A narrow win for the Czech Republic in their Group 1 qualifier against Andorra. That’s a narrow 8-1 victory. One of the heroes of Istanbul, Vladimir Smicer, scored the Czech Republic’s third on 38 minutes before being substituted at half-time. Another Red, Milan Baros, scored their fifth after 80 minutes.
In the same group Holland beat Romania 2-0, with reported Liverpool target Dirk Kuyt getting the second for the Dutch.
In Group Five John Arne Riise picked up a yellow card in Norway’s goalless draw against Italy.
Jerzy Dudek had a quiet night between the sticks for Poland as they went to the top of Group Six in Azerbaijan. Poland won 3-0 against the team they beat 8-0 at home in March.
A lot of interest from a Liverpool perspective in the Group Seven game between Spain and Lithuania. Current Reds Luis Garcia and Xabi Alonso were substitutes for Spain. Alonso stayed on the bench but Garcia came on after 61 minutes in place of Del Horno. Also on the bench was the Villareal keeper Jose Reina, who has been strongly linked with a move to Anfield later this month. The latest player linked with the Reds, Raul, played for 79 minutes for the Spaniards.