World Cup 2006/Round-up: Italy were beaten 1-0 by Slovenia and Euro 2004 runners-up Portugal held to a 2-2 draw by Liechtenstein on Saturday as several of Europe's big names struggled in their World Cup qualifying matches.
The Netherlands were held to a draw by Macedonia while European title holders Greece continued to suffer a championship hangover as they drew 1-1 in Ukraine. There were no problems though for Sweden, Russia, Spain and the Czech Republic.
Italy had looked odds-on to progress from a soft-looking Group Five, but are now locked in a tough battle with Slovenia, whose famous home win on Saturday took them top on seven points, one ahead of the Italians.
Italy had the best of the game, but the only goal came eight minutes from time when substitute defender Bostjan Cesar headed in from a free-kick.
Portugal looked on course for a third successive win when they led 2-0 at the break through Pauleta and an own-goal.
But Liechtenstein, thrashed 7-0 by Slovakia in their last qualifier and ranked 151st in the world, levelled through Franz Burgmeier and Thomas Beck.
It was their first point from a World Cup qualifying match after 20 defeats in eight years during which they had scored four goals and conceded 84.
The result boosted Slovakia's hopes of reaching the finals as they are now clear leaders of Group Three after coming from behind to beat Latvia 4-1.
Russia, with a Dmitri Sychev hat-trick, scored four times in 31 second-half minutes to secure a 4-0 win in Luxembourg.
Romania's flying start in Group One was brought to a halt in Prague where Jan Koller's first-half penalty secured the Czechs a 1-0 success, the Euro 2004 semi-finalists' first win. Romania remain on nine points but are joined at the top by Finland, who beat Armenia 3-1.
The Netherlands twice led in Macedonia, but were twice pegged back as Goran Pandev and Ace Stojkov earned the hosts a deserved point.
Spain were comfortable 2-0 home winners over a Belgium team who finished with nine men. Goals by Albert Luque and Raul made the difference in the Group Seven match.
Sweden had a resounding 3-0 home win over Hungary in what is already looking a very tight Group Eight. Goals by Fredrik Ljungberg, Henrik Larsson and Anders Svensson were just reward for Sweden's dominance.
World Cup hosts Germany remained unbeaten under new coach Jurgen Klinsmann with a 2-0 win in Iran - in a friendly played before a frenzied men-only crowd of 110,000.
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