Tanzania 0
Burundi 2, Lesotho 1
Rwanda 3, Eritrea 1
Congo 1, Sao Tome e Principe 1
Congo 5, Swaziland 1
Togo 1, Guinea-Bissau 0
Mozambique 4, Comoros Islands 1
Namibia 4, Djibouti 1
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What did you think of yesterday's results? Are you reading anything into Spain's recent struggles? Do you think Uruguay will be a challenger in Brazil 2014?
Share your thoughts below.
