Germans held; England gain vital points

LONDON: World Cup runners-up Germany were held 1-1 at home by Lithuania in one of the surprises of yesterday’s Euro 2004 football qualifying matches.

Although Carsten Ramelow put the three-time winners and two time runners- up ahead after just seven minutes, Lithu-ania hit back to earn an expected point through Tomas Razanauskas’ reply in the 73rd minute. The result meant that Rudi Voeller’s team lost top place in Group 5 to Berti Vogts’ Scotland, who downed Iceland 2-1 at Hampden Park. England gained vital points but gained few friends and maybe more critics after an unimpressive 2-0 beating of football minnow Liechtenstein yesterday. Michael Owen headed the first and David Beckham struck home a trademark free kick before 3,500 fans in Vaduz. But Sven-Goran Eriksson’s team missed more chances and went close to conceding goals in the last few minutes against one of football’s weakest teams who have just one victory in 40 competitive matches.

By contrast Ryan Giggs scored one and set up two as freescoring Wales stayed top of their group with a 4-0 beating of Azerbaijan. Russia were upset 3-1 by Albania, Spain were held 2-2 by Ukraine thanks to a last minute equaliser and Denmark scored a 5-2 victory at Romania whose coach, Anghel Iordanescu, quit. There was crowd trouble at Georgia’s 2-1 home loss to Ireland in Tbilisi where home fans threw an open penknife and a bottle onto the field. Manchester United star Giggs inspired Wales to a fourth Group 9 win in a row as Mark Hughes’ team moved closer to their first European Champion-ship appearance since 1976. Italy, runners-up at the last Euros three years ago, hosted Finland later yesterday but kicked off eight points behind the Welshmen. The Serbs aren’t playing in the latest round of matches.

Spain were on the brink of going four points clear at the top of Group 6 until Oleksandr Horoshkov volleyed a last minute equaliser for Ukraine in Kiev. After Andriy Voronin had fired the home team ahead in the 11th minute, three goals came in the last six. Real Madrid star Raul Gonzalez and Joseba Etxeberria put Spain ahead until Horoshkov snatched a tie which means Ukraine remain one point behind. Scotland strengthened their chances of qualifying for a big championship for the first time in five years by beating Iceland 2-1 at Hampden Park, a result which gives the visitors little chance of making it to next year’s finals in Portugal. Scotland now have seven points from three Group 5 matches. Ireland revived their chances in Group 10 by winning 2-1 at Georgia for their first points in three games. Dennis Rommedahl scored twice as Denmark won 5-2 at Romania.