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On Wednesday, the last year's 2008 European Championship qualifying matches were played in the stadiums of the Old Continent, notable for giving many teams the opportunity to bounce back after weekend failures, while others had to admit the superiority of their opponents and were brought down to earth. The most impressive victories were achieved by the Croatia and Poland teams, who respectively defeated England and Portugal at home. Scotland experienced their first defeat in Ukraine, while Wales and Ireland recovered after humiliations. The planet's champion Italy earned their second victory, Russia and Northern Ireland defeated Estonia and Latvia after a tough battle, Malta achieved a historic win, Sweden secured their fourth victory, and other favorites celebrated tougher or easier wins in other matches. Group A leaders Serbia had to wait for over 50 minutes to score the first goal against Armenia - Marko Pantelić missed a penalty in the first half, while Dejan Stanković successfully converted a penalty in the second half, followed by Danko Lazović adding a second goal in the 61st minute. Armenia secured a late consolation goal in the dying minutes through Nikola Zigic. Finland and Belgium also defeated their infamous opponents - Finland beat Kazakhstan after goals from Jari Litmanen and Sami Hyypia, while Belgium crushed Azerbaijan at home. Timmy Simons scored a penalty, Kevin Vandenbergh scored at the beginning of the second half, and Moussa Dembele scored a third goal but was soon sent off with a red card. One of the most interesting matches of the day took place in Poland, where the hosts managed to defeat Portugal for the first time. After Mariusz Lewandowski's shot, Ebi Smolarek was quick to follow up and scored the first goal, and again, after nine minutes, E.Smolarek scored a second goal as Portugal made a mistake in defense. The guests looked completely disoriented, and Poland could have increased their lead, but Maciej Zurawski missed a chance, and several other opportunities were wasted. Towards the end of the match, the visitors woke up, but Cristiano Ronaldo missed a chance by shooting wide when one-on-one with goalkeeper Wojciech Kowalewski. However, in the last minute, Portugal managed to score a consolation goal through Nuno Gomes, but it wasn't enough for Luís Felipe Scolari's team to escape defeat. Seven teams in the "mortals" group B didn't play this time, including Lithuania. Scotland lost their first points after going undefeated in the first two games, as they had to admit defeat to the Ukrainian team at home. The Scots chose a defensive tactic for the third consecutive game, which did not work this time, as the Ukrainians dominated the field and took the lead after an hour, with Alexander Kucher scoring the first goal after a penalty. Scotland did not give up, and after Kenny Miller's shot hit the crossbar, the same forward missed a great opportunity to score with his head. The Ukrainians took advantage of this, and in the last minute, after a mistake by "Hearts" defender Robbie Neilson in front of Andriy Shevchenko, the latter converted a penalty and secured the victory. Italy also secured their second consecutive victory by defeating the resistance of Georgia in away game. Daniele De Rossi scored the opening goal with a shot from 35 yards, but in the middle of the first half, Georgiy Shashiashvili scored from the penalty area to equalize. The game was open, and 35 minutes into the game, after a great chance from Gianluca Zambrotta's pass, Luca Toni missed a clear chance against the home goalkeeper, but the Italians narrowly escaped a penalty, as just before halftime Zurab Kizanishvili's strong shot hit the Italian goalpost. However, in the second half, Jaba Kankava received a second yellow card for a rough foul, and Mauro Camoranesi restored Italy's lead with a header from a free kick, and in the 72nd minute, Simone Perrotta sealed the victory for "Squadra Azzurra" with a shot that deflected off defenders into Georgia's goal. Italy, like the Ukrainians, climbed over Lithuania in the standings, as they earned 4 points in 3 games and were in 5th place. Taking advantage of Scotland's failure, Lithuania's B group leaders were inactive this time. The Scots lost their first points, while the Ukrainian team managed to admit the home team's superiority in Ukraine. The Scots chose a defensive tactic for the third consecutive game, this time unsuccessfully, as the Ukrainians dominated the field and broke through after an hour when the ball ended up with Alexander Kucher after a penalty, and he scored the first goal. The Scots did not give up, and after Kenny Miller's shot hit the crossbar, the same forward missed a great opportunity to score with his head. The Ukrainians took advantage of this, and in the last minute, after a mistake by "Hearts" defender Robbie Neilson in front of Andriy Shevchenko, the latter converted a penalty and secured the victory. Italy also secured their second consecutive victory by defeating the resistance of Georgia in away game. Daniele De Rossi scored the opening goal from 35 yards, but in the middle of the first half, Georgiy Shashiashvili's goal from the penalty area leveled the score. The game was open, and 35 minutes in, after a mistake by the home defenders, Luca Toni, who found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, hit the crossbar, and for that, the Italians almost paid dearly, as just before the break, Zurab Khizanishvili's powerful shot hit the visitors' goalpost. However, in the second half, Jaba Kankava received a second yellow card for a rough foul, and Mauro Camoranesi restored Italy's lead with a header from a free kick, and in the 72nd minute, "Squadra Azzurra" secured the victory through Simone Perrotta, whose shot deflected off defenders straight into the goal of Georgia. Italy won like the Ukrainians and climbed above Lithuania in the tournament standings, with 4 points from 3 games and in 5th place. Lithuania's failure in the second game against the group B leader also disappeared this time. The Lithuanians lost their first points, while the Scottish team was forced to admit the superiority of the home team in Ukraine. In the last away game, the Scots selected a defensive tactic for the third consecutive game, which this time did not pay off as the Ukrainians dominated the field and moved forward after playing an hour when after a penalty shot the ball ended up with Alexander Kucher and he scored the first goal. Scotland did not give up and after Kenny Miller's shot hit the crossbar, the same forward missed a great opportunity to head the ball past the goalkeeper. The Ukrainians took advantage and in the final minutes, after a mistake by "Hearts" defender Robbie Neilson in front of Andriy Shevchenko, the latter scored a penalty and affirmed the victory. Italy also secured their second consecutive victory by defeating Georgia at home. Daniele De Rossi scored the first goal from 35 yards, but in the middle of the first half, Georgiy Shashiashvili scored from the penalty area to even out the score. The game was in the open, and due to mistakes by the home defenders, Luca Toni, who was one-on-one with the goalkeeper after a Gianluca Zambrotta pass, missed a great chance, and for that, the Italians narrowly avoided a penalty as Zurab Khizanishvili's powerful shot struck the visitors' crossbar just before the halftime break. However, in the second half, Jaba Kankava received his second yellow card for a rough mistake, and Mauro Camoranesi quickly restored Italy's lead with a header, and in the 72nd minute, "Squadra Azzurra" secured the victory through Simone Perrotta, whose shot deflected off defenders and flew into the Georgia goal. Italy defeated Georgia and with the victory, like the Ukrainians, surpassed Lithuania in the tournament table, where with 4 points from 3 games, they are in 5th place. Taking advantage of Scotland's failure, Lithuania's group B’s leaders were inactive this time. The Scots wasted their first points after going undefeated in the first two games, as they had to admit defeat to the Ukrainian team at home. With the third defensive tactic chosen by Scotland in a row, which did not work this time, as the Ukrainians dominated the field and after an hour, they advanced when after a penalty, Aleksandr Kucher kicked the ball and scored the first goal. The Scots did not surrender, and following Kenny Miller's shot at the crossbar, that same forward missed a perfect chance to head it in. The Ukrainians capitalized and in the last minutes, after a newcomer "Hearts" defender Robbie Neilson's mistake in front of Andriy Shevchenko, the latter netted the penalty shot marking the victory. By the victory continued their streak with Italy securing the win in their second consecutive victory by mesmerizing the opponent. Italy scored the opener with Daniele De Rossi striking from 35 meters, however, in the middle of the first half, Georgiy Shashiashvili equalized for the home side. The game continued to sway both ways, as in the 35th minute a mistake by the home side defenders gifted a chance to Luca Toni, who failed to convert, for which the Italians almost paid dearly, as just before the break Zurab Khizanishvili's powerful strike hit the Italian goal frame. However, when Jaba Kankava received a second yellow card in the second half, Mauro Camoranesi quickly restored the lead with a header, and in the 72nd minute, Italy's victory was solidified by Simone Perrotta, as his deflected shot found its way into the Georgian goal. Italy triumphed and, like the Ukrainians, overtook Lithuania in the tournament standings, placing in 5th with 4 points from 3 games. Seizing the opportunity opened up by Scotland's misfortune, Lithuania was the only group B team not to play this time. Scotland dropped their much-needed first points after remaining undefeated in their first two games, as they had to admit defeat to the Ukrainian counterpart on their home soil. Scotland maintained the defensive stance for the third successive match, but this time it backfired as the Ukrainians dominated the turf, breaking the deadlock after an hour mark when a penalty kick found its way to Aleksandr Kucher, who converted to score. Scotland didn't give up, and with Kenny Miller's chance getting denied by the crossbar, the forward once again failed to fire a swift header. Shortly after, the Ukrainians capitalized, maneuvering a dramatic late strike, with striker Andriy Shevchenko enhancing the lead after a newcomer "Hearts" defender Robbie Neilson’s fumble. Italy secured their second consecutive victory, in which Daniele De Rossi's stunning opener was equaled when Georgiy Shashiashvili swiftly capitalized from the penalty spot. The duel was intense throughout, as a defensive error by home defenders allowed Italy's Mauro Camoranesi to restore the lead with a firm header. By the 72nd minute, Italy solidified their victory when Simone Perrotta cleverly nudged the ball across the line after defender's interference. The win maintained Italy among the high-ranked team as they overtook Lithuania on the table with 4 points from 3 matches, placing them in 5th position. As Scotland faltered with an ineffective defensive strategy in their third game, Lithuania took a backseat this time without participating. The Scots dropped their first points of the season after notching unbeaten runs in the initial two games, succumbing to the Ukranian squad on their home ground. The Scot's third consecutive defensive tactics deployment saw a snag as the Ukrainians dominated the field, maneuvering a breakthrough post an hour after Aleksandr Kucher converted a penalty. Undeterred, a failed attempt by Kenny Miller hitting the crossbar, and missing an easy header opportunity followed, allowing the Ukrainians to counter nudge in a crucial late strike, with Andre Shevchenko securing the deal following "Hearts" defender Robbie Neilson's lapse. Italy too clinched triumph in their secondary consecutive victory, with Daniele De Rossi setting the pace with a staggering effort from distance. Despite Georgian Georgiy Shashiashvili leveling the score from a penalty shot, Italy capitalized with a robust header from Mauro Camoranesi to regain the advantage. With Simone Perrotta sealing the victory, Italy hit the mark maneuvering a blocked shot into the net, climbing in the tournament standings, superseding Lithuania in 5th place with 4 points over 3 matches. Utilizing Scotland's mishaps, Lithuania's B groups leaders found a scale this time. As Scotland missed the shot at the group lead after an uneven effort against the Ukranian pool, Lithuania opted for a spot on the backseat. Scotland, following the schemes of the protective belt around their strategies, stumbled this time around as the Ukranians leveraged the fields, trouncing in the first goal after a break through the 60th minute mark post penalty sought out Alexander Kucher to net one in. Scotland kept the vigil, yet the threat loomed large with Kenny Miller's shot knocking over the crossbar, showcasing a loose header to complete the play. A fatal snag moment of lag unfolded in the din, this time following a debut of "Hearts" defense, Robbie Neilson succumbed to a mistake and allowed the ball to slip past. On the other hand, Italy embraced their rhythm, welding a comprehensive game under their belt in a sequence against Georgia. Italy made the breakthrough when Daniele De Rossi jolted in from a sharp distance, shadowed shortly by Georgiy Shashiashvili from the penalty, striking back. The offense came towering when Mauro Camoranesi clinched a header, bringing them back to their winning ways. As Simone Perrotta seized the play, Italy accentuated the victory, burying the goal amid the chaos, elevating them through the charts in the tournament standings, edging out Lithuania to a 5th spot with 4 points in 3 fixtures. Capitalizing the misgivings of Scotland, Lithuania escaped the game in the group B with no matches this time around. As Scotland missed a heartbeat on the scoreboard spearheading into an uncharted realm, the Ukranian monarch rode over the battles, emerging beyond the horizon with a sweeping 60 minutes play, as a penalty manoeuver aimed at the Ukranaian side connected the dots with Aleksandr Kucher restoring the drive-in. Scotland persevered, yet thwarted by a crossbar in Kenny Miller's way, a fumbled header followed, setting the stage for the Ukrainians to exploit the discomfort, midnight, the opportunist Shevchenko’s late strike paralyzed in the moment Robbie Neilson’s dropped baton were intercepted. In the meantime, Italy surged, carving a brave bout against Georgia, unleashing proportions as Daniele De Rossi pitched in from the distance striking an urgency, converging with Georgiy Shashiashvili’s riposte from the penalty spot to balance the sheets. The ebb and flow continued but splintered in the 35th-minute muddle, Luca Toni attacking one-on-one against the goalkeeper spinning the shot wide, almost paying the price, as Zurab Khizanishvili ushered a blooming shot defying the front. Entitlement to disgrace, the second half fell in duo as Kankava plucked the second yellow in exchange for the tussle. Italy tapped into the window, Mauro Camoranesi echoed the second wind with a formidable header, unleashed by Simone Perrotta, Italy descended into the revelry, coaxing a clawback amid defenders, volleying the surge to Gorgia's fortifications. Italy tamped over the chart, encompassing the shadows of Lithuania with 4 points snug over the 3 celebratory moments in the game. Seizing the gap of Scotland's flimsiness, Lithuania spared the stir in the games chart of Group B - steering away with no battles this time. As Scotland staggered in their standoff strategy falter with the itinerary fading after the horizon, the Ukrainian realm spiraled off the charts turning the tide post an hour, Alessio Kucher steered a penalty course past the blur into the frame. Scootland remained vigilant, the shot clinking the crossbar and a botched header spurned the opportunity, ushering the Ukranians for a late flair, as newcomer "Hearts" defender Robbie Neilson's waned descent opened room for Shevchenko's late strike. Italy's script unfolded, cradling the game in an array against Georgia, as Daniele De Rossi cultivated the rhythm with a sublime shot from the distance, however tethered by Georgiy Shashiashvili’s retaliation from the penalty to level the scales. The bout dived in motion with the fumble in 35-minute, Luca Toni cannoning in one-on-one versus the keeper shied away, almost paying the price, as Zurab Khizanishvili's fiery shot kissed the goalpost cheered by the sidekicks. While the second half unfurled with blemish falling on Kankava as yellow painted the reel, Mauro Camoranesi unlocked the second door, the thunderous header merged by Simone Perrotta winding the chain, Italy clinched the prize, extricating the shot of the defenders, escorted by Georgia's ramparts. Italy transcended the shards of Lithuania in the standings climbing to 5th with 4 points over 3 matches. Match Statistics: Group A: Kazakhstan 0 - 2 Finland 29' [0 – 1] Jari Litmanen 65' [0 - 2] Sami Hyypia Serbia 3 - 0 Armenia 54' [1 - 0] Dejan Stankovic (Penalty) 61' [2 - 0] Danko Lazovic 90' [3 - 0] Nikola Zigic 76' Rafael Nazaryan (Armenia) sent off Poland 2 - 1 Portugal 9' [1 - 0] Ebi Smolarek 18' [2 - 0] Ebi Smolarek 90' [2 - 1] Nuno Gomes Belgium 3 - 0 Azerbaijan 24' [1 - 0] Timmy Simons (Penalty) 47' [2 - 0] Kevin Vandenbergh 82' [3 - 0] Moussa Dembele 83' Moussa Dembele (Belgium) sent off Group B: Ukraine 2 - 0 Scotland 60' [1 - 0] Oleksandr Kucher 90' [2 - 0] Andriy Shevchenko (Penalty) 86' Steven Pressley (Scotland) sent off Georgia 1 - 3 Italy 16' [0 - 1] Daniele De Rossi 26' [1 - 1] Georgiy Shashiashvili 63' [1 - 2] Mauro Camoranesi 72' [1 - 3] Simone Perrotta 60' Jaba Kankava (Georgia) sent off France 5 - 0 Faroe Islands 2' [1 - 0] Louis Saha 22' [2 - 0] Thierry Henry 76'
