Spain rejoice top spot after beating France

Montenegro hold England to preserve lead in World Cup qualifiers.

PARIS: World champions Spain rejoiced as they regained control of 2014 World Cup qualifying Group I with a 1-0 win over France, Pedro Rodriguez scoring the only goal of the game in the second-half at the Stade de France.

Pedro’s scrambled effort just before the hour mark was Spain’s reward for dominating possession and assured play despite coming into the game trailing France by two points at the top of the group.

The home team was always a threat going forward but could not find a way past Victor Valdes in the Spain goal and finished the game with 10 men after young midfielder Paul Pogba was sent off late on.

With just three matches left to play, Spain now lead France by a point, with only one team qualifying automatically for the finals in Brazil.

“I am happy tonight not only because the three points puts us in a good situation, but also because we stuck to our style,” said Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque.

“We could have won by a greater margin in the end.”

Montenegro celebrate two-point lead

Montenegro were thrilled with their performance as they produced a rousing second-half display to earn a 1-1 draw at home to England that enabled them to preserve a two-point lead in their World Cup qualifying group.

Wayne Rooney appeared to have atoned for his red card on his last visit to Podgorica by giving England a sixth-minute lead that looked set to send Roy Hodgson’s side to the top of Group H.

However, the hosts rallied after the interval at a raucous Podgorica City Stadium and claimed a deserved equaliser in the 76th minute when substitute Dejan Damjanovic bundled home.

“We stopped playing after the break for 20 or 30 minutes and away from home you can’t afford to do that,” England captain Steven Gerrard told ITV.



“They took control in the second half apart from the last 10 minutes, but we are still confident we can finish top of the group. We still have a chance.”

Germany ease past resilient Kazakhstan

Germany’s spirits were ignited as they remained in control as a three-goal barrage within nine first-half minutes set them up for a 4-1 home victory over a resilient Kazakhstan to remain in control of their 2014 World Cup qualifying group.

“We dominated the game,” said Germany’s Ilkay Gundogan. “Their goal was a bit unlucky but we invested a lot in this game. It wasn’t easy against a team like Kazakhstan, who defended so deep.”

In other matches, Argentina suffered a scare before coming from behind to secure a 1-1 draw with Bolivia, while. Giovanni Trapattoni refused to write off Ireland’s World Cup hopes after their demoralising 2-2 home draw against Austria here at Lansdowne Road.

On the other hand, Mario Balotelli scored both goals as Italy defeated Malta 2-0 here to move three points clear at the top of their World Cup qualifying group B.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 28^th, 2013.