Wins for Italy, England and Northern Ireland

Alberto Aquilani struck twice to hand Group Eight leaders Italy a 2-1 win over a plucky Montenegro tonight.

The midfielder, who replaced Riccardo Montolivo in Italy's only change from Saturday's 0-0 draw in Bulgaria, slid home his first international goal on eight minutes after goalkeeper Vukasin Poleksic had parried Simone Pepe's cross.

Mirko Vucinic, who plays in Italy with AS Roma, brought a talented Montenegro level following a counter attack but Aquilani's deflected effort on the half hour put the world champions back in front.

Italy top Group Eight with 10 points from four games and next travel to Montenegro in March.

In tonight's other match in Ireland's qualifying group, goalkeeper Georgi Petkov produced a string of fine saves to help Bulgaria secure a 0-0 draw with Georgia.

The home team dominated the first half but failed to capitalise as Giorgi Shashiashvili, Levan Kobiashvili and substitute David Siradze all missed good opportunities.

Elsewhere, England beat Belarus 3-1 to chalk up their fourth straight win in their Group Six World Cup qualifying campaign  with two goals from Wayne Rooney and one from Steven Ger rard securing their victory.

Gerrard fired England ahead after 11 minutes with a superbly taken 30-metre shot before Belarus equalised 17 minutes later with Pavel Sitko providing the final header to round off a 23-pass move.

Rooney shot England back in front after 50 minutes following excellent work by his forward partner Emile Heskey and he added his second of the game 16 minutes from time. Gerrard had a good chance to score a fourth for England after 85 minutes, but hit a post with the goal gaping.

Northern Ireland's all-time leading goalscorer David Healy inspired his team to a 4-0 win over San Marino in their World Cup Group Three qualifier in Belfast, their first win of the campaign.
   
Healy extended his scoring record to 35 with a neat shot through the legs of keeper Federico Valentini on the half-hour mark. His deft lay-off set up the second just before halftime, Grant McCann hammering in a left-footed strike from 20 metres.

Healy was also instrumental in the third goal, his parried shot falling into the path of Kyle Lafferty who calmly slotted home in the 56th minute.

San Marino, who played the last half-hour with 10 men after Mauro Marani was shown a straight red for slapping Michael O'Connor in the face, were further punished by Steven Davis's 75th-minute strike at the near post.

A fine long-range strike from Piotr Trochowski earned Group Four favourites Germany a 1-0 win over Wales.
   
Germany, fresh from a 2-1 win over Russia on Saturday, had most of the possession and virtually all the chances but solid Welsh defence threatened to frustrate them.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, Michael Ballack and Philipp Lahm all came close before Trochowski found his range with a sweet strike from outside the box with a little under 20 minutes to go.

Victory strengthens Germany's position at the top of the group, with 10 points from four matches.