Holders Spain kicked off their Euro 2016 title defence in style after a cheeky Sergio Ramos penalty set them up for a 5-1 victory over Macedonia in their opening Group C qualifier last night.

Looking to bounce back from their 2014 World Cup debacle in Brazil, Spain had too much quality for the 76th-ranked Macedonians as Paco Alcacer, Sergio Busquets, David Silva and Pedro also scored in La Roja’s biggest win since they beat Tahiti 10-0 at last year’s Confederations Cup.

Ramos’s dinked spot kick down the middle came in the 15th minute and Alcacer volleyed home from close range two minutes later before Macedonia pulled a goal back with a 28th-minute penalty by Agim Ibraimi.

Busquets struck with a deflected effort in first-half added time, Silva made it 4-1 five minutes after the break and after numerous chances, including a Cesc Fabregas effort that struck the frame of the goal, Pedro scored the fifth in stoppage time.

Danny Welbeck’s shin made the difference as England won 2-0 away to Switzerland in an evenly-balanced match, giving new Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic a losing start.

Welbeck met Raheem Sterling’s low cross in his stride and the ball flew into the net off his shin after Wayne Rooney broke up a Swiss move in midfield in the 59th minute.

Welbeck then made England’s opening Group E game safe when he produced the finishing touch to a counter-attack as the Swiss pressed for an equaliser.

It was Switzerland’s first home defeat in a competitive international since they lost to the same opponents four years ago in the Euro 2012 qualifiers.

England’s first goal came shortly after goalkeeper Joe Hart made a superb save to keep out Haris Seferovic’s half-volley following one of the few fluid Swiss moves of the game.

Switzerland started with eight of the team who lost 1-0 to Argentina in the World Cup round of 16, their last match under Petkovic’s predecessor Ottmar Hitzfeld.

Russia were helped by two own goals as they began their Group G qualifying campaign with a 4-0 drubbing of Liechtenstein at the Arena Khimki.

The first own goal came after four minutes, Sergei Ignashevich’s freekick from long range taking a big deflection off Martin Buechel.

Wayward finishing

Russia then had plenty of opportunities to extend their lead but were let down by wayward finishing by Alexander Kokorin and Denis Cheryshev.

The home team enjoyed their second slice of luck five minutes into the second half.

Alan Dzagoev was put through on goal and after his shot came back off goalkeeper Peter Jehle, the ball bounced into the path of Franz Burgmeier who deflected it into his own net.

Further goals from Spartak Moscow pair Dmitry Kombarov (penalty) and Artem Dzyuba completed a comfortable victory for Fabio Capello’s side.

Summaries and fixtures

Played yesterday

Group C

Luxembourg 1
Gerson 42;
Belarus 1
Dragun 78;

Spain 5
Ramos 15 pen; Alcacer 17; Busquets 45; Silva 50; Pedro 90;
Macedonia 1
Ibraimi 28 pen;

Ukraine 0
Slovakia 1
Mak 18;

Group E

Estonia 1
Purje 86;
Slovenia 0

Red card: Stevanovic (S) 79.

San Marino 0
Lithuania 2
Matulevicius 5; Novikovas 36;

Switzerland 0
England 2
Welbeck 59, 90;

Group G

Russia 4
Buechel 4og; Burgmeier 50og; Kombarov 54 pen; Dzyuba 65;
Liechtenstein 0

Montenegro 2
Vucinic 45; Tomasevic 73;
Moldova 0

Austria 1
Alaba 7 pen;
Sweden 1
Zengin 12;

Playing today

Group A
Kazakhstan vs Latvia (18.00)
Czech Rep. vs Netherlands (20.45)
Iceland vs Turkey (20.45)

Group B
Andorra vs Wales (20.45)
Bosnia vs Cyprus (20.45)

Group H
Azerbaijan vs Bulgaria (18.00)
Croatia vs Malta (20.45)
Norway vs Italy (20.45)