International round-up: Arsenal's Eduardo shines in Croatia comeback
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Louise Thomas
Editor
Eduardo returned to action for the first time since breaking his leg last February and created the winning goal as Croatia won 2-1 in a friendly against Romania in Bucharest. The striker has yet to play for Arsenal's first team since his horrific injury –he broke his fibula and dislocated his ankle in a tackle by Birmingham's Martin Taylor – but came off the bench for the last half-hour and set up Portsmouth's Niko Kranjcar for the decisive goal.
The Newcastle winger Jonas Gutierrez was the unlikely star of Argentina's 2-0 win over France. While Carlos Tevez sat on the bench, Gutierrez scored in the first half. Lionel Messi, Barcelona's in-form striker, was a more predictable scorer of the second goal against a French side that fielded a strike force of Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka.
Norway conjured a remarkable victory over Germany in Egil Olsen's first game back in charge. The former Wimbledon manager was reappointed after Norway failed to win a game in 2008. They had not beaten Germany in 73 years – at the 1936 Olympics – but Christian Grindheim's second-half finish from close range earned a 1-0 win in Dusseldorf. It was Germany's second consecutive home defeat after England won in Berlin in November.
Ukraine, another of England's World Cup qualifying opponents enjoyed a useful evening, winning 1-0 in Serbia. They are England's next competitive opponents at Wembley on April Fool's Day.
Didier Drogba played his first game for Ivory Coast in over a year and scored an injury-time equaliser against Turkey in Istanbul.
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