Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria was the catalyst as Gonzalo Higuain and Ever Banega scored the visitors&#39; goals before Lorenzo Insigne replied for the Azzurri. <img alt="Cristiano Ronaldo" src="http://images.mid-day.com/2013/aug/Cristiano-Ronaldo_1.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 497px;" /> Portugal&rsquo;s Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during their friendly tie vs Netherlands. Pic/AFP Dubbed the &ldquo;Pope Francis&rdquo; match, as it pitted the home of the new pontiff against the country he technically resides in, this was an eagerly-anticipated encounter. Although each side&rsquo;s top striker was missing &mdash; the injured Mario Balotelli sitting out for Italy &mdash; there was still much class on show. Portugal held In other games, Portugal and the Netherlands drew 1-1 on the Algarve, with a late Cristiano Ronaldo goal earning the home side a draw after Kevin Strootman had put the Dutch in front. Friendly results &gt; Switzerland 1 (Alves) Brazil 0 &gt;u00a0England 3 (Walcott, Welbeck, Lambert) Scotland 2 (Morrison, Miller) &gt;u00a0Belgium 0 France 0 &gt;u00a0Ecuador 0 Spain 2 (Negredo, Cazorla) &gt;u00a0Germany 3 (Gundogan, Mueller, Bender) Paraguay 3 (Nunez, Pittoni, Samudio)u00a0

Despite the absence of World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, Argentina still had too much for Italy on Wednesday, winning 2-1 in Rome.

Messi-less Argentina still beat Italy

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Messi-less Argentina still beat Italy

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