Germany score 13, France 3-1 Italy: French gain revenge
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LONDON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Germany recorded the biggest victory in the history of the European Championship when they crushed San Marino 13-0 in a Group D qualifier on Wednesday.
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Miroslav Klose scores his second goal.
Germany's huge win in Serravalle will increase the growing argument that UEFA should reorganise the competition to prevent the top nations playing one-sided matches against the tiniest countries on the continent.
Lukas Podolski netted four times, while Miroslav Klose, Thomas Hitzlsperger and Bastian Schweinsteiger all scored twice.
France recorded a victory no less sweet when they beat Italy 3-1 in their Group B match in Paris in a quick re-run of the World Cup final of two months ago when the Italians beat them on penalties to become world champions.
Sidney Govou scored twice for France and Thierry Henry got their other goal while Alberto Gilardino scored for the world champions who have made a poor start to the qualifiers following their 1-1 home draw with Lithuania in Naples on Saturday.
Scotland maintained their good start in the same group with a 2-1 win over Lithuania in Kaunas.
There was an important away victory for England who overcame Macedonia 1-0 in Group E to record their second successive win in the group to make their best start to a qualifying competition for 10 years. Peter Crouch scored the only goal to take his tally for England to 11 in his last 10 matches.
The Netherlands also maintained their 100 percent start in Group G with a 3-0 win over Belarus in Eindhoven with two goals from Robin van Persie and one from Dirk Kuyt.
There was a big shock in Belfast where Northern Ireland, who lost 3-0 at home to Iceland on Saturday, recovered to beat Spain 3-2 in Group F with David Healy scoring a hat-trick.
The result evoked memories of one of Northern Ireland's greatest wins -- a 1-0 victory over Spain in the 1982 World Cup finals -- and was the biggest upset of Wednesday's 21 matches.
Georgia looked like they would have that honour when they led Ukraine 2-1 in their Group B match with 30 minutes to go but the hosts hit back to win 3-2 with goals from Ruslan Rotan and Andriy Rusol.
Andriy Shevchenko had put Ukraine ahead after 31 minutes.
Both of the countries that were forced to play away from home won, with Turkey beating Malta 2-0 in their Group C match in Frankfurt and Israel swamping Andorra 4-1 in their Group E game played in Nijmegen, Netherlands.
Turkey were forced to forfeit home advantage following problems in their World Cup qualifier against Switzerland last November while Israel were ordered to play outside the Jewish state because of security worries in the Middle East.
Israel are hoping to have that ruling overturned by European soccer's governing body UEFA next week.
Denmark scored a 2-0 win away to Iceland in Group F while in another match between neighbours Czech Republic beat Slovakia 3-0 in Bratislava in their Group D derby.
Poland just about put Saturday's stunning home loss to Finland behind them with a 1-1 draw against Serbia in Group A while Hungary came back from their 4-1 home defeat by Norway to win their Group C match 3-1 in Bosnia.
No team, of course, scored as many goals as Germany, who stole the spotlight with their biggest competitive win outside Olympic soccer and smashed the old competition record set when Spain beat Malta 12-1 in a qualifier nearly 23 years ago.
o.O 13 goals.......woah that a new record
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italy should have had a penalty when 2-1 down..coupet save the initial shot, as the striker was going for the rebound, he was pulled down by abidal..
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ya i was shocked when i found out the results this morning
13-0 sia... the bet slip also not enuff to mark....
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Italy lost to a better team. 'nuff said. I didn't think they deserved to win the world cup, but they won anyway - through penalties. What a waste.
Anyhow, i thought the 13-0 scoreline was unnecessary. UEFA should make it a point to implement a 'qualifying' round for amateur sides with no professional players if they want to join a european competition.
Reminds me of the 17-0 mauling of the Maldives by Iran.
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free frag.
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No lah, not penalty. The defender was looking away from the striker, he was already on the ground, his eyes was looking at the ball... Its was the italian striker that trip over his leg. The defender's leg was not even moving. Like that how to have penalty?Originally posted by stellazio:italy should have had a penalty when 2-1 down..coupet save the initial shot, as the striker was going for the rebound, he was pulled down by abidal..
The italians are also good at diving & play acting. Good lah, they deserved to lose also. -
abidal was pulling onto the italian shirt or arm ma, even commentator said so. oh well, won;t change the result, france were the better team.Originally posted by zocoss:No lah, not penalty. The defender was looking away from the striker, he was already on the ground, his eyes was looking at the ball... Its was the italian striker that trip over his leg. The defender's leg was not even moving. Like that how to have penalty?
The italians are also good at diving & play acting. Good lah, they deserved to lose also.