Neymar, Messi shine as Dutch slump again

PARIS, Nov 13 (AFP): Barcelona teammates Neymar and Lionel Messi were both on target as Brazil and Argentina claimed international friendly wins Wednesday but struggling Netherlands slumped to another defeat.

In Istanbul, Brazil defeated Turkey 4-0 as coach Dunga celebrated a fifth successive win since taking the hotseat following his country's traumatic World Cup. The match, played out in front of a packed Sukru Saracoglu, also saw Turkey suffer a sixth match without a victory.

Neymar opened the scoring after 19 minutes when he picked up a cross from Fernandinho before dribbling the ball into the area and stabbing it past a static Suleyman Demirel in the Turkish goal.

Five minutes later it was 2-0 when defender Suat Kaya put through his own goal under pressure from Luiz Adriano who was trying to reach a cross from Danilo.

Argentina have now won three and lost one of their four friendly games since their 1-0 loss to Germany in the World Cup final.

It was a first defeat in five games for Croatia, who have won their first four Euro 2016 qualifiers, but defeat was mitigated by the fact coach Niko Kovac had left his entire first XI back in Zagreb to prepare for Sunday's encounter with Group H rivals Italy in Milan. Messi's goal was the 45th of his international career.

In Amsterdam, the Netherlands lost 3-2 to Mexico, four days out from a crucial Euro 2016 clash against Latvia which could lead to the resignation of coach Guus Hiddink should the Dutch lose again.

Wednesday's loss, which saw Carlos Vela score twice for Mexico in his first appearance in three years, was Holland's fourth in five games since the World Cup. In other friendlies, Belgium beat Iceland 3-2 while Estonia edged Norway 1-0.