Kerr off to losing start

Group Seven:Serbia edged closer to next year's World Cup finals in South Africa after goals from Milan Jovanovic and Neven Subotic gave them a 2-0 win over Brian Kerr's Faroe Islands in their Group Seven qualifier yesterday.

The result leaves Serbia top of the group with 18 points from seven matches, eight more than 2006 finalists France who have two games in hand.

Group One:Sweden outclassed Malta 4-0 yesterday to maintain their faint hopes of reaching next year's World Cup finals.

Goals from Kim Kallstrom, Daniel Majstorovic, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcus Berg sealed a victory that took the fourth-placed Swedes up to nine points from six matches.

They trail leaders Denmark by seven points with four matches to play. Hungary are second on 13 points.

Group Four:Gus Hiddink's Russia thumped Finland 3-0 last night, closing the gap on group leaders Germany and damaging Finnish hopes of reaching the finals in South Africa.

Goals by Alexander Kerzhakov in the 26th and 53rd minutes and Konstantin Zyryanov in the 71st secured the visiting side’s victory as Finland rarely threatened Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeyev.

Russia have 15 points from six matches, one behind Germany and five ahead of Finland with Wales in fourth place with six points.

Group Six:In England's group Ukraine battled back for a 2-1 win over Kazakhstan to keep up the pressure on second-placed Croatia yesterday. Ukraine, missing captain Andriy Shevchenko and centre-back Oleksandr Kucher, fell behind in the 19th minute after a header from Tanat Nusserbayev.

The home side hit back through Serhiy Nazarenko, who curled in a free-kick 14 minutes later. Nazarenko then got the winner two minutes into the second half, driving the ball home.

Group Nine:Macedonia moved level with second-placed Scotland after beating Iceland 2-0 in their qualifier in Skopje yesterday.

An early strike from Aco Stojkov and a late one from his replacement Filip Ivanovski secured the three points for the hosts, enabling them to leapfrog their opponents in the race for the runner-up spot behind already-qualified Holland who beat Norway 2-0 with goals from Andre Ooijer and Arjen Robben.