Italy were beaten 1-0 by Slovenia and Euro 2004 runners-up Portugal held to a 2-2 draw by Liechtenstein on Saturday as several of Europe's big names struggled in the day's 23 World Cup qualifying matches.

France and the Netherlands were held to draws by Ireland and Macedonia respectively while Greece, who beat Portugal to win the European title in July, continued to suffer a championship hangover as they drew 1-1 in Ukraine.

There were no problems though for England, Sweden, Russia, Spain and the Czech Republic, who all notched up wins.

Italy had looked odds-on to progress from a soft-looking Group Five but are now locked in a tough battle with neighbours Slovenia, whose famous home win on Saturday took them top on seven points, one ahead of the Italians.

Italy had the best of the game but the only goal came eight minutes from time when substitute defender Bostjan Cesar headed in from a free kick.

It was Italy's first defeat in a World Cup qualifier since May 1993 when they lost in Switzerland en route to qualifying and losing on penalties to Brazil in the final.

Portugal looked on course for a third successive win when they led 2-0 at the break through Pauleta and an own-goal.

But Liechtenstein, thrashed 7-0 by Slovakia in their last qualifier and ranked 151st in the world, levelled through Franz Burgmeier and Thomas Beck.

FIRST POINT

It was their first point from a World Cup qualifying match after 20 defeats in eight years during which they had scored four goals and conceded 84.

The result boosted Slovakia's hopes of reaching the finals for the first time as they are now clear leaders of Group Three after coming from behind to beat Latvia 4-1.

Russia, with a Dmitri Sychev hat-trick, scored four times in 31 second-half minutes to secure a 4-0 win in Luxembourg.

Romania's flying start in Group One was brought to a halt in Prague where Jan Koller's first-half penalty secured the Czechs a 1-0 success, the Euro 2004 semi-finalists' first win.

Romania remain on nine points but are joined at the top by Finland, who beat Armenia 3-1 helped by two goals for stand-in striker Shefki Kuqi.

The Netherlands, also losing Euro semi-finalists, twice led in Macedonia but were twice pegged back as Goran Pandev and Ace Stojkov earned the hosts a deserved point.

There was little progress in Group Four where all three games ended level but Ireland will be delighted at holding France to a goalless draw in the Stade de France.

The French, also held 0-0 at home by Israel and narrow 2-0 winners over the Faroe Islands, remain a shadow of the team who swept to the world and European titles in 1998 and 2000 and they are by no means assured of reaching the 2006 finals in Germany.

Israel and Switzerland, who drew 2-2, France and Ireland all have five points from three games.

England produced a solid display in Group Six to beat Wales 2-0 at Old Trafford.

It was the 98th meeting between the two neighbours but the first in 20 years and England's class eventually told as they claimed their 63rd win in the fixture.

BECKHAM CURLER

An early Frank Lampard goal and a spectacular David Beckham curler from outside the box in the 76th minute settled it and left England top after Poland won 3-1 in Austria to climb above their opponents.

Spain were also comfortable 2-0 home winners over a Belgium team who finished with nine men in Santander.

Two goals in three second-half minutes by Albert Luque and Raul made the difference in the Group Seven match.

Sweden had a resounding 3-0 home win over Hungary in what is already looking a very tight Group Eight.

Goals by Fredrik Ljungberg, Henrik Larsson and Anders Svensson were just reward for Sweden's total dominance.

Croatia let a two-goal lead slip as they drew 2-2 at home to Bulgaria but still top the group with seven points.

World Cup hosts Germany remained unbeaten under new coach Jurgen Klinsmann with a 2-0 win over Iran in a friendly played before a frenzied men-only crowd of 110,000.

There are another 21 qualifiers on Wednesday.