Former champions France and 2006 semi-finalists Portugal were struggling to keep their 2010 World Cup dreams on track on Saturday as Europe’s major powers toiled on the rocky road to South Africa.
France, the 1998 winners and runners-up just two years ago, came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Romania to leave them in fourth place in Group 7.
Portugal, who lost to Denmark at home in their last qualifier, could only draw 0-0 in Sweden, a result which put them third in Group 1, three points behind the Danes.
PHOTO: AP
Defending champions Italy were held to a 0-0 draw in Bulgaria as they stayed top of Group 8, while Germany edged Russia 2-1 to remain in charge of Group 4.
England clinched a flattering 5-1 win over hapless Kazakhstan to keep up their 100 percent record in Group 6 and Euro 2008 winners Spain also made it three wins in three as a 3-0 victory in Estonia kept them clear in Group 5.
Greece, the European champions in 2004, beat Moldova 3-0 to also stay perfect at the top of Group 2, while the Netherlands are the only other nation with maximum points after a 2-0 home win against Iceland.
The future of France coach Raymond Domenech was left hanging in the balance after his team’s 2-2 draw against Romania in Constanta.
Florentin Petre and Dorin Goian scored a goal apiece in a dominant first half to leave the hosts with the advantage, before Franck Ribery pulled one back for Les Bleus in the 36th minute.
It took until the 69th minute for France to draw level thanks to a stunning drive from Yoann Gourcuff.
“I was worried in the first 15 minutes,” said Domenech, who had to shuffle his team when skipper Patrick Vieira was injured in the warm-up. “But I liked the spirit we showed in the second half and we proved that we have a future in qualifying.”
Only the nine group winners are assured of places in the finals, with the eight best runners-up facing a play-off.
Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo, who missed Portugal’s defeat to Denmark last month because of a knee injury, returned against Sweden in Stockholm, but was unable to inspire victory in a 0-0 draw.
“This wasn’t an easy match. But it was a good result and I feel fine after my injury,” he said.
Italy put their injury concerns to one side to carve out a 0-0 draw against Bulgaria.
The point gave Marcello Lippi’s team seven points from their three games in Group 8.
“The boys played with authority and they tried to win it,” Lippi said.
Italy lead by three points from the Republic of Ireland, who have played a game less.
At Wembley, Wayne Rooney scored twice against Kazakhstan as England stayed on top of Group 6, but the level of performance never matched the highs of last month’s 4-1 win in Croatia.
Fabio Capello’s side had to wait until seven minutes into the second half to take the lead through a Rio Ferdinand header, before defender Alexandr Kuchma put through his own goal to double their advantage.
Zhambyl Kukeyev’s well-taken strike briefly gave the visitors hope, before Rooney’s double and a late goal from substitute Jermain Defoe calmed Wembley nerves.
“In the first half we had a couple of chances and could have gone in one or two goals up. But we knew we had to be patient,” Rooney said. “We knew the chances would come and we would take them.”
In the same group, Ukraine were held to a goalless draw by Croatia, which means England lead the table by two points from Ukraine and five from Croatia.
In Dortmund, Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack and Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski, with his 31st international strike, fired first-half goals to give Germany a 2-1 win over Russia.
Germany remain a point clear at the top of Group 4 on seven points with two wins and a draw after their win over Russia, who are fourth with three points. Andrei Arshavin grabbed Russia’s consolation.
Germany will next face second placed Wales, who saw off Liechtenstein 2-0 in Cardiff, on Wednesday.
Spain cruised to a 3-0 win over Estonia to maintain their 100 percent record after three matches in Group 5, as Juanito, David Villa, with a penalty, and Carlos Puyol found the net.
Scotland’s qualification from Group 9 hangs in the balance after a goalless draw against Norway at Hampden Park.
The Netherlands top the section and have a two-point lead, after a 2-0 win over Iceland, with Joris Mathijsen and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar on target.
In Group 3, Poland put their political problems behind them with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic, while Slovenia are tied for the lead after a 2-0 win over Northern Ireland.
Saturday’s other results:
• Faroe Islands 1, Austria 1
• Finland 1, Azerbaijan 0
• Switzerland 2, Latvia 1
• Hungary 2, Albania 0
• Denmark 3, Malta 0
• Serbia 3, Lithuania 0
• Luxembourg 1, Israel 3
• San Marino 1, Slovakia 3
• Georgia 1, Cyprus 1
• Belgium 2, Armenia 0
• Turkey 2, Bosnia-Herzegovina 1
• Greece 3, Moldova 0
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