Denmark chalked up a sensational 3-2 victory over Italy in Naples last night after coming back from two goals down to deny the hosts an automatic place at the Euro 2000 finals.
Dino Zoff's Group One leaders needed only a draw to qualify for next year championships, but their golden opportunity was hopelessly squandered in a match which the Danes, playing in their final qualifying match, deserved to win for sheer courage alone.
Diego Fuser opened the scoring with a free-kick from 25 metres after 10 minutes and Inter Milan hero Christian Vieri made it 2-0.
Italy looked to be cruising to the finals until Martin Jorgensen pulled one back for the Danes with a penalty just before the break. Substitute Morten Wieghorst equalised in the 56th minute - before later being sent off for a second bookable offence - and the winner came in the 63rd when Italy defender Christian Panucci deflected home a shot from Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Denmark are now level with Zoff's men on 14 points. Italy, who also finished the tie with 10 men after a red card for substitute Giuliano Giannichedda, will now have to avoid any further blunders in their final match away to Belarus on October 9th.
World champions France had to come from behind to beat Armenia 3-2 and keep alive their hopes of qualification. An early Karapet Mikaelian goal was cancelled out on the stroke of half-time by a Youri Djorkaeff penalty before second-half goals from Zinedine Zidane and Lilian Laslandes wrapped up the victory.
An injury-time penalty from Armen Shahgueldian ensured a nervous climax for France, however, who were reduced to 10 men by the dismissal of Frederic Dehu.
Meanwhile, Norway, with a 4-0 win over Slovenia, and Sweden, with a 1-0 win over Luxembourg, won their respective groups.
Athletic Bilbao's strike pair of Ismael Urzaiz and Julen Guerrero scored three goals each to help Spain qualify with an 8-0 home victory over Cyprus on Wednesday. Spain, who lost 3-2 to Cyprus in their opening qualifier, have 18 points from their seven matches - including six wins in succession - and cannot be overtaken at the top of group six.
Cyprus can still qualify for the play-offs if they beat Austria in their final game and Spain beat Israel.
Urzaiz scored a trio of goals as Spain went on the rampage midway through the first half, scoring five before the break. Guerrero got his third, arguably the best of the night, 11 minutes into the second half with a thunderbolt from outside the box.
Romania, who drew 1-1 with Portugal in Bucharest, are guaranteed to progress either as Group Seven winners, which looks likely as they are away to Liechtenstein in their final match, or as the best runners-up.
