Poland and Ukraine increase pressure on England in Group H

Poland went above their Euro 2012 co-hosts and into third on goal difference after thrashing bottom side San Marino

Poland and Ukraine both moved to within four points of Roy Hodgson’s side in Group H after home victories last night.

Poland went above their Euro 2012 co-hosts and into third on goal difference after thrashing bottom side San Marino 5-0 in Warsaw. The Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski scored twice, one from the penalty spot, with further strikes added by Lukasz Piszczek, Lukasz Teodorczyk and an injury-time effort from Jakub Kosecki.

Ukraine dropped to fourth, despite labouring to a 2-1 victory over Moldova in a snowy Odessa for a second win in four days.

After a goalless first half, during which home supporters were warned for pelting the Moldovan penalty area with snowballs, Andrei Yarmolenko put the hosts ahead on the hour. The Dynamo Kiev forward steered past Oleksandr Goryainov to break the deadlock. Evhen Khacheridi put the hosts further in command nine minutes later, heading in a corner.

Alexandr Suvorov pulled one back for Moldova with 10 minutes to go, but Ukraine held on to keep alive their hopes of qualification, despite the dismissal of Taras Stepanenko.