Serbia stumble at home | The Daily Star
12:00 AM, June 06, 2018 / LAST MODIFIED: 05:47 AM, June 06, 2018

Serbia stumble at home

Morocco ease past Slovaks

Lukewarm Serbia stumbled to a 1-0 home defeat by Chile in a World Cup warm-up on Monday while Morocco were far more impressive in a 2-1 win over Slovakia in the other match involving a finalist.

Serbia, who face Brazil, Costa Rica and Switzerland in their group, looked vulnerable every time the South American champions -- who surprisingly failed to qualify for the World Cup -- came forward.

Guillermo Maripan headed in an 89th-winner for Chile, a fair reward for their more adventurous display.

Morocco, who face Iran, Portugal and Spain in World Cup Group B, produced plenty of slick passing against Slovakia as they extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches.

Morocco's Ayoub Kaabi and Younes Belhanda scored in a 10-minute second-half spell to give the World Cup-bound side a convincing 2-1 win .

The North Africans dominated the first half and nearly went ahead when Hakim Ziyech hit the post from long range.

Slovakia, who missed out on the tournament in Russia, went ahead in the 59th minute when Jans Gregus rifled home a low shot from 25 metres.

But substitute Kaabi headed Morocco level five minutes later and Belhanda turned the game around when he chested the ball down and fired home with a low shot from the edge of the area.

Egypt gambled on Mohamed Salah returning to fitness by naming him in their final squad, while Mohamed Elneny, the midfielder who has not played since April after suffering an ankle injury in action for Arsenal, was also included.

Salah is still recovering from the shoulder ligament injury suffered in last month's Champions League final when he went off early in the game in Kiev as Liverpool lost to Real Madrid.

Egypt are hoping he will recover within three weeks, which could leave him fit to play in their final group match against Saudi Arabia on June 25.

Egypt's squad also includes veteran goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who will be 45-years-old when his side play Uruguay. Should he feature, El Hadary would become the oldest player to feature in the World Cup.


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