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CROATIA OFF TO WINNING START

Croatia warmed up for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against England by beating Kazakhstan 3-0 in Zagreb.

Slaven Bilic's team took charge early on against the Group Six minnows and their win included a goal for Tottenham new boy Luka Modric.

Niko Kovac put the hosts ahead after 13 minutes and Modric doubled the advantage in the 36th minute.

Mladen Petric completed the scoring after 79 minutes as Croatia cruised to victory over the team who beat Andorra 3-0 in their opening qualifier last month.

In the same group, Ukraine began their quest to qualify with a 1-0 home win over Belarus, secured by Andriy Shevchenko's 90th-minute penalty.

While Scotland suffered a disappointing defeat by Macedonia, their Group Nine rivals Norway and Iceland drew 2-2 in Oslo.

Former Tottenham and Wolves striker Steffen Iversen scored twice for hosts Norway, who twice led before being pegged back.

The Rosenborg striker put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot in the 36th minute but the lead was short-lived as Bolton's Heidar Helguson equalised three minutes later.

Iversen scored his second five minutes after the restart but former Chelsea forward Eidur Gudjohnsen equalised again in the 69th minute to earn Iceland a share of the spoils.

Slovenia frustrated hosts Poland to earn a precious 1-1 draw at the Slaski Stadium in Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifying group.

Zlatko Dedic's first-half strike cancelled out Michal Zewlakow's opener as Slovenia came from behind to ensure both teams took a point from the Group Three clash.

Former Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz saw his Portugal side get their World Cup qualifying campaign off to a flying start with a 4-0 win over Malta in Group One.

Hugo Almeida, Simao Sabrosa and Nani added some shine to the scoreline in the final 30 minutes after Brian Said had put through his own net to give the visitors a first-half lead.

There were no other goals elsewhere in Group One, however, as Sweden could only manage a goalless draw in their game away to Albania, where Henrik Larsson won his 100th cap. Denmark also drew a blank in a 0-0 draw with Hungary.

In Group Eight, world champions Italy needed an injury-time winner to see off Cyprus 2-1 in their opening qualifier.

Antonio Di Natale scored both goals as Italy laboured to an away victory over the minnows in the first competitive game of coach Marcello Lippi's second spell as national coach.

Andreas Ivanschitz scored one goal and set up two others as Austria opened their qualifying campaign with an impressive 3-1 Group Seven victory over France in Vienna.

Marc Janko and Rene Aufhauser were Austria's other scorers, with Sidney Govou on target for France.

Raddy Antic enjoyed a winning start to life as Serbia boss as they beat the Faroe Islands 2-0 in the same group.

Germany eased into their Group Four campaign by hammering Liechtenstein 6-0 in Vaduz.

Lukas Podolski scored the only goal of a tight first half in the 21st minute, but when he netted again three minutes after the break the floodgates opened.

Simon Rolfes and Bastian Schweinsteiger struck in the space of two minutes, before Thomas Hitzlsperger added a fifth 15 minutes from time. Heiko Westermann completed the rout in the 86th minute.

Paraguay remain top of the South America World Cup qualifying standings after holding Argentina to a draw in Buenos Aires, in a match that saw the home side's Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez sent off.

Gabriel Heinze's own goal put Paraguay ahead in the 13th minute but Sergio Aguero equalised shortly after half-time for Argentina, who had Tevez and Lionel Messi in attack.

Tevez was sent off for stamping on Paulo Da Silva.

(reopens) David Villa saved his own blushes with a clinical second-half goal as European champions Spain began their World Cup qualifying campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Murcia.

Villa made amends for a missed first-half penalty with a pinpoint finish just before the hour mark as Spain picked up a three-point haul in Vicente del Bosque's first competitive match in charge.