Spain boosted morale after their World Cup meltdown when they started the quest for a third straight Euro title with a 5—1 over Macedonia in a Group C qualifier on Monday.
Valencia forward Paco Alcacer scored Spain’s second on his debut and set up Sergio Busquets for the 3—1 scoreline, with Sergio Ramos, David Silva and Pedro adding the other goals.
England grabbed an important 2—0 win in their Group E opener in Switzerland from Danny Welbeck’s double, while in Group G the 2018 World Cup hosts Russia beat Liechtenstein 4—0 and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Sweden drew 1—1 in Austria.
Spain went out in the group stage at the recent World Cup in Brazil as holders, and lost a friendly in France last week, but got back on track in Valencia in their first Euro 2016 qualifier.
Ramos converted a 16-minute penalty and Alcacer got the second a minute later. But things changed in the 28th when Agim Ibraimi made it 2—1 from the spot after Juan Fran had brought down Alaxandar Trajkovski.
But Sergio Busquets soothed Spanish nerves from long range on the stroke of half-time, fed by Alcacer, Silva added the fourth five minutes after the restart, and Pedro wrapped up matters for La Roja.
The big win put Spain top of the group, ahead of Slovakia, won 1—0 at troubled 2012 hosts Ukraine from Robert Mak. Luxembourg and Belarus drew 1—1.
Like Spain, England didn’t survive the World Cup group stage and faced a Swiss team which had taken eventual finalists Argentina to extra-time in the last 16.
But Roy Hodgson’s team prevailed in Basel from new Arsenal man Danny Welbeck who first converted Raheem Sterling’s cross at the far right post in the 58th and then clinched victory in stoppage time.
England lead the group along with Lithuania, who won 2—0 in San Marino, while Estonia beat 10-man Slovenia 1—0.
In Khimki near Moscow, Russia shook off their World Cup group stage elimination with victory against Liechtenstein.
Own goals from Martin Buechel and Franz Burgmeier got them on track, Dmitri Kombaroc added a quick third from the penalty spot in the 54th, and second-half substitute Artem Dzyuba wrapped up matters.
Russia are top of group G ahead of Montenegro who beat Moldova 2—0 while Austria and Sweden shared the points in Vienna. Bayern Munich’s David Alaba put Austria ahead with a seventh-minute penalty but Sweden were level five minutes when Ibrahimovic set up Erkan Zengin.
The first round of games ends on Tuesday with eight matches, including Euro 2012 runners-up Italy in Norway and World Cup third-place finishers Netherlands in the Czech Republic.
A total 23 teams will qualify from the nine groups, and play-offs, to join directly entered hosts France for the 2016 edition which is the first with 24 teams instead of 16.
