Alonso on the double as Spain get back to business

TWO GOALS from Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso ensured European champions Spain completed preparations for their World Cup qualification campaign on a high.

Substitute Alonso gave Spain the lead five minutes into the second half of their friendly against Denmark in Copenhagen.

Fernando Torres did well by the goal line to lift the ball over his marker before laying it back to Anfield club-mate Alonso, who volleyed home his second goal for his country from 10 yards out.

Barcelona playmaker Xavi, one of the stars of Spain’s Euro 2008 success, scored a second Spain goal with 18 minutes to go and Alonso added his second in the final minute.

The 3-0 victory gave new national team boss Vicente del Bosque the perfect start. Del Bosque — the former Real Madrid coach — succeeded Luis Aragones after the finals in Austria and Switzerland.

There was a minute’s silence before the match following yesterday afternoon’s plane crash at Madrid’s Barajas. Both teams also wore black armbands as a mark of respect while a planned tribute to Spain in their first match since this summer’s European Championship success was also cancelled due to the tragedy.

Montenegro, who face Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland in a Group Eight qualifier next month, claimed a 3-3 draw in Hungary.

Watford striker Tamas Priskin opened the scoring for Hungary after 29 minutes, but the visitors were level on the stroke of half-time when Stevan Jovetic scored a penalty.

Sporting Lisbon ace Simon Vukcevic put the Montenegrins ahead just after the break — but their lead last just a few minutes as Tamas Hajnal levelled.

Jovetic (68) scored again to restore Montenegro’s lead but Hajnal was again on target from the penalty spot with just minutes left to seal a draw for the Hungarians.

Germany overcame Belgium 2-0, with Bastian Schweinsteiger converting a penalty before Marko Marin added the second. Meanwhile, France came out on top in Sweden after a five-goal thriller with a Sidney Govou brace proving crucial.

Belarus, who will host England in an October qualifier, demonstrated how they could be a tough nut to crack as they gained a creditable goalless draw at home to Argentina in Minsk.

The South Americans were missing some of their star performers who are on Olympic duty in Beijing, but Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez did feature in their line-up.

Honours were even in a rematch of the Euro 2008 quarter-final between Russia and Holland in Moscow.

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie gave Holland a first-half lead but Konstantin Zyryanov’s penalty with 13 minutes to go earned a draw for Guus Hiddink’s men, who are in the same qualifying group as Wales.

The equaliser came when Dmitri Torbinsky, scorer of the crucial second goal in Basle and on as substitute last night, went down under a clumsy challenge by Giovanni Van Bronckhorst.

Swedish referee Peter Frojdfeldt awarded a penalty despite Dutch protests, and Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Zyryanov coolly tucked the ball past Stekelenburg for 1-1.

England’s main Group Six rivals Croatia claimed a 3-2 victory over Slovenia in Maribor.

Slaven Bilic’s team — who take on the Three Lions on September 10 — trailed 2-1 but recovered with goals from Darijo Srna and Ivan Rakitic.

Euro 2008 co-hosts Switzerland were also on the right end of a five-goal thriller as they beat Cyprus 4-1 in Ottmar Hitzfeld’s first game in charge.

Valentin Stocker got the German coach’s era up and running after eight minutes before Hakin Yakin made it 2-0, 20 minutes later.

Constantinos Makrides pulled a goal back 10 minutes before the break before Alain Nef and Johan Vonlanthen completed the rout. Elsewhere, Leverkusen forward Fanis Gekas scored a brace Greece beat Slovakia 2-0.

Poland — who will face Northern Ireland in Group Three — suffered a 1-0 defeat in Ukraine, another of the sides in England’s group.

Finland, in Wales’ qualifying group, beat Israel 2-0.

Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov showed he has maintained his sharpness during pre-season with two goals for Bulgaria against Bosnia.

Berbatov put his domestic issues to one-side to blast home an excellent double (26 & 57) in Zenica.

Senijad Ibricic pulled one back on the hour for Bosnia — but Bulgaria held out for the win.