Podolski to the four as Germany crush Andorra
Fresh from their 1-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland on Saturday night, when a Podolski goal separated the sides, the victory is a record in a European Championship qualifying match — bettering Spain’s 12-1 victory over Malta in December 1983.
Joachim Loew’s side were 6-0 up by the interval in Serravalle, San Marino, against hopeless opposition and they never eased up as they humiliated their mostly amateur opponents.
Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and Thomas Hitzlsperger all scored two goals each with Michael Ballack, Arne Friedrich and Bernd Schneider (penalty) also on target.
Germany’s all-time record win is a 16-0 win over Russia in the 1912 Olympics. The result is the worst in San Marino’s history.
In the same group, Libor Sionko struck a first half brace and set up another to give the Czech Republic a comfortable 3-0 win over Slovakia in Bratislava.
The Rangers forward found the net in the 10th minute and again 11 minutes later, before playing in Jan Koller to wrap things up midway through the second half, ensuring the visitors swapped places with Slovakia in the race for qualification.
Sionko put the visitors ahead after 10 minutes when he headed home a left-wing cross from Marek Jankulovski seconds after he hit the woodwork.
The agile midfielder scored again, 11 minutes later, with a low shot into the left-hand corner from Jan Koller’s pass.
“We showed some quality going forward, but our also defence did not allow many chances for the Slovak team,” Sionko said.
Towering forward Koller made it 3-0 for the 2004 Euro semi-finalists in the 57th minute, driving home Sinko’s low pass from close range after Tomas Rosicky’s clever low free kick through the Slovak defence.
The Czechs have a 100% record in Group D after beating Wales 2-1 in their opening match on Saturday.
Elsewhere Holland produced a convincing display to comfortably beat Belarus 3-0 and stand alone at the top of Group G.
Robin van Persie scored two goals either side of half-time. New Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt added the third for Holland in injury time.
England’s Group E opponents Russia and Croatia started their Euro 2008 qualifying campaigns with a goalless draw in Moscow.
Croatia were denied a second-half penalty after substitute Mladen Petric’s shot was charged down by what appeared to be the hands of Russian defender Sergei Ignashevich.
Israel subjected Group E minnows Andorra to another heavy defeat as they cruised to a handsome 4-1 win in the Netherlands, inspired by West Ham midfielder Yossi Benayoun.
In Group B, Andriy Rusol scored with 10 minutes remaining to give Ukraine all three points from a five-goal thriller against Georgia in Kiev.
Turkey endured a frustrating time against Malta’s defence, but eventually enjoyed a 2-0 win to collect all three points in their Group C clash.
Goals from substitute Nihat Kahveci and Tumer Metin were enough for the win in a game played behind closed doors in neutral venue Frankfurt, as punishment for Turkey’s part in the fracas against Switzerland in the World Cup 2006 play-offs.
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