Lionel Messi’s stunning free-kick helped Argentina give their World Cup qualification hopes a timely boost with a 3-0 win over Colombia.

La Albiceleste went into the game at San Juan sixth in the South American qualifying table, with the top four qualifying automatically for Russia 2018 and the fifth-placed side entering a play-off against the top Oceania side.

However, goals from Messi, Lucas Pratto and Angel di Maria helped Argentina end a four-match winless run and leapfrog their opponents into fifth.

European heavyweights Italy and Germany had to settle for a goalless draw from their friendly at the San Siro in Milan.

The Azzurri, who romped to a 4-0 win over Liechtenstein in their World Cup qualifier on Saturday, handed a start to veteran Inter forward Eder in a three-man attack while Germany gave a debut to Wolfsburg youngster Yannick Gerhardt.

Neither side, whose Euro 2016 quarter-final in Bordeaux was eventually settled after a lengthy penalty shoot-out, could make a breakthrough.

There were also no goals between France and Ivory Coast at the Stade Felix Bollaert-Delelis in Lens.

At Wembley, Spain recovered from two goals down late on to secure a 2-2 draw against England.

England, in Gareth Southgate’s final match as interim manager, took the lead through a penalty by Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana after nine minutes.

A bullet header from Leicester frontman Jamie Vardy just three minutes following the restart put the Three Lions in control.

However, Spain pulled a goal back through Celta Vigo forward Iago Aspas with a minute to go, and then snatched a draw when Real Madrid playmaker Isco slotted in an angled drive deep into stoppage time.

World Cup hosts Russia beat Romania 1-0 with a stoppage-time goal from Magomed Ozdoev in the first international game to be played in Chechnya.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Croatia defeated Northern Ireland 3-0 at Windsor Park in Belfast.