Croatia, Ireland go clear as Spain and Italy ease to victory

Croatia, Ireland go clear as Spain and Italy ease to victory

Croatia take sole charge of Group I after ending Iceland's unbeaten startIreland two points clear in Group D following narrow triumph in AustriaSpain and Italy level at top of Group G after respective wins against FYR Macedonia and LiechtensteinTurkey register their first victory of the campaign, 2-0 against KosovoNext fixtures in these groups: Friday 24 March 2017Group DAustria 0-1 Republic of IrelandJames McClean scored in the 48th minute to give unbeaten Ireland victory. The visitors lost Glenn Whelan to a f... UEFA.com - News

Germany show style as Lewandowski scores three

Germany show style as Lewandowski scores three

Germany star in defeat of the Czech Republic while Azerbaijan enjoy historic winRobert Lewandowski's hat-trick enough for Poland as Romania and Montenegro hit fiveEngland on to six points after beating Malta with Scotland equalising late against LithuaniaNext games in these groups to be played on TuesdayThird set of matches begin on Sunday with Spain and Italy in actionGroup CGermany 3-0 Czech RepublicThe FIFA World Cup holders were on top form in Hamburg with two goals from... UEFA.com - News

De Rossi denies Spain, Mandžukić treble for Croatia

De Rossi denies Spain, Mandžukić treble for Croatia

Group DAustria 2-2 WalesThe hosts twice came from behind in Vienna courtesy of Marko Arnautović. The forward's first-half header was sandwiched by a Joe Allen screamer and a Kevin Wimmer own goal. Arnautović's second equaliser, soon after half-time, was a fine individual effort, but neither team could conjure a winner. Republic of Ireland 1-0 GeorgiaSeamus Coleman was the hero in Dublin, the Ireland captain capping his 40th appearance with the only goal against Georgia. Coleman scored after a mazy run close to the hour mark. Georgia's Levan Mchedlidz... UEFA.com - News

Italy v Spain launches six days of World Cup action

Italy v Spain launches six days of World Cup action

The European Qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup continue with 54 games in six days starting on Thursday when Italy hosting Spain.• The nine group winners will advance directly to join Russia in the 32-team final tournament.• The eight runners-up with the best record against the teams first, third, fourth and fifth in their groups procede to play-offs to decide the remaining four European berths. September highlights: Spain score eight... UEFA.com - News

Spain hit eight, Italy and Wales star, Kosovo begin well

Spain hit eight, Italy and Wales star, Kosovo begin well

Group DGeorgia 1-2 AustriaAustria withstood a late Georgia comeback to take all three points. Martin Hinteregger headed in David Alaba's 16th-minute free-kick to put the visitors in front and Marc Janko added a second just before half-time. Valeri Kaziashvili struck the post for Georgia before Jano Ananidze's spectacular long-range drive made it a nervous last 12 minutes for Austria. Wales 4-0 MoldovaThe UEFA EURO 2016 semi-finalists aim to end a 60-year absence from the FIFA World Cup finals and made a great start. Gareth Bales' cross was nod... UEFA.com - News

U.S. basketball knocks off Spain to advance to gold-medal ga…

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Gone was the all-offense, all-action play that turned the last two gold-medal games into classics. To get by Spain again, the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team would have to win ugly, so unusual it’s practically un-American. “It was just a real different game today,” coach Mike Krzyzewski said. Same result, though. The U.S. advanced to its third straight gold-medal game win an 82-76 victory Friday, another tight matchup between the teams that met in the last two championship games. Klay Thompson scored 22 points for the Americans, who will play Serbia on Sunday for their third consecutive Olympic title. Serbia beat Australia 87-61 in the second semifinal. “This is where we wanted to be,” Kevin Durant said.

U.S. considers Spain a worthy foe in basketball semis

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The U.S. men’s basketball team expected this. Whether it was for the gold medal, as in the last two Olympics, or just along the road to gold, the Americans figured they would see the Spanish again. “No doubt in my mind,” Kevin Durant said. Well, here they are. The world’s top teams meet again Friday in the semifinals, with Spain getting another chance to finish the job against the U.S. after being oh-so-close in the last two gold-medal games. “We’ve been battling against them for a long time,” Spain point guard Ricky Rubio said. “We’ve always come up short. It would be a dream for us to beat them. I really think we can do it,