Soccer: Poland's 8-0 win biggest in 42 years

LONDON - Poland lit up a busy night of World Cup soccer action with an 8-0 thrashing of Azerbaijan yesterday as the European zone qualifying competition resumed with a bang after the winter break.

While the Poles scored eight to record their biggest win for 42 years, England, Croatia, Belgium and the Czech Republic all cracked in four goals on a day of 17 qualifiers.

But former world and European champions France continued to struggle in front of goal as they were held 0-0 by Switzerland in Paris.

A series of missed chances, notably by striker David Trezeguet, condemned France to a sixth successive home draw, four of them goal-less.

Israel grabbed a last-gasp 1-1 home draw against Ireland, meaning Ireland, France and Israel remained locked together on nine points in group four and Switzerland on six with a game in hand on the top three.

The log jam in group one eased, though, as after the top four had gone into yesterday's games with one point between them, the Netherlands won 2-0 in Romania and Czech Republic beat Finland 4-3 to edge clear.

There were also good wins for Sweden, Slovakia, Greece, Turkey, Denmark and Austria.

It was a total mismatch in Warsaw as striker Tomasz Frankowski hit a hat-trick in Poland's biggest win since a 9-0 "friendly" success over Norway 42 years ago.

Frankowski put them ahead in the 12th minute and a comical own goal by Aftandil Hajiyev and a goal by midfielder Kamil Kosowski made it 3-0 at the break.

Frankowski completed his hat-trick with two goals in three minutes just past the hour, Jacek Krzynoweks got the sixth and substitute Marek Saganowski grabbed two in the last eight minutes.

The thumping win takes Poland to 12 points, one behind England, who beat Northern Ireland 4-0 thanks to four goals in 17 minutes at the start of the second half.

Joe Cole, Michael Owen, an own goal and a deflected Frank Lampard shot secured the straightforward Old Trafford success.

Austria stayed in touch on eight points with a 2-0 win in Wales.

It was a triumph of youth over experience in Bucharest, where a new-look Dutch side proved too good for the ageing Romanians.

The Euro 2004 semifinalists had a flying start as Philip Cocu headed in after 38 seconds and they sealed the win six minutes from time through 18-year-old debutant Ryan Babel.

The win takes the Dutch to 13 points, with the Czech Republic second on 12. Romania have 10 points with the Finns on nine.

The Czechs needed a late goal from Vratislav Lokvenc to snatch a thrilling victory in Teplice.

Milan Baros and Tomas Rosicky had them 2-0 up after 34 minutes, Jari Litmanen pulled one back at the start of the second half but Jan Polak made it 3-1 after 58 minutes.

Aki Riihilahti and Jonatan Johansson dragged the Finns level with 12 minutes remaining but Lokvenc fired in the winner three minutes from time to make it four successive wins.

Sweden took command of group eight after their impressive 3-0 win in Bulgaria in their table-topping showdown.

Midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg got the first and third goals to take Sweden to 12 points from five games. Croatia move up to second on 10 after they thumped Iceland 4-0, with Bulgaria third on seven.

European champions Greece continued their renaissance as a 3-1 win in Georgia hauled them to 11 points, within three points of group two leaders Ukraine, who did not play.

Denmark moved to nine as Peter Moller scored twice in their 3-0 home win over Kazakhstan, with Turkey also on nine after their 2-0 home win over Albania, both goals coming in the first five minutes.

- REUTERS