La Plata: Substitute Lionel Messi scored his 38th goal for Argentina as they breezed past Slovenia 2-0 in their final World Cup warm-up on Saturday.

Goals from Ricardo Alvarez and Messi ensured a winning send-off for the home side at La Plata, north of Buenos Aires, before they head to Brazil.

Messi, his country’s second highest scorer after Gabriel Batistuta, had not found the net in an international match since a 5-2 qualifying win over Paraguay in Asuncion in September.

Argentina’s captain began the match on the bench along with other key players like Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria, with coach Alejandro Sabella fearful of his squad being caught up in the spate of injuries affecting other World Cup finalists.

In the 76th minute Di Maria lobbed the ball from the edge of the box to the left where Aguero headed it down to Messi, who had come on for Alvarez in the 57th, and he dinked it between two defenders and the goalkeeper.

“Now the hour of truth has come, the friendlies are over and we're going to Brazil full of desire,” Messi said.

Villa’s brace vs El Salvador

David Villa struck twice to extend his record goal tally for Spain to 58 as the champions eased to a 2-0 win over El Salvador on Saturday in their final warm-up game.

The Atletico Madrid striker netted a header in the 60th minute and added the clincher in the 87th minute, producing his 57th and 58th career goals for the Spanish national side.

England held by Honduras

A full-strength England team failed to break down a stubborn Honduras side reduced to 10 men for the last 20 minutes as they drew 0-0 in their last warm-up match in Miami before flying off to Brazil.

England striker Daniel Sturridge had the best chance of the game after 22 minutes but his weak left-foot shot missed the far post and he was guilty of wasting two other good opportunities.

The only good news was that winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be fit after making good progress with his knee injury, manager Roy Hodgson said.

“Everyone is fit. Oxlade-Chamberlain is making good progress. I think he’ll make the tournament without a shadow of a doubt,” Hodgson said.

Lukaku hobbles off

A late Dries Mertens goal gave Belgium a 1-0 victory over Tunisia in their final World Cup warm-up friendly on Saturday, ensuring they go to Brazil on a high note after a match temporarily halted by hail.

The home side dominated possession, but for much of the encounter they barely tested Tunisia’s keeper and had only a few tame shots and a couple of missed half-chances even after the visitors had a man sent off with almost half an hour to play.

Only in the 89th minute did substitute Nacer Chadli find Mertens in space in the penalty area and he calmly stroked it in with his right foot.

One note of concern was that striker Romelu Lukaku, who only came on for the last half hour, hobbled off in injury time.

Jozy ends goal drought

Jozy Altidore ended his goal drought to score twice as the United States completed their Cup preparations with a 2-1 win over Nigeria.

Altidore had not scored since December for either his English Premier League club Sunderland or the national team but managed a goal in each half to send the US to Brazil on the back of three successive friendly victories.