A total of 15 Bayern players represented their countries in Wednesday's international friendlies, with a couple of internal duels to boot, including Daniel van Buyten versus Franck Ribéry, and Xherdan Shaqiri versus Dante and Luiz Gustavo. In one of the evening's surprise results, Shaq and the Swiss posted a marquee victory over mighty Brazil. fcbayern.de reviews the action.
The meeting in Basel between Switzerland and Brazil finished with a morale-boosting success for Ottmar Hitzfeld's men. Shaqiri returned to his former stamping ground and started the match, as did Dante and Gustavo for the South Americans, who fell behind and ultimately lost due to a Dani Alves own goal after 48 minutes.
Goalless between Belgium and France
The second Bayern versus Bayern clash of the night also saw Van Buyten and Ribéry start for Belgium and France respectively, although it was a relatively dour affair in Brussels and the game finished goalless. Van Buyten covered the first 77 minutes, with the lively Ribéry completing the match.
Croatia suffered a shock defeat to Scotland in their last World Cup qualifier, and Mario Mandzukic and company remain below their best for now if a scrappy 3-2 victory over tiny Liechtenstein is anything to go by. Eduardo (21) and Rebic (67) scored for the East Europeans, but Christen (31) and Polverino (77) equalised for the minnows. Eduardo spared Croatian blushes with the winning goal four minutes from time.
Austrians fall to Greeks
In Salzburg, Austria suffered a dent to their confidence prior to meeting Germany at the Allianz Arena on 6 September when David Alaba and company lost 2-0 to Greece. Mitroglou scored once in each half for the EURO 2004 winners, with Alaba substituted after 74 minutes.
A late Cristiano Ronaldo goal in Faro robbed the Netherlands and Arjen Robben of a prestige victory away to Portugal. Kevin Strootman fired Louis van Gaal's side in front after 17 minutes, but Ronaldo levelled three minutes from time. Robben played the entire match.
Ninety minutes for Martinez
In the first of the far-flung matches involving FCB men, Claudio Pizarro and his Peru team-mates played out a goalless draw with Korea Republic in front of a 36,021 crowd in Suwon. Pizza captained his team and played from start to finish in the meeting with the powerful Asians, who are already sure of a berth at next summer's World Cup in Brazil.
Over in South America, Javi Martinez and Thiago won 2-0 against Ecuador with world and European champions Spain. Negredo and Santi Cazorla scored either side of half-time in Guayaquil, with Martinez playing the full 90 minutes and Thiago coming on at half-time.
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