AUSTRIA started their qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup in style with a shock 3-1 victory over France in Group 7 last night.
Forward Marc Janko deflected a long-range free kick by captain Andreas Ivanschitz to open the scoring on eight minutes and midfielder Rene Aufhauser deflected another set piece by Ivanschitz to double the advantage shortly before the break.
France
winger Sidney Govou reduced the arrears just after the hour, collecting a Patrice Evra cross with his back to the goal and turning around to score from six metres, but France could not escape their first defeat by Austria in 38 years.
Ivanschitz sealed Austria's victory with a penalty on 72 minutes after Janko had been brought down in the box by defender Philippe Mexes.
Meanwhile, Italy needed an injury-time goal from Antonio Di Natale to secure three points against Cyprus in Larnaca. Di Natale put the visitors ahead after eight minutes but Efstathios Aloneftis equalised on 29 minutes and Cyprus managed to keep things level until the 91st minute.
Unheralded Lithuania crushed an injury-hit Romania 3-0 away in their Group 7 qualifier, with Hearts winger Saulius Mikoliunas on target.
And it took an injury-time goal from Ben Sahar to earn Israel a 2-2 comeback draw with Switzerland in their opening World Cup Group 2 qualifier in Tel Aviv.
Hakan Yakin hit a 25-metre free kick to give the Swiss the lead and Blaise Nkufo made it 2-0. But Yossi Benayoun reduced the arrears in the 73rd minute and Sahar scored two minutes into added time.
No late goals were needed for England's next opponents, Croatia, who opened their Group Six qualifying campaign with a solid 3-0 win at home to Kazakhstan.
Croatia dominated from the start and took the lead with a header from skipper Niko Kovac in the 13th minute. Attacking midfielder Luka Modric fired in the second goal from the edge of the box in the 35th minute after a pass from forward Ivan Klasnic. Substitute striker Mladen Petric sealed the victory 11 minutes from time after a fine passing sequence.
Lukas Podolski struck twice to set Germany on the way to a 6-0 win away to Liechtenstein, while Former Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz saw his Portugal side get their World Cup qualifying campaign off to a flying start with a 4-0 win over Malta in Group One.
In the South American qualifiers, Carlos Tevez was sent off for the second time in three internationals as Argentina were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Paraguay. Tevez was dismissed again for two violent tackles in the 31st minute.
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