England, Scotland romp to victories

England and Scotland took another step towards the Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland with victories over Estonia and Ukraine respectively yesterday.

England beat Estonia 3-0 in a one-sided Group E qualifier at Wembley Stadium as the Scots surged to a 3-1 win that kept them top of qualifying Group B.

However, Germany went one better later on in the evening as they became the first team to qualify for the finals thanks to a 0-0 draw in their Group D match against Ireland at Croke Park.

The point was enough to secure the visitors their place with three games to spare.

Ireland's point from the match will do little to improve their chances of qualifying, however. They are still five points behind the Czech Republic and eight short of table-toppers Germany who both have games in hand.

Germany had the edge in terms of possession but failed to capitalise against an Irish side that went into the second half fighting, chalking up several shots on goal that often looked more threatening than those of their opponents.

Striker Eduardo da Silva scored in the 52nd minute to give Croatia a 1-0 win over Israel. They stayed top of Group E on 26 points and they will qualify on Wednesday if England win or draw at third-placed Russia.

England's victory yesterday was the fifth successive one with a 3-0 scoreline in the group.

England dominated after going ahead in the 11th minute when Shaun Wright-Phillips fired an angled shot through goalkeeper Mart Poom's legs.

Wayne Rooney scored his first competitive goal for England since Euro 2004 when he made it 2-0 after 32 minutes and a minute later England were 3-0 up when Taavi Rahn scored an own goal.

The only concern for England on an otherwise satisfying afternoon was an injury to left-back Ashley Cole, who was carried off on a stretcher with a heavily bandaged left leg early in the second half.

England travel to Russia for Wednesday's pivotal match of their campaign where another victory will seal their place in the finals.

Scotland took a 2-0 lead after just 10 minutes with goals from Kenny Miller and Lee McCulloch before Andriy Shevchenko pulled one back in the 24th minute to set up a fraught end to the first half.

After Shevchenko's strike thumped into the top of the net from close range, Ukraine missed a fine chance to equalise on 31 minutes when Volodymyr Yezersky miscued a volley eight metres out following a lob into the box by Andriy Vornin.

The second half was a tense affair until McFadden cracked home Scotland's third in the 68th minute.

Scotland top the standings with 24 points from 10 matches. Ukraine are fourth behind Italy and France and with their hopes of qualifying now extinguished.

Italy sweat, France cruise

In Genoa, an Andrea Pirlo free-kick and Fabio Grosso's late strike gave lacklustre Italy a 2-0 win over Georgia.

Milan midfielder Pirlo scored just before half-time when his effort from the centre of the pitch wrong-footed visiting keeper Georgi Lomaia and flew into the middle of the net.

The world champions wasted several other opportunities in the first half and only made sure of victory against a lively Georgia when full-back Grosso scooped the ball home after Luca Toni's lay-off.

Italy remain second in Group B on 23 points, one below leaders Scotland and one above France with just a trip to Glasgow and a home match with the Faroes to come next month.

France blasted the Faroe Islands 6-0 despite arriving on the North Atlantic islands just hours before the match after their flight was delayed a day by fog.

Nicolas Anelka opened the scoring for the visitors, connecting with a cross from Franck Ribery to beat goalkeeper Jakup Mikkelsen after seven minutes.

A minute later, Thierry Henry won the ball and punched a low shot to the far corner past Mikkelsen to score his 41st goal in 95 appearances for France, tying a record set by Michel Platini.

Substitute Karim Benzema headed home a free-kick from Ribery before Jerome Rothen scored France's fourth on 64 minutes from a direct free-kick.

Benzema scored his second in the 79th minute after a pass from Henry, and Hatem Ben Arfa scored France's sixth in the third minute of injury time.

After last month's shock 1-0 home defeat by Scotland, World Cup runners-up France will qualify for next year's finals if they win their last two qualifiers against Lithuania and Ukraine.