Slovenia's Branko Ilic (20) challenges Stern John of Trinidad and Tobago during their friendly match in Celje, Slovenia yesterday. Slovenia won 3-1. - REUTERS
LONDON (AP):
ONLY THREE of the seven World Cup qualifiers playing warm-up matches yesterday came away with wins - France, Iran and Paraguay.
Italy and Switzerland had to settle for a 1-1 draw, while Trinidad and Tobago lost to Slovenia 3-1 and Saudi Arabia was shut out by Turkey 1-0.
France beat Denmark 2-0 with Thierry Henry scoring in the 12th minute and Sylvain Wiltord adding a second from the penalty spot in the 76th. Iran had to overturn a two-goal deficit to beat Bosnia 5-2, while Paraguay edged Georgia 1-0.
Henry scored his 32nd international goal, moving him into second place behind Michel Platini on France's all-time scorers list. Wiltord now has 26 goals for his country.
Henry missed other chances to score, but caused problems throughout for the Denmark defence and left the field to a standing ovation. He was playing for the first time since Arsenal lost to FC Barcelona in the Champions League final two weeks ago.
"We were troubled at times by the Danish team," France coach Raymond Domenech said. "But we managed to overcome that because we showed good attacking flair and discipline. Denmark are a good team but we managed to impose our style."
France have one remaining friendly against China in Saint-Etienne next week Wednesday and travel to Germany the following day. The 1998 World Cup champions open their World Cup campaign against Switzerland on June 13 and then face South Korea and Togo in Group G.
RUSTY
Italy looked rusty against Switzerland despite the return of Francesco Totti, who started his first game since breaking his leg in February.
"Totti improved in the second half, when the pace of the game dropped," Italy coach Marcello Lippi said. "The pace was very quick at the start and it was only normal that he suffered some. The most important thing was that he played 90 minutes."
Alberto Gilardino scored on Italy's first offensive opportunity in the 10th minute, tapping in a cross from Fabio Grosso. Daniel Gygax equalised for Switzerland with a long, rising shot in the 32nd.
Both teams made several substitutions in the second half and the level of play dropped.
It was Italy's first match since routing Germany 4-1 in March. Switzerland drew 1-1 with Ivory Coast on Saturday.
Switzerland, which beat Turkey in a play-off to qualify, are in Group G with France, South Korea and Togo. Italy play Ghana, the United States and the Czech Republic in Group E.
Paraguay got a goal from Nelson Valdez in the 37th minute to beat Georgia 1-0 in Dormbirsh, Austria. The South American team is in Group B with England, Sweden and Trinidad and Tobago.
In Tehran, Iran overturned a two-goal deficit to beat Bosnia. Zvjezdan Misimovic and Sergej Barbarez scored for the visitors in the first 15 minutes, but Mehrzad Madanchi, Rahman Rezai and Vahid Hashemian answered with three goals in the first half, and Reza Enayati added another in the 89th before Rasoul Khatibi scored in injury time.
Iran will face Mexico, Angola and Portugal in Group D at the World Cup.
HAT-TRICK
Milivoj Novakovic scored a hat-trick in Slovenia's 3-1 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in Ljubljana. Christopher Birch scored for the visitors in the 26th minute, trapping a pass on the edge of the penalty area and sending in a low shot.
Novakovic scored his first goal in the fourth minute and added another in the 15th. He completed his hat-trick in the 77th by pouncing on a fumbled save and slotting it into an empty net.
Trinidad qualified by beating Bahrain in a play-off and was drawn into Group B with England, Sweden and Paraguay.
Turkey got its goal from Necati Ates in the 61st minute to beat Saudi Arabia, which plays in Group H with Spain, Ukraine and Tunisia.
Also, Estonia and New Zealand drew 1-1 and Singapore beat Malaysia 5-4 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in matches that didn't involve any World Cup participants.
