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England, Scots dealt heavy blows

Russia's Roman Pavlyuchenko, center, scores a goal against England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, front, during their Euro 2008 qualifying round soccer match at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow on Wednesday. PHOTO: AP

England and Scotland suffered potentially fatal blows to their Euro 2008 campaigns on Wednesday as holders Greece, the Czech Republic and Romania ensured their presence in next year's finals.

In France Thierry Henry entered the record books as his country's most prolific goal scorer as the Barcelona star's double guided Les Bleus to a 2-0 win over Lithuania.

That victory lifted France to the top of Group B, ahead of Scotland and Italy, with the World Cup winners enjoying one game in hand.

Scotland arrived in Tbilisi topping the standings after Saturday's dashing 3-1 home win over Ukraine, but Alex McLeish's men were brought back to earth with a painful bump by a 2-0 defeat to Georgia.

Scotland now have the not inconsiderable job of having to win their final Group B match against Italy on Nov. 17 to ensure their presence in their first major tournament since the 1998 World Cup.

At least they can take refuge from the fact that their fate is still in their own hands, unlike their hapless neighbors across the border.

England's 2-1 defeat to Russia means they will lose out qualifying for a major international championship for the first time since the 1994 World Cup if Russia bag maximum points from their remaining qualifiers against Israel and Andorra.

The plastic pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium failed to prove England's flexible friend, although everything looked to be going to plan after Wayne Rooney put Steve McLaren's side into a 29th minute lead.

But the Manchester United striker was then turned unwittingly from hero to villain when Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo ruled that his tug on Konstantin Zyrianov was inside the area.

Television replays suggested it was a harsh decision, but substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko stepped up to convert the 69th minute penalty.

Russia snatched the winner three minutes later, with Pavyuchenko tapping in a rebound past Paul Robinson.

McLaren was in no doubt who was to blame for this Moscow mugging, lamenting: "I've just seen the penalty again and it was an absolute disgrace, it was outside the box. It was a mad four minutes after that when unfortunately we conceded a second but I can't fault the players. We knew we would have to defend coming here and we did that. We ended up losing a game that after 70 minutes I never thought we would lose."

Russia coach Guus Hiddink suggested that England were undone by their overconfidence.

"England thought at half-time that they were leading so even a draw would be a good result. But you must finish the job before you get what you want. That's what we did," the Dutchman said.

Over in Tbilisi goals from 17-year-old Levan Mchedlidze, who is at Italian Serie A side Empoli, and David Siradze in either half handed hosts Georgia a deserved victory over Scotland.

McLeish conceded that Scotland's performance had been missing sparkle.

He said: "It just wasn't our night. The big decisions didn't go our way and we lacked that little bit of quality that has served us so well throughout the campaign."

Greece, who came from the shadows to steal the spotlight at Euro 2004, ensured they would be defending their title next year with a 1-0 Group C win over Turkey in Istanbul.

Greece join Germany, who on Saturday became the first side to seal qualification, though they were embarrassed in a 3-0 loss to the Czech Republic, for whom victory ensured their presence in Austria and Switzerland.

Germany coach Joachim Loew shrugged: "It was a bad game. We missed the force that we've had over the past few months. It's a day to forget."

Romania became the fourth team to qualify courtesy of their 2-0 win at Luxembourg.

Elsewhere Portugal, hosts of Euro 2004 and beaten finalists, moved into second in Group A thanks to Rooney's Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo producing the injury time decider in their 2-1 success over Kazakhstan.
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