International friendlies

Last updated : 26 May 2006 By Reggie Holdsworth

Stewart Downing started for an England B team against Belarus in Reading, as the second string lost out 2-1.

Downing was instrumental in Englands goal, curling in a wicked free-kick which Michael Owen headed onto the bar. From the rebound Jermaine Jenas pounced to give England a first half lead.

The lead lasted until early in the second half when substitute Robert Green miss-kicked a goal-kick. As the Norwich keeper laid in agony on the floor Kutuzov rolled the ball into the net for the equaliser.

Teenage sensation Theo Walcott was introduced after 60 minutes, but there was no fairytale debut for him as Kornilenko scored the winner for Belarus with 10 minutes remaining.

Downing was replaced after 79 minutes and will hope that he did enough to earn himself a chance in Germany next month.

Mark Viduka captained the Socceroos to a 1-0 win over European Champions Greece. as the Aussie's warmed up for their World Cup campaign. Viduka played for an hour in the Melbourne Cricket Ground, in front of over 95,000 fans.

Mark Schwarzer did not feature in the game.