ROONEY SPARKS ROMP
Striker nets brace in England victory; Spain, Germany win to top groups
European champions Spain beat Estonia 3-0 to extend their unbeaten streak to 25 games, and England outplayed Kazakhstan 5-1 in another World Cup qualifying game after being booed off the field by their own fans at half-time.
Struggling France hit back from two goals down to draw 2-2 in Romania and eased the pressure on coach Raymond Domenech, and Germany edged Russia 2-1 to stay at the top of their group.
England needed 52 minutes to break down Kazakhstan before the goal rush started. Wayne Rooney scored twice, forced a Kazakh player into an own-goal and stand-in captain Rio Ferdinand and Jermain Defoe also scored. But Kazakhstan punished a casual back pass by defender Ashley Cole to make it 2-1 in the 68th.
Ukraine and Croatia got a 0-0 draw to also help England, who have perfect nine points from three games.
World Cup champions Italy survived the absence of half of the regular starters through in jury to draw 0-0 in Bulgaria and stay in the lead of Group 8, although Marcello Lippi’s team lost their perfect start.
The Italians have seven points from three games, three clear of Ireland, who did not play this weekend.
“The guys played with authority and good personality,” Lippi said. “We tried everything we could to win. But [Bulgaria] has good players and we’re content with this result.”
Juanito Gutierrez and David Villa put Spain in control at Estonia and Caries Puyol added a third as they stayed at the top of Group 5 and maintained their two-point lead over Turkey and Belgium.
Turkey edged Bosnia Herzegovina 2-1 and Belgium overcame Armenia 2-0.
Down in fourth place in Group 7, France looked in more trouble when they fell two goals behind Romania inside the first 17 minutes in Bucharest. But Franck Ribery began the comeback in the 36th and Yoann Gourcuff equalised in the 69th with a dipping shot from 35 metres.
The draw means that France moved a point closer to the lead and that should keep coach Raymond Domenech in charge for a little longer despite the team’s dismal show.
Serbia beat Lithuania 3-0 and both teams are level with six points with Austria, France and Romania at four each.
Lukas Podolski and Michael Ballack scored in the first 28 minutes against Russia in Dortmund and although Andrei Arshavin replied in the 51st, the Germans he on to stay at the top of Group 4.
“We played at a very high pace in the first half but we struggled in the second and if Russia had equalised it would not have been undeserved,’ captain Ballack said.
AP, London
