The Hindu : Sport / Football : Spain’s sensational run continues; England outclasses Kazakhstan

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Spain’s sensational run continues; England outclasses Kazakhstan

— Photo: AFP

LEADING THE WAY: Germany captain Michael Ballack (left) gets a hug from teammates after scoring against Russia.

LONDON: European champion Spain beat Estonia 3-0 to extend its unbeaten streak to 25 games, while England outplayed Kazakhstan 5-1 in another World Cup qualifying game on Saturday.

Struggling France hit back from two goals down to draw 2-2 in Romania and ease the pressure on coach Raymond Domenech, and Germany edged Russia 2-1 to stay at the top of its group.

World Cup champion Italy survived the absence of half the regular starters through injury to draw 0-0 in Bulgaria and stay in the lead of Group 8, although Marcello Lippi’s team lost its perfect start.

The Italians have seven points from three games, three clear of Ireland which did not play on Saturday.

“The guys played with authority and good personality,” said Lippi. “We tried everything we could to win and we’re content with this result.”

Juanito Gutierrez and David Villa put Spain in control at Estonia and defender Carles Puyol added a third in the 69th minute as the Euro 2008 champion stayed at the top of Group 5 and maintained its two-point advantage over Turkey and Belgium, who both won.

Wayne Rooney scored twice, forced a Kazakhstan defender into an own-goal and stand-in captain Rio Ferdinand and Jermain Defoe also scored. But Kazakhstan did punish a casual back-pass by England defender Ashley Cole to make it 2-1 in the 68th.

Down in fourth place in Group 7, France looked in more trouble when it fell two goals behind Romania inside the first 17 minutes in Bucharest. But Franck Ribery began the comeback in the 36th and Yoann Gourcuff equalised in the 69th with a shot from 35 metres.

Lukas Podolski and captain Michael Ballack scored in the first 28 minutes against Russia in Dortmund and, although Andrei Arshavin replied in the 51st, the Germans held on to stay on top of Group 4.

“We played at a very high pace in the first half but we struggled in the second and if Russia had equalised it would not have been undeserved,” Ballack said.

The results: European zone: Denmark bt Malta 3-0; Hungary bt Albania 2-0; Sweden drew with Portugal 0-0; Greece bt Moldova 3-0; Luxembourg lost to Israel 1-3; Switzerland bt Latvia 2-1; Poland bt Czech Republic 2-1; San Marino lost to Slovakia 1-3; Slovenia bt Northern Ireland 2-0; Finland bt Azerbaijan 1-0; Germany bt Russia 2-1; Wales bt Liechtenstein 2-0; Belgium bt Armenia 2-0; Estonia lost to Spain 0-3; Turkey bt Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-1; England bt Kazakhstan 5-1; Ukraine drew with Croatia 0-0; Faroe Islands drew with Austria 1-1; Romania drew with France 2-2; Serbia bt Lithuania 3-0; Bulgaria drew with Italy 0-0; Georgia drew with Cyprus 1-1; The Netherlands bt Iceland 2-0; Scotland drew with Norway 0-0.

South American zone: Colombia lost to Paraguay 0-1; Argentina bt Uruguay 2-1; Bolivia bt Peru 3-0. — Agencies

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