Italy and Spain on Tuesday joined Germany at the 2012 Euro finals by winning their respective Euro qualifying matches. The defending champion Spain beat Lichtenstein 6-0, while Italy struggled before beating Slovenia 1-0.
In Logrono, Alvaro Negredo and David Villa each scored twice, with Xavi and Sergio Ramos adding the other goals. Spain manager Vicente del Bosque said: “We are happy with this result. We have been taking qualification somewhat for granted, but it’s good to have mathematically done it.” The win takes Spain to 18 points in Group I from their six games — eight ahead of the Czech Republic. Scotland, who beat Lithuania 1-0 on the night, are third with eight points.
Earlier, Italy became the second country with Giampaolo Pazzini’s late, lucky goal for the Azzurri against Slovenia to take them to 22 points from eight games in Group C. Serbia, who beat Faroe Island 3-1, are on 14 points.
Italian coach Cesare Prandelli said he was satisfied with his side’s performance. “We had courage, we were good and had supremacy in midfield. In this period it is hard to find speed. They stayed closed (in their midfield) and we had little chances to make our game.” The other group game saw Estonia thrash Northern Ireland 4-1.
Netherlands, England post wins
Kevin Strootman and Luuk de Jong scored twice for the Netherlands to give their side an important 2-0 victory against a 10-man Finland side in Reykjavik.
The Oranjes lead Group E with a maximum 24 points from their eight games, while Finland have nine. Hungary, who beat Moldova 2-0, and Sweden, who won 5-0 in San Marino, are on 18 points.
England have also all but qualified from Group G after beating Wales 1-0 through Ashley Young’s goal. The Three Lions have 17 points from seven games, while Montenegro are on 11 points from six matches.
Young said they achieved their goal. “We wanted to get the three points to boost our chances of getting top of the group and we’ve done that. The performance wasn’t great but you go out to win the game and that’s what we’ve done.”
Croatia downs Israel
Switzerland beat Bulgaria 3-1 to keep alive their hope of qualifying for the play-offs.
Denmark joined Norway and Portugal on 13 points in Group H after beating Norway 2-0. The Portuguese and Danes have played six games, while Norway have played a game more.
Iceland beat Cyprus 1-0 in the other game in the group. Croatia moved to the top of Group F with a 3-1 comeback victory at home against Israel. Tomer Hemed gave the visitors the lead shortly before the break, but Luka Modric equalised for the Croats in the 47th minute.
Brazilian-born substitute Eduardo, who came on at the break, then scored twice within the space of two minutes in the 55th and 57th minute, shortly after defender Tal Ben Haim had been shown a straight red card.
Croatia are on 19 points from their eight games, while Greece, who drew 1-1 in Latvia, dropped to second with 17 points. The other group game saw Malta draw 1-1 with Georgia.
Bosnia and Herzegovina kept alive their hopes of advancing from Group D with a hard-fought 1-0 win at home against Belarus. The visitors, who were just a point behind the Bosnians, were holding the visitors to a goalless draw, even though they were playing with just 10 men since the 34th minute after Timofei Kalachev had been sent off for a second bookable offence.
Five minutes from the end Aleksandr Martynovich was also sent for an early shower and just two minutes later substitute Zvjezdan Misimovic found the winner Bosnia.
Luxembourg scored a rare victory with a 2-1 against Albania in another group game. France, who played to a goalless draw in Romania, top the group with 17 points, while Bosnia are on 16 points.
In Group B, Russia remained top of the group with a goalless draw at home against Ireland. The Russians have 17 points from their eight games, while the Irish remain in the hunt with 15 points from eight games. Ireland benefited from a Slovakian slip-up at home, as the Slovaks lost 4-0 against Armenia to remain on 14 points from their eight games. They slipped to fourth in the standings behind the Armenians, who also have 14 points.
Also in that group Macedonia struggled in their 1-0 victory at home against minnows Andorra. In a Group A game, that has no bearing on the outcome of the two top places in the group, Azerbaijan came from behind to beat Kazakhstan 3-2. In Vienna, Turkey missed a penalty in the last minute against Austria in their goalless draw. The Turks stay in second place on 14 points.
