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This is an archive article published on August 11, 2010

Fresh starts for many teams in international friendlies

World champions Spain play away to Mexico with the central Americans dreaming of a first victory against them.

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Bruised egos,jubilant players and some new faces will put international soccer back in the spotlight a month after the end of the World Cup in a series of friendlies on Wednesday.

World champions Spain play away to Mexico with the central Americans dreaming of a first victory against them,while runners-up Netherlands travel to Ukraine where they will get the chance to test the water against one of the co-hosts of Euro 2012.

With qualification for that tournament beginning in September,these friendlies offer European teams the chance to test what shape they are in and try out some players who did not feature at the World Cup.

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France travel to Norway with a clean slate,with Laurent Blanc as their new manager and a squad featuring none of the players from their World Cup revolt,while England are bracing themselves for a backlash after their own South African flop.

I am expecting a mixed reaction. I’m sure there’ll be boos but we have to take it on the chin like men,England captain Steven Gerrard told a news conference before they host Hungary.

Argentina start life without Diego Maradona,with interim coach Sergio Batista in charge for the trip to Ireland. The hosts are waiting to see if coach Giovanni Trapattoni recovers in time from a stomach bug after spending the night in hospital.

World Cup third-placed team Germany travel to neighbours Denmark,while South Africa host Ghana at Johannesburg’s Soccer City,the stadium that held the World Cup final.

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