UEFA considers awarding Sweden 3-0 victory after game abandoned
LONDON (AP) An enraged Danish fan marred Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifying
when he leapt onto the field and tried to punch the referee, possibly
costing his team a point and handing three to Sweden.
Denmark's rally from a three-goal deficit at home to earn a 3-3 draw may
be voided by the fan's attempted attack of German referee Herbert Fandel,
who had just awarded a penalty and sent off Danish defender Christian
Poulsen with a minute to go.
The fan was prevented from striking Fandel by Danish players, but the
referee walked off the field and abandoned the match.
Danish officials initially said that UEFA had awarded the game to Sweden
as a 3-0 forfeit, however UEFA officials said they were awaiting the report
of the referee before its disciplinary committee can make a ruling.
A draw would have rekindled Denmark's chances of catching the Group F
leader, but a Swedish victory would put it two points ahead - eight ahead
of its fourth-place neighbor.
Filippo Inzaghi, whose two goals helped AC Milan beat Liverpool in the
European Champions League final, scored twice more as holder Italy edged
the Faeroe Islands 2-1. The expected victory enabled the Italians to climb
two places into second behind France, which beat Ukraine 2-0 with goals
by Franck Ribery and Nicolas Anelka.
Three-time champion Germany beat San Marino 6-0 to close on a place at
the 2008 championship while group rival Czech Republic was held scoreless
by Wales in Ryan Giggs' final international game.
The Germans, who beat San Marino by a record 13-0 in September, didn't
score until the final minutes of the first half in Nuremburg.
"I think we just wanted too much," said Germany midfielder Torsten
Frings, who converted a penalty. "In the second half, we picked up
the pace and cracked them."
Kevin Kuranyi's goal paved the way for a second-half rout with Mario Gomez
scoring twice as Joachim Loew's team moved two points clear atop Group
D with a chance to make it five on Wednesday.
The Czech Republic drew 0-0 in Cardiff by a Welsh team which bid farewell
to Giggs after 16 years in international colors for his country. The Manchester
United midfielder ended his time after 64 appearances and only a top quality
block by Petr Cech thwarted a memorable goal after a trademark weaving
run.
"I'm just disappointed, with the chances we created that we just
couldn't put the ball in the net," Giggs said. "Defensively,
we didn't give them a kick. The Czech Republic are a very good team, but
we made them look ordinary at times."
The Czechs fell two points behind Germany, which has played one less game,
and one ahead of Ireland. The Germans face Slovakia in Wednesday's only
Group E game and can move five points clear with five rounds remaining.
Two teams qualify from each group.
Eduardo Da Silva scored Croatia's' winner at Estonia, Alexandr Kerzhakov
tallied three for Russia in a routine 4-0 victory over Andorra and Israel
won 2-1 at Macedonia to put more pressure on England in Group E.
The results left Croatia the group top with 16 points, two ahead of Russia
and Israel and three more than England.
The English must win at Estonia on Wednesday to prevent its chances from
dwindling further.
England, which drew 1-1 in a friendly with Brazil on Friday, has recalled
former captain David Beckham in a bid to boost its chances.
Elsewhere, defending European champion Greece received first-half goals
by Fanis Gekas and Yiourkas Seitaridis and replaced archrival Turkey atop
Group C, winning 2-0 over Hungary. The Turks twice threw away leads at
Bosnia-Herzegovina and lost 3-2 on a 89th-minute winner by Adnan Custovic.
Poland stayed five points clear atop Group A with a a 3-1 victory at Azerbaijan.
Portugal kept pace by winning 2-1 at Belgium, as did Serbia, which remained
tied for second after a 2-0 victory at fourth-place Finland.
Romania won 2-1 at Slovenia to claim a share the Group G lead with Netherlands,
which won 2-0 in a friendly at South Korea.
, June 4, 2007
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