France substitute Olivier Giroud headed past Iker Casillas with almost the last touch of the game to snatch a 1-1 draw against holders Spain in their World Cup Group I qualifier last night.
The draw denied Spain a 25th straight win in major championship qualifiers although they remain top of the group tied with France on seven points from three matches.
Sergio Ramos had put Spain deservedly ahead in the 25th minute before France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris saved a Cesc Fabregas penalty shortly before the break.
The French came out fighting in the second half and almost equalised several times before Franck Ribery crossed for Giroud to nod the ball into the corner of the net in the fourth minute of added time.
Germany lost their 100 per cent World Cup qualifying record in stunning fashion after Sweden roared back from four goals down to draw 4-4 in a Group C thriller.
Miroslav Klose struck twice in the opening 15 minutes before defender Per Mertesacker made it 3-0.
Midfielder Mesut Ozil added a fourth goal 11 minutes after the break, chesting down a Thomas Mueller cross before firing a wicked shot past goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson.
Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic launched the fightback with a brilliant header from a long pass by Kim Kallstrom in the 62nd minute.
Mikael Lustig pulled another goal back before Johan Elmander cut Germany’s lead to 4-3 in the 76th minute.
Rasmus Elm then grabbed the equaliser just before the final whistle.
Netherlands scored three first-half goals to crush Romania 4-1 and move three points clear in Group D.
The Dutch went ahead after eight minutes through Jeremain Lens and Bruno Martens made it 2-0.
But when the visitors slightly reduced the tempo Romania hit back with a superb solo effort by sole striker Ciprian Marica.
The Dutch restored their two-goal advantage in the dying seconds of the first half when Van der Vart converted a harshly-awarded penalty.
Robin van Persie completed the rout with an easy finish four minutes from time.
Mario Balotelli scored and produced in a powerful display on his international return to help 10-man Italy win beat Denmark 3-1 in a Group B match in Milan.
The Manchester City striker’s first Italy goal since his Euro 2012 semi-final brace against Germany and strikes from midfielders Riccardo Montolivo and Daniele De Rossi enabled Cesare Prandelli’s side to overcome the sending-off of Pablo Osvaldo early in the second half.
Italy took the lead after 33 minutes, Riccardo Montolivo finishing off a slick passing move by collecting Balotelli’s flick before drilling a long-range effort past stationary Denmark keeper Stephan Andersen.
They doubled their lead four minutes later when Andrea Pirlo left Michael Silderbauer for dead before swinging in a teasing cross from the right that De Rossi nodded in from six yards.
Denmark looked dead and buried but pulled a goal back with the last kick of the first half, William Kvist side-footing home a superb volley from a deflected Lars Jacobsen cross from the edge of the area.
The Danes were given another lifeline when Osvaldo was sent off 16 seconds into the second half after tussling with Nicolai Stokholm, catching the midfielder in the face in full view of referee Damir Skomina.
However, Balotelli restored his team’s two-goal lead with 54 minutes gone, springing the offside trap and poking another magical Pirlo pass past the onrushing Andersen to seal the three points.
Russia extended their winning streak to four matches with a hard-fought 1-0 win over visiting Azerbaijan.
A late goal by Roman Shirokov allowed Fabio Capello’s Russia to maintain their 100 per cent record in Group F, as they moved onto 12 points to stay top of the table, six points ahead of second-placed Portugal.
Poland vs England washed off
Heavy rain in Warsaw yesterday forced the postponement of Poland’s qualifier against England.
With the pre-match deluge leaving the pitch waterlogged officials had no option but to call it off after a number of inspections.
The game will now be played back at the Kazimierz Gorski Stadium at 5pm (Malta time) today.
UEFA U-21 Championship
Play-offs, second legs: Russia vs Czech Rep. 2-2 (agg: 4-2); Switzerland vs Germany 1-3 (agg: 2-4); Norway vs France 5-3 (agg: 5-4); Serbia vs England 0-1 (agg: 0-2); Sweden vs Italy 2-3 (agg: 2-4); Denmark vs Spain 1-3 (1-8).
Group A
Croatia 2
Mandzukic 27; Eduardo 57;
Wales 0
Macedonia 1
Ibraimi 59 pen;
Serbia 0
Red card: Tomovic (S) 58.
Belgium 2
Benteke 69; Kompany 71;
Scotland 0
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Belgium | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 10 |
| Croatia | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 10 |
| Serbia | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| Macedonia | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Wales | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 3 |
| Scotland | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
Group B
Czech Rep 0
Bulgaria 0
Italy 3
Montolivo 33; De Rossi 37; Balotelli 54;
Denmark 1
Kvist 45;
Red card: Osvaldo (I) 46.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Italy | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 10 |
| Bulgaria | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| Czech Rep. | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Armenia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Denmark | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Malta | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
Group C
Faroe Islands 1
Hansen 68;
Ireland 4
Wilson 46; Walters 53; Justinussen 73 og; O’Dea 88;
Austria 4
Janko 24, 63; Alaba 71; Harnik 90;
Kazakhstan 0
Germany 4
Klose 8, 15; Mertesacker 39; Ozil 56;
Sweden 4
Ibrahimovic 62; Lustig 64; Elmander 76; Elm 90;
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Germany | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 6 | 10 |
| Sweden | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 7 |
| Ireland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
| Austria | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Kazakhstan | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| Faroe Islands | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
Group D
Andorra 0
Estonia 1
Oper 57;
Hungary 3
Koman 31; Szalai 50; Gera 57 pen;
Turkey 1
Erdinc 22;
Romania 1
Marica 41;
Netherlands 4
Lens 9; Indi 29; Van der Vaart 44p; Van Persie 86;
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Netherlands | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 12 |
| Hungary | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 9 |
| Romania | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 9 |
| Turkey | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| Estonia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 3 |
| Andorra | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
Group E
Iceland 0
Switzerland 2
Barnetta 66; Gavranovic 79;
Cyprus 1
Aloneftis 42;
Norway 3
Hangeland 44; Elyounoussi 81p; King 83;
Albania 1
Roshi 36;
Slovenia 0
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Switzerland | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 10 |
| Norway | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
| Iceland | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Albania | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Slovenia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Cyprus | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 3 |
Group F
Russia 1
Shirokov 84 pen;
Azerbaijan 0
Israel 3
Hemed 14, 48; Basat 36;
Luxembourg 0
Portugal 1
Postiga 79;
N. Ireland 1
McGinn 30;
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Russia | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 12 |
| Israel | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Portugal | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 7 |
| N. Ireland | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Azerbaijan | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Luxembourg | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 1 |
Group G
Latvia 2
Kamess 29; Gauracs 77;
Liechtenstein 0
Red card: Kaufmann (L) 60.
Bosnia 3
Ibisevic 29; Dzeko 35; Pjanic 41;
Lithuania 0
Slovakia 0
Greece 1
Salpingidis 63;
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Bosnia | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 10 |
| Greece | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 10 |
| Slovakia | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
| Lithuania | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Latvia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Liechtenstein | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 0 |
Group H
San Marino 0
Moldova 2
Dadu 73 pen; Epureanu 78;
Ukraine 0
Montenegro 1
Damjanovic 45;
Poland p
England p
(to be played today, 5 p.m.)
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| England | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 7 |
| Montenegro | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 7 |
| Poland | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Moldova | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Ukraine | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| San Marino | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
Group I
Belarus 2
Bressan 6; Dragun 28;
Georgia 0
Spain 1
Ramos 25;
France 1
Giroud 90;
Missed penalty: Fabregas (S) 42.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Spain | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| France | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| Georgia | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Belarus | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 3 |
| Finland | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |