Football: Sweden still looking good for No 1 spot

NICLAS ALEXANDERSSON almost certainly consigned England to the European Championship play-offs when he came off the bench to give Group Five leaders Sweden a 1-0 win over Bulgaria on Saturday.

The Sheffield Wednesday player came on and scored in the 65th minute to put the Swedes four points clear of England and Poland.

In Scotland's section, the runaway winners the Czech Republic won their eighth consecutive group game, 4-0 against Lithuania with two goals each from Pavel Nedved and Jan Koller.

Estonia - Scotland's opponents on Wednesday - remained in the hunt with two goals in the last two minutes against the Faroe Islands.

Jan Dahl Tomasson's 82nd-minute winner for Denmark against Switzerland hampered Wales' hopes of making the play-offs and also trimmed the Group One lead of Italy to three points.

France face a struggle to qualify from Group Four after drawing 0-0 with Ukraine in Kiev. Russia's 2-0 win over Armenia took them above the French on goal difference, one point behind leaders Ukraine. Iceland's 3-0 win over Andorra keeps them in contention.

Germany beat Finland 2-1 in Helsinki to set up a straight fight with Turkey for Group Three qualification.