Czechs bounce back

The Czech Republic put their recent problems behind them as they chalked up a 1-0 victory in Prague to end group one leaders Romania’s 100% World Cup qualifying record.

The home side, who lost their opening qualifier in Holland and whose captain Pavel Nedved recently quit international football, prevailed this time with a first-half Jan Koller penalty – which was scant reward for their dominant display .

The injury-ravaged Czechs were outstanding, with Liverpool striker Milan Baros irrepressible if goalless.

In the same group, two goals from Ipswich forward Shefki Kuqi helped Finland dismiss Armenia for the second time in just over a month, via a hard-fought 3-1 win in Tampere.

First-half strikes from Kuqi and Aleksei Eremenko put the Finns in control before Armen Shahgeldyan’s deflected shot set up a tense second half.

But a late second from Kuqi secured all three points to put Finland level on points with Romania at the top of the group.

David Beckham completed England’s 2-0 group six victory against Wales with a superb 25-yard strike at Old Trafford which evoked memories of his last-gasp free-kick against Greece on the same ground.

But a few minutes later the England captain picked up the booking which rules him out next Wednesday’s qualifier in Azerbaijan with his second foul in quick succession on Ben Thatcher.

He also had to go off with a rib injury following his first clash with the Wales defender but learned after X-rays in hospital that he has no broken bones.

Beckham, whose strike against Greece booked England’s place in the last World Cup finals, ensured victory for his team who had gone ahead via a fourth-minute goal which was officially credited to Frank Lampard but also took a telling deflection off the heel of Michael Owen.

Also in group six, Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan were goalless at half-time in Baku.

Berti Vogts’ job was once more on the line after the Scotland manager’s unbeaten home record in competitive matches was brought to an unhappy end in a 1-0 group five defeat against Norway.

Steffen Iversen’s 64th-minute penalty was enough to hand Norway their first win and leave the Scots with just one point gathered from two Hampden Park fixtures.

James McFadden was sent off for the deliberate handball which conceded the spot-kick, and Vogts was already banished to the stands at half-time because of an altercation with a linesman.