Group A

Portugal 2-2 Poland

Poland remain two points clear at the top of Group A, following their point in Lisbon on Saturday. They did leave it late, with Jacek Krzynowek equalising in the 88th minute, with a somewhat fortuitous long range effort, that struck the post before rebounding off the back of Portugal keeper Ricardo and into the net.

It was Poland that struck first blood, just before the half time whistle. Ricardo could only parry Jakub Blaszczykowski's 30 yard effort, and Lewandowski followed in and struck home the rebound from a difficult angle.

Five minutes after the break, Nuno Gomes got round the back of Poland's defence, but the Poland keeper Artur Boruc stopped the striker from taking the ball round him, but the ball fell perfectly for Maniche to stroke the ball into the unguarded net. The Portugal comeback was complete when Cristiano Ronaldo somehow hooked his volley home, despite the close presence of a Poland defender.

They were unable to hold onto their lead, and Krzynowek ensured the points were shared.


Serbia 0-0 Finland

Both Serbia and Finland stayed in contention of qualifying with this scrappy and dull draw. The 15,000 fans that turned up in Belgrade, will no doubt have left disappointed with the game that failed to come to life.

Serbia played a 4-5-1 formation, and with lone striker Danko Lazovic unable to make any impression on the Finland defence, chances were inevitably few and far between. It is a tough job for the solitary frontman, yet he could have opened the scoring for Serbia, but for a weak header that went straight to Jussi Jaaskalainen.

Finland showed little ambition and will have been pleased to leave Serbia with a point.

Group B

Scotland 3-1 Lithuania

Scotland remain on course to challenge France and Italy for qualification from a group very few would have given them any chance of succeeding. They still have a lot of work to do, but this 3-1 victory over Lithuania will help to keep the momentum going in the right direction.

Kris Boyd opened the scoring just after the half hour mark, when he connected with his head onto Darren Fletcher's well flighted delivery. Lithuania were to get back into the game by way of a highly debatable penalty. When Saulius Mikoliunas went to ground under an innocuous challenge with Fletcher, Tomas Danilevicius stepped up to equalise from the spot, placing the ball straight down the middle.

Stephen McManus put Scotland back in front, when he latched onto a driven cross from Shaun Maloney at the back post, and James McFadden sealed the tie when he cut in from the right and unleashed an unstoppable left footed drive. Next up for Scotland, a daunting trip to Paris, to meet France.


Georgia 1-1 Ukraine

Ukraine missed out on a chance to exert some pressure on the chasing pack, when they conceded a last minute equaliser in Georgia. Georgia's saviour was David Siradze, who came on the pitch as a 62nd minute substitute, and converted following a late corner. Ukrainian midfielder Oleg Shelayev had earlier given the away side a deserved lead. Ukraine must now face Italy at home on Wednesday night in a crucial game for both sides.


Italy 0-0 France

World Champions Italy dropped to third position in Group B, with a 0-0 draw at home to France. Pippo Inzaghi came closest to breaking the deadlock on the half hour mark, when he struck the post.

It was a packed and passionate crowd at the San Siro where 80,000 fans had turned up, in the hope of witnessing Italy get their qualifying campaign back on track. The draw was enough for France to retain their position at the top of this intriguing group, with Scotland in second position, following their 3-1 win over Lithuania.


Group C

Hungary 1-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

Zoltan Gera scored the penalty that separated the sides in this Group C clash. Robert Feczesin was brought down in the 39th minute, and Gera slotted the ball home from 12 yards.

The midfielder could have doubled his and Hungary's tally when he struck the crossbar after 73 minutes.


Malta 2-2 Turkey

Malta produced one of the shock results of the weekend in holding visitors Turkey to a 2-2 draw. The away side had to come from behind twice to get a point, when really anything less than three points for Turkey would be deemed a bad result.

Brian Said scored first for Malta, nonchalantly taking the ball down on his chest from a corner, and slamming home his left footed volley. The lead only lasted four minutes, when Halil Altintop volleyed home from close range, via the crossbar and the keeper, after Turkey broke down the left hand side.

The visitors had a number of chances to take the lead, but it was Andre Schembri who bundled the ball in from close range, to once again give Malta the advantage.

Again the lead did not last long, when Servet Cetin rose highest to glance the ball home from a corner kick and a share of the spoils.


Moldova 0-1 Norway

Norway kept the heat on Greece with a narrow victory over Moldova.

The win came courtesy of former Tottenham Hotspur Steffan Iversen's 47th minute header.

Moldova made Norway work hard for the victory and at times during the first half controlled the game to a degree. The visitors came out with an improved focus for the second half, and Iversen provided the perfect tonic.

Morten Gamst Pedersen was unlucky not to extend the lead when his effort cannoned off the upright, 15 minutes from time.


Group D

San Marino 0-3 Czech Republic

Czech Republic registered a predictably comfortable victory at San Marino, with goals from Tomas Rosicky, Marek Jankulovski, and giant target man Jan Koller.

As if San Marino were not up against it enough, they had Alessandro Della Valle sent off with just under half an hour of the game remaining for two bookable offences.

The home side were on the receiving end of a beating when they travelled to the Czech Republic, earlier in the campaign and would count themselves rather fortunate to escape with conceding only three goals on Saturday.

Tomas Rosicky got the show underway, when he headed home into an open goal following a parry from San Marino keeper Aldo Simoncini. AC Milan full back Jankulovski extended the lead with a driven free kick, before Koller, unsurprisingly, headed in the third in injury time.


Slovakia 2-2 Ireland

Ireland threw away the chance of claiming three vital points, when they twice lost the lead to a Slovakian side reluctant to let the visitors escape with maximum points.

It still leaves Slovakia with feint hopes of qualification, while it is another serious blow to Ireland's inconsistent campaign.

Ireland took the lead for the first time as early as the seventh minute, Kevin Kilbane worked himself some room down the left, and his deflected cross fell to Stephen Ireland, following Robbie Keane's clever dummy. Ireland was composed in chipping the ball over Slovakia keeper Stefan Senecky and into the top corner.

Slovakia replied with a back post header from Maros Klimpl after defender Jan Durica flicked on a corner kick at the near post.

Ireland regained the lead in the second half with a stunning strike from Reading striker Kevin Doyle. He recieved the ball just outside the box with his back to goal, worked the ball onto his left foot, and struck it quite beautifully into the keepers top right hand corner.

The home side were good value for their equaliser which arrived in stoppage time at the end of the 90 minutes. The ball dropped invitingly for Marek Cech, who made no mistake with a decisive left footed drive into the bottom corner, to send the crowd home relieved.


Wales 0-2 Germany

Three points in Cardiff put Germany on the very brink of qualification, thanks in the main to a double strike from Miroslav Klose, who incidentally wore the captain's armband for his country for the first time, in the absence of Michael Ballack.

Wales, were very much below par, and never looked like threatening Germany's stronghold on the game. They took the lead after five minutes, after Jason Koumas was caught in possession, resulting in Kevin Kuranyi breaking from midfield and slipping Klose through for his first of the game, with the outside of his right boot.

Roberto Hilbert created Klose and Germany's second, after good play down the right flank and a ball into the middle, that a player with the aerial prowess that Kloses possesses, simply does not miss. Two-nil and game, set and match.

Group E

Russia 3-0 Macedonia

Russia remained in the hunt for Euro qualification with what finished as a reasonably comfortable night, but they did endure one or two scares along the way.

They survived a sending off and a missed penalty with the scoreline at 1-0 at the time, but two goals in the last 10 minutes eased any fears in the stadium.

Vasili Berezutski gave his side the lead in the eighth minute, and Russia continued to dominate the play but could not get that elusive second goal to make the job a little easier. Macedonia, however, were restricted to long range efforts in an attempt to get back into the game.

They got their lifeline after 70 minutes, when Russian keeper Vladimir Gabulov brought down Macedonia substitute Goran Maznov inside the area, and to make matters worse, received a red card. It was not to be for the visitors, though, as Russian sub keeper Viacheslav Malafeev saved Igor Mitreski's penalty to keep the score at 1-0.

Two late goals from Andrei Arshavin (84) and Alexander Kerzhakov (88) ensured that Russia remained hot on the heels of Croatia in Group E.

England 3-0 Israel

It was a much needed victory for Steve Mclaren's side to maintain their hopes of qualification. Despite the absence of Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard, England produced a performance that was worthy of the 3-0 score.

Shaun Wright-Phillips enjoyed one of his best games in an England shirt, and it was he that opened the scoring on 20 minutes against Israel, volleying home Joe Cole's cross at the back post.

England welcomed the return of Michael Owen, and his presence proved invaluable just after half time, when he smashed a 20 yard half volley beyond the keepers reach. It was a difficult chance, but Owen showed how technically gifted he is with an imperious strike.

England and Man City defender Micah Richards completed the scoring when he headed home a Gareth Barry corner on 66 minutes. There are very few footballers in the world that can boast the type of leap that Richards possesses, making him a threat in both penalty areas.

A good day for Mclaren and co, now for the potentially more difficult game at home to Russia on Wednesday night.

Croatia 2-0 Estonia

The Croats remain on top of Group E with a regulation home victory over Estonia.

They could have taken the lead early on when defender Teet Allas handled in the penalty area to gift Croatia an ideal start from 12 yards, but Darijo Srna's resulting penalty struck the upright.

Arsenal's Brazilian born striker Eduardo da Silva found the back of the net on 39 minutes, following a free kick into the area, the ball looped in the air to Da Silva who had his back to goal, and executed an effective overhead kick.

Croatia continued to threaten the Estonia goal, and Da Silva scored again just before the half time whistle. Luka Modric laid the ball into his path, and his powerfully struck left foot shot gave Pavel Londak no chance in the Estonian goal.

Mission accomplished for Slaven Bilic's men who continue to be the team to beat in this group.

Group F

Latvia 1-0 Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland were dealt a crushing blow with this defeat in Latvia. It was the home side's second victory in qualification and was enough to lift them off bottom place.

Nigel Worthington's men controlled much of the game, but were unable to find a way past the Latvian defence. When they did Andris Vanins was on hand to keep out efforts from Keith Gillespie and David Healy.

However, it was Latvia that got the breakthrough, when a cross from the right by Imants Bleidelis was inadvertently put into his own net by Chris Baird to give Latvia an unexpected lead.

Despite the resulting pressure from the away side, Latvia hung on to all three points.

Sweden 0-0 Denmark

This Scandinavian battle ended in stalemate, as neither side were able to find the net.

Sweden had the best of the opportunities, but found keeper Thomas Sorensen in good form. Johan Elmander and Zlatan Ibrahimovic both had chances to win the game for Sweden, while Daniel Agger, Martin Laursen and Jon Dahl Tomasson went close for Denmark.

With neither Sorensen nor Sweden keeper Andreas Isaksson in any mood to be beaten, both sides were made to be content with a point each. That leaves Sweden with 19 points from eight games, and Denmark with 11 points from seven.

Iceland 1-1 Spain

A late goal from Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta rescued his side from what would have been an unthinkable defeat. The draw means that Spain are now in joint second position with Northern Ireland after their defeat.

Spain also suffered from having influential midfielder Xabi Alonso shown a straight red card midway through the first half for a challenge on Arnar Vidarsson.

Iceland seemed to make the numerical advantage count when they took the lead after 40 minutes with an Emil Hallfredsson diving header.

Just as Iceland were thinking about what would be a famous victory for the nation, Iniesta popped up four minutes from full time to ruin the party, and converted Luis Garcia's lay off for the equaliser.

Group G

Luxembourg 0-3 Slovenia

Perennial strugglers Luxembourg remain firmly rooted to the bottom of Group G following another defeat, this time to Slovenia.

Klemen Lavric scored twice, and Milivoje Novakovic got the other to give Slovenia seven points from their eight games.

Lavric got the goals underway in the seventh minute latching onto a through ball and drilling past the keeper.

Novakovic doubled the lead after 37 minutes, beating the offside trap and capably finishing to extend the lead.

The scoring was complete two minutes into the second half, with a commanding header from Lavric to give Slovenia a comfortable and thoroughly well deserved victory.

Belarus 1-3 Romania

An Adrian Mutu double strengthened Romania position at the top of Group G.

It was Mutu that opened the scoring after 16 minutes, the striker finishing off a swift attack from the pleasing to watch Romanians.

Belarus were not about to lie down and accept the inevitable, instead they hit back within four minutes, thanks to Maxim Romashchenko.

Romania were then made to up the ante, and were successful in regaining the lead with a header from Dica just before the half time break.

The game was put to bed in the 77th minute, when Mutu was brought down in the area. He dusted himself down, got up and scored the penalty to keep their unbeaten run going.

Netherlands 2-0 Bulgaria

The Netherlands are also a side that are unbeaten in qualification, and that meant the Bulgaria lost their first game of the campaign.

The win was courtesy of two Real Madrid team mates, Wesley Sneijder and predictably Ruud Van Nistelrooy. It was the former that got his name on the scoresheet first, replicating his impressive early season form for Madrid. He curled home a 20 yard free kick, at the Amsterdam Arena, his place of work before his summer move to Spain.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy swept home his goal after 58 minutes to give Holland an excellent chance of moving safely through to Euro 2008.