Big guns on target

England got past Macedonia 2-1 with a match-winning penalty from skipper David Beckham and a landmark goal for 17-year-old Wayne Rooney who became England’s youngest scorer. But Germany, European champions three times, played poorly and were held to a 0-0 draw by Iceland in Reykjavik, which provoked a rare outburst from German coach Rudi Voeller.

He also launched a scathing attack on TV pundits who had criticised his team but, despite the setback, Germany still hold their fate in their own hands as they have home matches to come on Wednesday against Scotland and next month against Iceland and if they win both they will qualify automatically.

Still, Iceland remain top of the group for another four days at least and outplayed Germany for much of the game billed in Iceland as the biggest in their soccer history.

That result was one of only two surprises across Europe in the 20 qualifiers played as the contenders for a place in Portugal next year kept the finals firmly in their sights.

The other upset saw Bosnia beat Norway 1-0 in Group II with a late goal from Zlatan Bajramovic reviving the home side’s faint play-off hopes. Romania beat Luxembourg 4-0 to pull level with Denmark at the top of the group with those two meeting in Copenhagen on Wednesday. However, with only two rounds of qualifiers to play, no country has yet clinched a place in the tournament although that position should change on Wednesday when the next 20 matches take place.

France are all but there with a maximum 18 points from their six Group I matches after a 5-0 win over Cyprus. David Trezeguet (2), Sylvain Wiltord (2) and Thierry Henry got the goals and France need just one point to make certain.

The only reason France have not qualified yet is because Slovenia could, theoretically at least, overtake them after moving on to 13 points from their six matches after a 3-1 win against Israel, who had two men sent off late in the game. The win all but guarantees Slovenia a place in the play-offs, but Israel still have a mathematical chance of pipping them.

While France were seeing off Cyprus, Italy were involved in an astonishing match against Wales who arrived in Milan as Group IX leaders but left with a sound thrashing.

Italy had countless chances to score but could not breakthrough a Welsh defence aided by both luck and judgement. But after Italy took the lead through Inzaghi on 59 minutes, the rest swiftly followed. Alessandro del Piero wrapped matters up with a late penalty that saw Italy replace Wales at the top. Wales though, should still make the play-offs despite two successive defeats. They play Finland in Cardiff on Wednesday where victory will clinch the play-off place.

The Netherlands secured at least a play-off spot in Rotterdam with a 3-1 win over Austria but, with the Czech Republic also winning 3-1 in their Group III match in Belarus, attention now switches to Wednesday’s showdown between the two in Prague. With both the Dutch and the Czechs on 16 points from six matches that game will decide who wins the group.

There will also be a close finish to Group VII after Turkey beat Liechtenstein 3-0 and England came from behind to beat Macedonia 2-1.