Sloppy Germans routed by Romania
The hosts cruised into a 4-0 lead at half-time as Mihaita Plesan, Razvan Rat and Ionel Danciulescu twice took advantage of poor defending by the Germans.
Gabriel Caramarin added a fifth for Romania and Philipp Lahm’s strike a minute from time was only a small consolation for Germany.
The Germans are in Euro 2004 Group D along with the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Latvia.
Italy and Spain drew 1-1 as former European Player of the Year Roberto Baggio returned after a five-year absence to make his international farewell.
Impressive Spain took the lead in the 53rd minute through substitute Fernando Torres but three minutes later a thundering header from Christian Vieri brought the Italians level.
The Czech Republic, touted as one of the favourites for Euro 2004, suffered their second straight defeat when going down 1-0 to understrength Japan in Prague.
Tatsuhiko Kubo struck in the first half to give Japan a deserved lead and the Asian champions dug in after the break to hold on.
Holland won the battle of two Euro 2004 qualifiers when second-half goals by Roy Makaay, Boudewijn Zenden, John Heitinga and Pierre van Hooijdonk killed off the Greek challenge.
Makaay lit the touchpaper on 50 minutes when converting following good work from Zenden.
Middlesbrough man Zenden got in on the goalscoring act shortly afterwards, capitalising on some excellent work from Wesley Sneijder.
Ajax youngster Heitinga hit the third shortly after the hour and Van Hooijdonk rounded off the goals in the last minute.
Israel, set to contest World Cup Qualifying Group Four with the Republic of Ireland, scraped a 1-1 draw with Moldova.
Moldovan defender Alexandru Covalenco put the ball into his own net just after the half-hour mark but the Eastern Europeans equalised through substitute Serghei Rogaciov.
Norway beat Euro 2004 finalists Russia 3-2 with an experimental Russian side pulling back two late goals to brighten a dismal scoreline.
Martin Andresen opened the scoring in the 25th minute, Sigurd Rushfeldt scored near the end of the first half and Jan Gunnar Solli made it 3-0 just past the hour.
Russia pulled back two goals in the last five minutes. Vladislav Radimov scored in the 85th and Dmitry Kirichenko in the 90th.
Midfielder Hakan Yakin headed the winner five minutes from time to end Switzerland’s poor run of form with a 2-1 victory over Slovenia.
Zlatko Zahovic opened the scoring for Slovenia in first-half injury time but substitute Fabio Celestini fired a 66th-minute equaliser.
Yakin got the goal his all-action performance deserved when he glanced home a Daniel Gygax cross into the far corner five minutes from time.
Belgium thought they had rescued a draw from their home clash with Turkey before Gokdeniz Karadeniz santched a last gasp win.
Wesley Sonck opened the scoring for the home side, however goals either side of the break from Yildaray Basturk and Tolga put the visitors ahead.
Gregory Dufer equalised with just four minutes remaining to level the scores, but it did not last as Karadeniz settled the tie with a 3-2 win.
Brazil showed they mean business ahead of their upcoming World Cup qualifiers following a 4-1 thrashing of Hungary in Budapest.
The contest was over at half time after Luis Fabiano added a brace to Kaka’s opener for the Samba Boys after 33 minutes.
The home fans were celebrating after 57 minutes when Sandor Torghelle, however Brazil’s three-goal cushion was restored when Ronaldinho netted.
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