England, Brazil win

Brazil, favourites to retain their title in Germany, outclassed their opponents in an 8-0 drubbing in Abu Dhabi. Playmaker Kaka gave them a first-half lead but the fireworks came after the break when Olympique Lyon team mates Fred and Juninho Pernambucano scored two apiece, defenders Lucio and Cicinho got one each and striker Adriano converted a penalty.

There were fewer goals but far more excitement in Geneva, where Owen scored twice in the closing minutes to give England a pulsating 3-2 victory over their old World Cup foes. Hernan Crespo put Argentina in front, Wayne Rooney scored a quick equaliser and Walter Samuel restored the South Americans’ lead with a header just after the break. But Owen, headed an 87th equaliser and followed up by nodding a stoppage time winner. Victory was an ideal filip for coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and it also prompted British bookmaker William Hill to make Eriksson’s men joint second favourites with Argentina and Germany at 7-1 to win the World Cup next year. Brazil are 3-1 favourites.

Two other World Cup candidates met in Amsterdam, with Marcello Lippi’s Italy coming out on top of Marco van Basten’s men after going a goal down. The United States, appearing in their fifth successive finals next summer, drew 1-1 at Hampden Park against a Scotland side who will not be making the trip to Germany. (Reuters)