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Winning start for Spain's Del Bosque; Italy draws

 

LONDON (AP) -European champion Spain enjoyed a winning start to life under Vicente Del Bosque while Italy and England were held to draws as most European nations prepared for World Cup qualifying in friendlies on Wednesday.

Two months after Luis Aragones ended Spain's 44-year wait for a major trophy, his successor enjoyed a 3-0 victory over Denmark, while runner-up Germany beat Belgium 2-0.

Returning coaches had mixed fortunes. Italy's Marcello Lippi saw his 2006 World Cup-winning side come back from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Austria, while Carlos Queiroz began a second spell leading Portugal with a 5-0 rout of the Faeroe Islands.

Despite England salvaging a 2-2 draw against the Czech Republic in stoppage time, Fabio Capello's side was outclassed and jeered by a disappointed Wembley crowd.

France rallied from a 1-0 deficit to beat Sweden 3-2, Russia drew 1-1 with the Netherlands, and Argentina, missing its best players on Olympic duty, was held to 0-0 at Belarus.

In Copenhagen, Del Bosque's triumphant debut extended Spain's winning streak to 23 matches but was overshadowed by Wednesday's plane crash at a Madrid airport, which claimed more than 150 lives. A minute's silence was held before kickoff, and set the tone for the first half.

"It has been a very painful day for the fatal accident and I want to send my condolences to all the families of the victims," Del Bosque said.

It took Xabi Alonso replacing David Villa at halftime to energize the Spanish, and the midfielder volleyed the visitors ahead in the 50th minute after taking a pass from Liverpool teammate Fernando Torres.

After playmaker Xavi Hernandez doubled the advantage in the 73rd with a low shot, Alonso - unaffected by uncertainty over his Anfield future - added a third in stoppage time, slotting in a half-volley from close range after a pass from Diego Capel.

"We started slowly. You need to be consistent. In the first half we could have been trailing," Del Bosque said. "I am very happy about the victory."

Lippi, who resigned as Italy coach after the 2006 World Cup triumph, endured an unpleasant return when defender Emanuel Pogatetz put Austria ahead in the 14th after catching goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon by surprise.

Marc Janko, who has already scored seven times in five matches for Salzburg this season, added a second in the 39th by sending a deflected strike flying into the top corner.

Just as Italy's prospects looked grim, Alberto Gilardino pulled one back in first-half injury time. Then as Austria's substitute goalkeeper Ramazan Oezcan tried to punch away a cross in the 67th, he managed to knock the ball into his own net for the equalizer.

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Copyright 2008 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
 
 
 
 
 
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