France stunned by Ivory Coast in World Cup warm-up; Spain, Iraq play draw

Amad Diallo scored a late winner as Ivory Coast stunned France 2-1 in a World Cup warm-up match in Nantes on Thursday.

France captain Kylian Mbappe had been hoping to break Olivier Giroud’s record of 57 goals for Les Bleus in what was his 97th appearance for his country but had a fruitless evening and was replaced by head coach Didier Deschamps at half-time, leaving him stuck on 56 goals in second place.

Rayan Cherki had given France the lead in the last minute of the first half with a powerful low strike after some neat footwork in the box.

But Guela Doue, the French-born older brother of France international Desire Doue, equalised on 53 minutes.

And Manchester United winger Diallo, who came on as a second half substitute, gave the Elephants victory with an instinctive finish six minutes from time.

France, who are one of the World Cup favourites, will play another friendly against Northern Ireland in Lille on Monday before beginning their bid for a third world title on June 16 against Senegal in East Rutherford.

A largely second-string Spain were held to a surprise 1-1 draw by Iraq, preparing for their first World Cup appearance since 1986, in A Coruna.

The European champions opened the scoring through Ferran Torres, their captain for the night, on 16 minutes.

But a cross from German-born left-back Merchas Doski surprised goalkeeper Joan Garcia just 11 minutes later.

Spain dominated possession and Torres hit the bar five minutes before the break but Spain, whose coach Luis de la Fuente gave seven players who are not part of his World Cup squad their international debuts on the night, could not find a winner.

Mexico wrap up World Cup preparations with thumping Serbia win

Co-hosts Mexico wrapped up their World Cup preparations in style with a 5-1 thumping of a youthful Serbia side on Thursday in Toluca.

Mexico, who launch the tournament on June 11 against South Africa at the Azteca stadium, had a shock in conceding after 19 minutes when Petar Stanic struck.

But Javier Aguirre’s team hit back through Johan Vasquez and a Stefan Bukinac own goal to lead 2-1 at the break.

Raul Jimenez, another own goal and Luis Chavez put gloss on the scoreline and raised home hopes that Aguirre’s side could go deep at the finals.

They also play South Korea and Czech Republic in Group A.

“The result is a double-edged sword,” the Mexican coach said.

“Confidence must be measured -- overconfidence is as harmful as a lack of it.”

Meanwhile, Iran will head off to their World Cup base this weekend with a spring in their step after beating Mali 2-0 in a friendly in Turkey on Thursday, even if some uncertainty still clouds their participation in the tournament.

Goals from midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi and right back Ramin Rezaeian either side of halftime gave Team Melli a record of three wins and a single loss in their four friendlies this year in the Turkish resort city of Antalya.

The friendlies are the only competitive football the Iran-based players have played since the domestic league was suspended after US and Israeli air strikes on Iran in late February that triggered a regional war.

The squad have received visas for Mexico, officials confirmed this week, and will leave Turkey on Saturday for their tournament base in the border city of Tijuana.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to host the squad after being told that the US authorities did not want Iran staying in their original base in Arizona throughout the June 11 to July 19 tournament.

Agencies