French folly boosts Ireland
The Republic of Ireland clung on to top spot in World Cup qualifying Group Four as France were held to a goalless draw by Switzerland.
Ireland were denied victory against Israel in Tel Aviv by an injury-time equaliser, but France were similarly frustrated as they failed to find a way past the Swiss at the Stade de France.
Ireland, Israel and France are still locked together, now on nine points, with Les Bleus travelling to Israel for another qualifier on Wednesday night.
Poland look set to fight England all the way for top spot in World Cup qualifying Group Six after drubbing Azerbaijan 8-0 in Warsaw.
They kept within a point of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men, who face the Azeris at St James’ Park on Wednesday, and possess superior goal difference.
On this evidence England’s task in midweek should not be too onerous and the Poles won at a canter with a hat-trick from Tomasz Frankowski, two for substitute Marek Saganowski and one each for Kamil Kosowski and Jacek Krzynowek. An early own goal from Aftandil Hadzhiev helped Poland on their way.
Holland held on to top spot in Group One with a 2-0 win over Romania in Bucharest, overcoming the loss of Arjen Robben to injury after just 21 minutes.
PSV Eindhoven veteran Phillip Cocu scored the first for the Dutch in the opening minute and Robben’s replacement Ryan Babel added a second five minutes later.
The Czech Republic moved up to second in the group as they overcame Finland 4-3 in an extraordinary match in Teplice.
Liverpool striker Milan Baros put the home side ahead in the seventh minute and Borussia Dortmund star Tomas Rosicky made it 2-0 after 33 minutes.
Veteran former Liverpool forward Jari Litmanen pulled one back for the Finns a minute into the second half but the two-goal cushion was restored by Jan Polak (58).
Finland did not give up though and pulled back to 3-3 with two goals in six minutes from Crystal Palace midfielder Aki Riihilahti and Charlton’s Jonatan Johansson, before Vratislav Lokvenc scored the winner three minutes from time.
Armenia moved above Andorra at the bottom of the group with a 2-1 win in Yerevan.
Arsenal forward Freddie Ljungberg grabbed two goals and Tottenham defender Erik Edman scored the other as Sweden cruised to a 3-0 away win over Bulgaria in Group Eight to stay top of their pool.
Croatia claimed a comfortable 4-0 win over Iceland to keep within two points of the Swedes with a game in hand. Rangers striker Dado Prso scored the last of his side’s goals in the final minute.
Bolton midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos scored Greece’s third as the European champions cut Group Two leaders Ukraine’s lead to three points by beating Georgia 3-1 in Tbilisi.
In the same group, Denmark saw off Kazakhstan 3-0 in Copenhagen, while Turkey beat Albania 2-0 in Istanbul with both goals coming in the first five minutes.
Belgium came back from the shock of conceding a first-minute goal to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-1 in Group Seven. Rangers midfielder Thomas Buffel scored the fourth for Belgium with Hamburg striker Emile Mpenza scoring two.
Slovakia moved level on points with Group Three leaders Portugal after a 2-1 win in Estonia, while Russia stayed within three points of the top two by beating Liechtenstein by the same score in Vaduz.
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