Scotland crush Faroes Islands

Qualifying round-up: Scotland blitzed the Faroe Islands 6-0 in their opening Euro 2008 qualifier at Celtic Park this afternoon, their biggest win for 37 years.

They led 5-0 at halftime with goals from Darren Fletcher, Kris Boyd (two), James McFadden and Kenny Miller before 50,103 fans. Substitute Garry O'Connor added the sixth four minutes from time.

Manchester United midfielder Fletcher began the rout by knocking a four metre shot into the net after seven minutes and Everton's McFadden made it 2-0 with a magnficient low, curling effort into the far corner from the edge of the box three minutes later.

Boyd squeezed home a 24th minute penalty between the left post and diving goalkeeper Jakup Mikkelsen and five minutes later Kenny Miller saw his tame spot-kick squirm under the keeper for number four.

Boyd ran free to score the fifth seven minutes from the interval after Mikkelsen blocked his first shot 12 metres out.

O'Connor, of Lokomotiv Moscow, drilled the sixth goal home after 86 minutes. The 6-0 victory is the Scots best win since they beat Cyprus 8-0 at home in a World Cup qualifier in 1969. The Faores have now lost their two opening Group B qualifiers by the same score after going down 6-0 to Georgia last month.

Meanwhile, Lawrie Sanchez saw his Northern Ireland side humbled 3-0 by a team 34 places below them in the world rankings at Windsor Park.

This opening Euro 2008 qualifier was meant to herald the start of a bright new era. Instead a nightmare unfolded in front of a disbelieving public packed into the old ground.

With Spain to come on Wednesday, Northern Ireland boss Sanchez was looking to get points on board. They played well -  for 13 minutes - before Iceland and the irrepressible Eidur Gudjohnsen took charge.

The Barcelona forward became Iceland's joint top-scorer as the visitors took charge. Gunnar Heidar Thorvaldsson and Hermann Hreidarsson were on target before Gudjohnsen added a third, his 17th international goal.

Northern Ireland threw themselves into a goalless second half and had plenty of chances, including a disallowed offside goal from David Healy, but to no avail.