France keep perfect record

LONDON: Defending football champions France are all but in the 2004 European Championship after a 2-1 victory over Israel, and England look like a better bet after beating Turkey 2-0. David Trezeguet and Zinedine Zidane scored first half goals yesterday after Omir Afek gave Israel a lead after only two minutes in Palermo, Sicily.

The victory gave the French a perfect 15 points from five matches. Only stunning losses in their last three matches against Cyprus, Slovenia and Israel would keep them from winning Group One. “It was hard, very hard, we showed two faces of our game tonight,” said French coach Jacques Santini. “But we managed to get three points. We had a lot of problems concentrating and were disorganised defensively and in attack.” “There was not much cohesion.” England suddenly seem bound for the finals in Portugal with their win over World Cup third-place side Turkey in the northeastern city of Sunderland. Darius Vassell scored the winner in the 76th with David Beckham adding an injury time penalty. The victory moved England atop Group Seven with 10 points —- one more than Turkey. It was Turkey’s first loss in 17 European and World Cup qualifying matches.

England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, criticised from his team’s lackluster play since reaching the quarterfinals in the World Cup, called the match “absolutely fantastic.” “If Turkey had won this match, they more or less would have won the group,” Eriksson said. “We played very well in the first half, and maybe even better in the second. We deserved to win.” In a key late match, Group Six leaders Spain were home against Armenia. The Dutch and the Czechs kept winning to lead Group Three with 10 points.

The Czechs stopped neighbours Austria 4-0 with two goals from Jan Koller (31st and 62nd) and others from Pavel Nedved (18th) and Marek Jankulovski (56th, penalty). The Dutch trailed at Moldova 1-0 behind Vadim Boret’s goal after 16 minutes. Ruud Van Nistelrooy (37th) and Mark Van Bommel (84th) saved the day. The shock of the night came in Group Two where Denmark were upset 2-0 in Copenhagen against Bosnia. The Danes hammered Romania 5-2 on Saturday. Norway took advantage and grabbed the group lead with a 2-0 win at Luxembourg.

Scotland saw their chances hurt with a 1-0 loss at Lithuania, leaving the Scots trailing Germany on goal difference in Group Five. Germany were idle. Tomas Razanauskas scored on a penalty in the 74th. Lithuania improved to seven points from five matches. Germany have played three and Scotland four. In Group Four, Poland hammered San Marino 5-0 and Sweden won 2-1 at Hungary. Poland improved to seven points, the same as Idle Latvia. Sweden improved to five points — the same as Hungary — as Marcus Allback scored two (34th and 67th). Kristztian Lisztes got Hungary’s (65th).

In Group Eight, Bulgaria stayed on top (10 points) with a scoreless draw at Estonia. In the other group match, Croatia moved into second (7) with a 2-0 win over Andorra on two goals by Milan Rapaic. Group 10 was scoreless; Albania 0, Ireland 0 and Georgia 0, Switzerland 0. The Swiss lead with eight points with idle Russia on six.