Löw: Boateng to play against Gibraltar

On the eve of Germany’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Gibraltar in Faro, Portugal, head coach Joachim Löw has said FCB centre-back Jérôme Boateng will definitely play. “Roman Weidenfeller will start tomorrow, as will Jérôme Boateng,” Löw announced on Friday. The coach rested Boateng for Germany’s 2-1 friendly defeat to the USA in Cologne last Wednesday, but the defender will now join team captain Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Götze in Saturday’s matchday squad. Löw does not believe the world champions will suffer from lack of motivation against minnows Gibraltar. “The positive tension won’t be as high as for a World Cup match. But we still have to make sure the players are fired up and motivated to score a goal or two,” the 55-year-old said.

Bernat victorious with Spain

Juan Bernat played the full 90 minutes in his national colours on Thursday and ran out a friendly international winner as Spain overcame Costa Rica 2-1 in Leon. Paco Alcacer (8) and Cesc Fabregas (30) turned the game round for the dominant home team after Costa Rica had taken a fifth-minute lead through Johan Venegas.