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Friendlies: Italy thrash hapless Germans; Iran hold off Costa Rica
FLORENCE/TEHRAN, Mar 1 (SW) - Germany's red kits quickly turned into red faces as Italy torched Die Mannschaft in a friendly on Wednesday night. Germany's fellow Group A side Costa Rica made a charge, but fell short away to Iran.
<b>Italy - Germany</b> 4-1
AC Milan striker Alberto Gilardino fired the Azzurri into the lead just four minutes in with a goal from spot on, and he then fed Luca Toni who delighted at scoring in front of his Fiorentina supporters at Artemio Franchi. That made it 2-0 after just seven minutes.
The match, for all intents and purposes, was over just before half-time when Daniele De Rossi hit a header into Jens Lehmann's goal in the 39th minute off of Mauro Camoranesi's cross.
Italy added a fourth for good measure in the 57th minute when Alessandro Del Piero hit a diving shot past Lehmann after a Camoranesi header pass, and Robert Huth scored a meaningless consolation for the Germans with about eight minutes to play.
<b>Iran - Costa Rica</b> 3-2
Germany's Group A rivals Costa Rica came on strong later in their match in Tehran, but an early onslaught by the Asians was enough to claim victory.
Bayern Munich's Ali Karimi opened the scoring just 10 minutes in and Iran captain Ali Daei doubled the lead six minutes later, converting a cross by Vahid Hashemian.
Hashemian, who plays for German side Hannover, made it 3-0 to home side in the 34th minute after Costa Rica goalkeeper Álvaro Mesen spilled a shot by Daei.
The Central Americans got a goal back just before halftime as Carlos Hernández with a shot from 20 yards, and Danny Fonseca put Costa Rica back into the game on the hour mark with a well-placed header. Iran, though, held on to snatch a victory.
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