EUROPA LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL FIRST LEG

CROATIA all but guaranteed themselves a place at Euro 2012 after hammering hosts Turkey in the first leg of their play-off at the Ataturk Stadium last night.

ALBERT RIERA struck astoppage-time winner as European champions Spain bounced back from a half-time deficit to defeat Turkey inIstanbul and further strengthen their stranglehold on Group Five.

Arsenal youngster Aaron Ramsey was drafted into Arsene Wenger’s starting line-up against Fenerbahce among five changes made from the side that lost to Stoke at the weekend.

SUBSTITUTE Semih Senturk’s late strike lifted Fenerbahce to a 3-2 win in their Champions League last 16 first leg tie against Sevilla.

INSURGENTS threatened to behead a kidnapped US Marine and a Pakistani driver unless the Americans release all Iraqis in “occupation jails,” according to a videotape on Arab television.