Reggio Calabria, Oct 13: Filippo Inzaghi scored two goals and Christian Vieri and Marco di Vaio had one each as Italy beat Azerbaijan 4-0 in Reggio Calabria to win group 9. Wales, which could have topped the group had Italy slipped up, lost 3-2 in Cardiff to Serbia-Montenegro.
Greece beat Northern Ireland 1-0 in Athens on a second-half penalty by Vassilis Tsiartas to win group 6 ahead of Spain and advance to its first Euro championship in 24 years.
Spain beat Armenia 4-0 in Yerevan, but finished a point behind Greece. The Greeks, coached by Germany's Otto Rehhagel, won six straight qualifiers after losing their opening two matches against Ukraine and Spain. Saturday's win assures Greece of a double celebration in 2004: playing in its first European championship since 1980 and hosting the Olympics in Athens.
For Spain, failing to win the group marked another disappointment for one of the world's most underachieving national teams.
In Hamburg, Michael Ballack, Freddie Bobic and Kevin Kuranyi scored as Germany beat Iceland 3-0 to win group 5.



Scotland claimed second place in the group and a playoff berth by beating Lithuania 1-0 in Glasgow on a goal by Manchester United's Darren Fletcher in the 70th minute.


Bureau Report