England, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Portugal earned big wins in World Cup warm-ups on Saturday, six days before the start of the tournament.
Peter Crouch led England with three goals and Michael Owen added another in the team’s 6-0 win over Jamaica.
The Czechs got two goals from Jan Koller in a 3-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago, who have also qualified for the World Cup.
Alexander Frei and Marco Streller scored two goals each to lead Switzerland over China 4-1.
Portugal beat Luxembourg by getting two goals from Simao Sabrosa and one from Luis Figo.
Also, Poland beat Croatia 1-0 with Euzebiusz Smolarek heading in the lone goal. Both of those teams have also qualified for the World Cup, which opens on Friday in Munich.
Later Saturday, Spain hosted Egypt.
At Old Trafford, Owen scored his first goal in 2006 in the 32nd minute, and Crouch completed his first hat-trick for England when he took Owen’s cross from the edge of the box in the 89th — six minutes after sending a penalty kick over the bar.
”Jamaica maybe aren’t the best team in the world, but six goals and a clean sheet — you should be happy,” said England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who led the team at home for the last time. ”It was a good game and I hope the fans liked it. I’m sure they did.”
Frank Lampard also scored, while Jamaica’s Jermaine Taylor contributed with an own-goal.
Owen’s goal was his 36th in 77 appearances, and his first since he broke his foot on December 31. Saturday’s game was only his fourth this year and the first where he played the full 90 minutes.
”We got 90 minutes out of him and I think he played much better today than the last time he played,” Eriksson said. ”That was maybe the answer I wanted. I wanted to see him going into tackles, holding the ball up and doing some sprints, and that’s good news.”
England play Sweden, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago in group B at the World Cup.
Koller, the Czech Republic’s all-time leading scorer, scored his 41st and 42nd international goals, both in the first half. Pavel Nedved added the other at the match in Prague.
Koller returned to the national team on Tuesday against Costa Rica after missing almost the entire season due to a knee injury. ”I was very satisfied with Jan Koller,” Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner said. ”His play is exactly what we need. I feel very good about him.”
It was Trinidad’s third straight defeat after losses to Wales and Slovenia. The Czech Republic, who play in group E with Italy, the United States and Ghana, beat Saudi Arabia and Costa Rica in their warm-ups.
In Zurich, Frei tapped in Raphael Wicky’s pass from close range in the 40th minute, and Streller doubled the lead just after half-time.
Frei then scored from the penalty spot two minutes later — his 25th goal in 45 matches — after Ludovic Magnin was fouled in the box. Streller added the fourth in the 73rd. China substitute Dong Fangzhuo scored a late consolation goal for the visitors.
Smolarek scored in the 54th minute in Wolfsburg, but Croatia dominated much of the match.
Poland goalkeeper Artur Boruc spilled a 21st-minute free kick by Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar and scrambled to punch the rebound out of play. Croatia’s Darijo Srna then drew a foul in the 43rd, but put the ensuing free kick on to the crossbar.
Poland will play in group A along with hosts Germany, Costa Rica and Ecuador. Croatia face Brazil, Japan and Australia in group F.
Simao scored his first goal in the 46th minute off a rebound after Helder Postiga’s shot was stopped by Luxembourg goalkeeper Jonathan Joubert. He added another in the 72nd when Alphonse Leweck tripped Figo in the box to earn Portugal a penalty.
Figo later slipped in a third in the 85th in Metz, France.
Portugal are in group D at the World Cup with Mexico, Iran and Angola. — Sapa-AP