Italy and France in thrilling 0-0 draw

Italy drew 0-0 with France in a passionate and tough-tackling Euro 2008 qualifier last night, which dropped the world champions to third in Group B.

The repetition of last year's World Cup final was full of drama despite the lack of goals, with Filippo Inzaghi clipping the bar on half an hour.

Both sides had other good chances in an intense and noisy atmosphere at a sell-out San Siro where France coach Raymond Domenech was forced to watch the game from the stands because of a UEFA touchline ban.

France top the group with Scotland second after their 3-1 win over Lithuania and Italy a point behind in third.

The first half featured some tough challenges with Claude Makelele and Gennaro Gattuso booked.

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro had the first good chance when he shovelled the ball wide from Andrea Pirlo's corner before surprise France starter Nicolas Anelka scuffed an effort past the post from the edge of the box.

A lacklustre Alessandro Del Piero then slipped when shooting from a good position on the half hour and almost immediately Inzaghi, who started in place of injured striker Luca Toni, clipped the bar from close in.

France coach Domenech was also prevented from giving a half-time team talk because of the UEFA one-game ban, which he received for accusing Italy of bribing the referee of an Under-21 qualifier for the 2000 Olympics.

The start of the second half was just as frenetic with France keeper Mickael Landreau nervously tipping over Mauro Camoranesi's rasping drive and Buffon denying Anelka at his feet.

Thierry Henry was then booked for clipping Cannavaro's heels and the intensity of the first hour meant the remaining 30 minutes became scrappy with both sides visibly tired.

Scotland surged to a 3-1 victory over Lithuania at Hampden to stay in the hunt for a place at Euro 2008. Striker Kris Boyd headed them in front on the half hour, but Lithuania hit back with a controversial penalty leveller on the hour from captain Tomas Danilevicius.

Scotland went 2-1 ahead with a fierce angled shot by defender Stephen McManus at the far post in the 77th minute and substitute striker James McFadden came on to score a terrific third from 20 metres as he darted along the edge of the box.

A late goal by David Siradze earned Georgia a 1-1 draw with Ukraine.

Siradze, who came on as a substitute on the hour, struck following an 87th-minute corner.

"We have missed a great chance, it (victory) was almost in our hands," Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin told a news conference.

Midfielder Oleg Shelaev had given the visitors the lead following another corner in the ninth minute.

The result left Ukraine six points adrift of leaders France.