Italy, Germany, Spain, France win qualifiers
Monday, 30 March 2009
LONDON, Mar 29 (AP):Defending champion Italy moved into strong position to qualify for the 2010 World Cup with a victory Saturday night, when Germany, Spain, France and the Netherlands also picked up wins.
Andrea Pirlo converted a penalty kick in the 11th minute and Giampaolo Pazzini scored on his international debut in Italy's 2-0 victory at Montenegro.
Germany routed visiting Liechtenstein 4-0 in other European qualifiers, while Spain beat visiting Turkey 1-0, France won 1-0 at Lithuania, and the Netherlands beat visiting Scotland 3-0. In an exhibition, England beat Slovakia 4-0.
In South America, Argentina routed Venezuela 4-0 in Diego Maradona's first official match as coach, Uruguay defeated Paraguay 2-0 and Colombia beat Bolivia 2-0.
In Asian qualifying, Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura's free kick proved the difference as Japan beat Bahrain 1-0 to replace Australia atop Group A with 11 points.
Uzbekistan thrashed Qatar 4-0 at home for its first win of the round and joined Bahrain and Qatar on four points, six behind Australia - which had the weekend off and faces Uzbekistan in Sydney Wednesday.
The South Koreans (8 points) had the weekend off, allowing North Korea to replace them atop Group B on 10 points following a 2-0 win over UAE at Pyongyang.
Saudi Arabia rediscovered some form with a 2-1 comeback win over Iran away at Tehran, where a reported 100,000 fans attended the match. The Saudis moved to third place in the group with seven points, one ahead of Iran.
In North and Central America and the Caribbean, the United States rallied from a two-goal deficit for a 2-2 draw at El Salvador, Mexico defeated visiting Costa Rica 2-0, and Trinidad and Tobago scored late for a 1-1 draw against visiting Honduras.
In Africa, Togo defeated visiting Cameroon 1-0.
Andrea Pirlo converted a penalty kick in the 11th minute and Giampaolo Pazzini scored on his international debut in Italy's 2-0 victory at Montenegro.
Germany routed visiting Liechtenstein 4-0 in other European qualifiers, while Spain beat visiting Turkey 1-0, France won 1-0 at Lithuania, and the Netherlands beat visiting Scotland 3-0. In an exhibition, England beat Slovakia 4-0.
In South America, Argentina routed Venezuela 4-0 in Diego Maradona's first official match as coach, Uruguay defeated Paraguay 2-0 and Colombia beat Bolivia 2-0.
In Asian qualifying, Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura's free kick proved the difference as Japan beat Bahrain 1-0 to replace Australia atop Group A with 11 points.
Uzbekistan thrashed Qatar 4-0 at home for its first win of the round and joined Bahrain and Qatar on four points, six behind Australia - which had the weekend off and faces Uzbekistan in Sydney Wednesday.
The South Koreans (8 points) had the weekend off, allowing North Korea to replace them atop Group B on 10 points following a 2-0 win over UAE at Pyongyang.
Saudi Arabia rediscovered some form with a 2-1 comeback win over Iran away at Tehran, where a reported 100,000 fans attended the match. The Saudis moved to third place in the group with seven points, one ahead of Iran.
In North and Central America and the Caribbean, the United States rallied from a two-goal deficit for a 2-2 draw at El Salvador, Mexico defeated visiting Costa Rica 2-0, and Trinidad and Tobago scored late for a 1-1 draw against visiting Honduras.
In Africa, Togo defeated visiting Cameroon 1-0.