International roundup: Germany and Brazil lose as Ronaldo sets new mark

Germany suffered a 2-0 home loss to Colombia in a friendly on Tuesday in their latest setback less than a year before they host Euro 2024, while Senegal thumped Brazil 4-2 in Lisbon with Sadio Mané scoring twice.

Luis Díaz’s 54th-minute header and Juan Cuadrado’s penalty in the 82nd gave the visitors their first victory over the Germans, who were booed at the end. Germany, who have less than a year to build a battle-hardened team for the continental tournament, had needed two late goals to draw 3-3 with Ukraine last week before Friday’s 1-0 loss to Poland.

The four-time world champions have won just one of their last five matches since their shock World Cup group stage exit in December. They have also won only three of their last 11. “Obviously I am very disappointed that we could not apply what we had set out to do,” said their coach Hansi Flick. “There are things that we wanted to try but they backfired.”

Flick, who took over in 2021 and is under mounting pressure since the early World Cup elimination, said after the game at Schalke’s Veltins Arena his players were lacking in confidence. “What can I say? The arguments are not on our side at the moment. We have to analyse it, draw our lessons,” he said after three games without a win.

“This is a cycle that we need to break through. In September we have to bring a different performance. We will see a different team and then the results will start coming,” he said. “We are convinced we have a good team and good players.”

Former Liverpool forward Mané made it a night to remember for Senegal after West Ham midfielder Lucas Paquetá had put Brazil ahead in the 11th minute. Habib Diallo equalised for Senegal before an own goal from Marquinhos early in the second half gave