Ghana thrashed by Netherlands

Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt sent Holland on its way to a crushing 4-1 friendly victory over disappointing Ghana in Rotterdam.

Kuyt struck the game's opener on the half hour and second-half efforts from Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder and Robin van Persie saw the hosts ease home.

Asamoah Gyan netted for the Africans.

Kuyt stabbed the ball home from close range after Ghana keeper Richard Kingson had parried the initial shot from van Persie.

Coach Bert van Marwijk made three half-time substitutions and the Dutch struggled to make the game safe before Van der Vaart finished off a one-two with Mark van Bommel on 73 minutes.

Ghana pulled one back through Gyan before a long-range effort from Sneijder and a late penalty from Van Persie wrapped up a convincing Dutch win.

Portugal put its embarrassing draw with Cape Verde behind it as it cruised to a 3-1 victory over 10-man Cameroon on Monday night.

Raul Meireles scored twice - either side of a red card for Cameroon's star man Samuel Eto'o - before Pierre Webo's strike put Cameroon back in contention, only for Nani to seal the win nine minutes from time.

Looking to make up for its goalless draw with Cape Verde last week, Portugal got off the mark in the 32nd minute when Meireles turned in Simao Sabrosa's cross.

Moments later, Eto'o earned an early shower and Cameroon looked lost.

Meireles got his second a minute into the second half with a fine shot into the top right-hand corner from a tight angle.

However, Cameroon got back in it when Webo headed home Benoit Assou-Ekotto's cross 20 minutes from time.

Mohamadou Idrissou had a chance to level moments later, but instead it was Nani who sealed victory for Portugal, firing home a cross from former Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.

Finally, Switzerland's preparations for the World Cup took a knock as it suffered a shock defeat to Costa Rica in Sion.

Winston Parks, who plays his club football in Romania with FC Timisoara, scored the only goal of the game in the 57th minute.

Ottmar Hitzfeld's Switzerland is in Group H for the tournament in South Africa alongside European champions Spain, Chile and Honduras.