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Xabi Alonso struck once from open play and once from the penalty spot to give Spain a 2-1 win over Argentina in a friendly international.

The European champions took early control at a packed and boisterous Calderon stadium and Alonso put them in front on 16 minutes.

Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero could only parry David Silva's shot into the Real Madrid midfielder's path and he finished powerfully and high into the net from close range.

Spain almost doubled their lead on the half hour but defender Fabricio Coloccini somehow blocked David Villa's fierce drive on the line with Romero stranded.

Argentina looked much more dangerous in the second half and Lionel Messi equalised from the penalty spot in the 61st minute after the referee ruled substitute Raul Albiol had brought down Maxi Rodriguez.

A handball by defender Martin Demichelis in the area gifted Spain their winner and Alonso rifled home the spot kick with four minutes of regular time remaining.

Spain and Argentina have now met 12 times and have five wins each and two draws.

Italy and Netherlands shared a dull 0-0 friendly draw when home striker Giampaolo Pazzini had a goal ruled out for handball.

The substitute turned in Fabio Cannavaro's header with an outstretched arm eight minutes from time and the referee only gave a free kick after furious Dutch players asked him to consult his assistant.

Chances were limited with John Heitinga heading wide for the visitors midway through the second half just after Fabio Grosso had wasted a good opportunity for world champions Italy.

The two coaches fielded strong line-ups but would have learnt little as they plan for June's World Cup in South Africa.

"What I can't explain is the percentage of passes we misplaced in the first half. It was a bit better in the second, 0-0 is not great but we are satisfied," Italy coach Marcello Lippi told Rai television.

Home goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon picked up his 100th cap while Livorno midfielder Antonio Candreva impressed on his debut and Cagliari's Davide Biondini also made his first appearance.

Injured Dutch striker Robin van Persie was carried off in the 15th minute while Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder was ruled out before kickoff with a thigh problem.

An Italy fan ran on to the pitch early on with a T-shirt calling for Sampdoria's Antonio Cassano to be brought into the team having been continually overlooked by Lippi.

The game was played in the Abruzzo region as part of a fundraising drive to help victims of the earthquake which killed nearly 300 people there in April.

Italy host Sweden in another friendly in Cesena on Wednesday while the Dutch meet Paraguay.

A weakened Denmark side were held to a goalless draw by fellow World Cup qualifiers South Korea.

The stalemate showed both teams have work to do in front of goal before the finals in South Arica next year.

"It's a fine result. We created chances," said Denmark coach Morten Olsen. "But we didn't score, just like in our game against Hungary (last month)."

Denmark lost 1-0 at home to Hungary in their final World Cup qualifying group game last month.

In the 13th minute on Saturday, Denmark's Soren Rieks broke free on the right and crossed to midfielder Jakob Poulsen in the penalty area but goalkeeper Lee Woon Jae cleared the ball.

Ten minutes later South Korea's Chung-Yong Lee threaded a pass through the Danish defence to Ji-Sung Park on the edge of the area but he shot straight at keeper Thomas Sorensen.

"It's a shame we didn't score in the first half, but overall we played a good match," said Denmark's Rieks.

The Koreans did find the net in the 54th minute but Ki-Hyeon Seol's effort after a free kick was ruled offside by Swedish referee Martin Hansson.

Seven of the Denmark players that featured against Hungary were unavailable on Saturday due to injuries.

South Korea have another friendly on Wednesday against Serbia while Denmark meet the United States the same day.

World Cup qualifiers Switzerland lost an 11-match unbeaten record when they were beaten 1-0 at home by Norway in a drab, rain-soaked friendly.

Norway striker John Carew converted a penalty three minutes into the second half after Philipp Degen had fouled Morten Gamst Pedersen.

There was almost nothing else to entertain a sparse crowd at the Stade de Geneve.

It was only Switzerland's second defeat under coach Ottmar Hitzfeld who took over after their dismal European championship campaign last year and the first since their shock 2-1 home defeat by Luxembourg in a World Cup qualifier 14 months ago.

A Marek Hamsik penalty earned Slovakia a 1-0 victory over the United States in a warm-up for both teams for next year's World Cup finals.

Napoli midfielder Hamsik notched his eighth goal for the national team in the 26th minute after a foul on Manchester City's 19-year-old Vladimir Weiss.

"They (the US) were dangerous - it's not a coincidence that they are where they are," said Slovak coach Vladimir Weiss, Weiss's father.

Slovakia qualified for the finals for the first time by finishing top of European Group Three. They now play Chile in another friendly in Zilina on Tuesday.

The US reached the finals when they beat Honduras 3-2 last month.

Reuters