Finland Hold Klose, Barely

World Cup qualifiers: Miroslav8217;s hat-trick can only get Germany one point, Walcott strikes three in England8217;s 4-1 win over Croatia.

Miroslav Klose just about managed to save Germany the blushes on Wednesday, scoring a hat-trick in Helsinki, but his goals only salvaged a 3-3 draw for a side who were seven minutes from losing to Finland for the first time in 85 years.

Teenager Theo Walcott also got himself three as England beat Croatia 4-1 in Zagreb to avenge the two defeats that cost them a place at Euro 2008.

Most of the other teams expected to reach the 2010 World Cup in South Africa came through the second round of qualifiers in five days unscathed. World champions Italy beat Georgia 2-0 in Udine and World Cup runners-up France beat Serbia 2-1 in Paris.

European champions Spain maintained their perfect start in Group Five with a 4-0 win over Armenia in Albacete.

Denmark snatch victory from Portugal

There was an amazing finale in Lisbon where Denmark beat Portugal 3-2 with four of the five goals in the match scored between the 83rd minute and the second minute of stoppage time. Nani put Portugal ahead after 42 minutes, Nicklas Bendtner made it 1-1 after 83 minutes before Deco put Portugal ahead with an 86th minute penalty. Christian Poulsen equalised after 89 minutes before Daniel Jensen won it for the Danes in the second minute of stoppage time. The one major shock was in Zurich where Euro 2008 co-hosts Switzerland lost 2-1 to Luxembourg, ranked 152nd in the world.

Bosnia scored the biggest win of the night, crushing Estonia 7-0, but the Czech Republic, ranked eighth in the world, failed to convince on a rainy night in Belfast and were held to a 0-0 draw by Northern Ireland.

The Netherlands, who went out of Euro 2008 at the quarter-final stage after a brilliant start to the competition, opened their campaign with a 2-1 win over Macedonia in Skopje. John Heitinga and Rafael van der Vaart got the goals.

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Despite their draw in Finland, Germany still top Group Four, a point ahead of Russia and Wales. England are now top of Group Six, along with Ukraine, who maintained their perfect start with a 3-1 win in Kazakhstan. Italy, who beat Cyprus 2-1 away on Saturday, scored a second successive win in Group Eight by beating Georgia 2-0 in Udine, Daniele De Rossi scoring twice.

France got their first points in Group Seven following Saturday8217;s shock 3-1 defeat by Austria, beating Serbia 2-1 in Paris with goals from Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka.

Russia opened their campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Wales in Moscow, though the Euro 2008 semi-finalists left it late with Pavel Pogrebnyak lashing home the winner nine minutes from time. Greece, who won 2-0 in Latvia, have maximum points and top Group Two while Lithuania, 2-0 winners over Austria, also have a 100 per cent record and top Group Seven.

More frustration for Brazil, Argentina

Brazil and Argentina endured more frustration with draws against bottom sides Bolivia and Peru respectively. Brazil were jeered by their own fans in a goalless stalemate at home to bottom-of-the-table Bolivia, who played the last 35 minutes with 10 men. Argentina drew their fourth successive qualifier when Peru scored with the last kick of the game in Lima to snatch a 1-1 draw.

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Chile demolished Colombia 4-0 to put themselves back on course.