Draw sees Poland close on qualification

POLAND moved a step closer to qualifying for Euro 2008 after a goalless draw against a Finland side that could still join them in Switzerland and Austria.

A sell-out crowd at the Olympiastadion roared on the second-placed hosts, seeking to qualify for the finals of a major tournament for the first time, but they could not find a way past Polish keeper Artur Boruc.

The Finns’ Jussi Jaaskelainen was also a busy man during a pulsating game in which each side hit the woodwork.

In the same pool, Belgium’s slim chances of making it into the top two are all but over after a 2-2 draw in Kazakhstan.

They had led 2-0 thanks to goals from Karel Geraerts and Kevin Mirallas but a Dmitry Byakov strike and a Samat Smakov penalty earnt the home side a draw.

Defending European champions Greece continue to lead the way in Group C after a 2-2 draw at second-placed Norway.

Sotirios Kyrgiakos twice put Otto Rehhagel’s men in front but the hosts levelled on each occasion through John Carew and John Arne Riise.

Group E leaders Croatia took another step towards qualification with a 6-0 thrashing of Andorra.

Darijo Srna, Mladen Petric (two), Niko Kranjcar, Eduardo da Silva and Ivan Rakitic did the damage for a rampant Croatian outfit.

The hosts’ misery was completed 14 minutes from time when Genis Garcia was dismissed.

Antonio Di Natale was the hero for Italy with both goals as the Azzurri claimed a vital three points in their Euro 2008 qualifier in Ukraine.

Roberto Donadoni’s side were on the back foot for much of the encounter but Di Natale’s double moved Italy into second place in Group B, above France.

Andriy Shevchenko was arguably the game’s outstanding player, leading the home side forward and scoring an equaliser in the 71st minute, but his goal was not enough to earn at least a point which Ukraine certainly merited.

Meanwhile, Group D table toppers Germany recovered from an early setback to beat Romania 3-1 in a friendly in Cologne with goals from Bernd Schneider, David Odonkor and Lukas Podolski.

Romania took the lead in the third minute when Dorin Goian poked the ball in from Adrian Mutu’s cross.

Captain Schneider headed Germany’s equaliser at the end of the first half, Odonkor scored an eye-catching solo goal in the 65th minute and Podolski lashed in from outside the box with eight minutes to go.

It was a 12th win in 14 matches for Germany under Joachim Loew, and it brought Romania's 14-match unbeaten run to an end.