AFP
Paris, France
Spain began life under new coach Julien Lopetegui in perfect style while Gareth Bale inspired Euro 2016 sensations Wales and Kosovo earned a historic point in World Cup qualifying on Monday.
Lopetegui enjoyed a perfect competitive debut as Diego Costa, David Silva and Alvaro Morata all hit doubles in an 8-0 drubbing of Liechtenstein in Leon. Over in Cardiff, Real Madrid forward Bale teed up Sam Vokes for a 38th-minute opener and then scored his 23rd and 24th international goals either side of an effort by Joe Allen, who registered his first in a 4-0 crushing of Moldova.
Elsewhere Daryl Murphy's first ever international goal secured the Republic of Ireland a 2-2 draw against Serbia in Belgrade, and 10-man Italy beat Israel 3-1 in Haifa. But arguably the performance of the night was in Turku where Valon Berisha made history, scoring Kosovo's first goal on their competitive debut as they came from behind to draw 1-1 away to Finland.
The goal gave Kosovo a precious point in qualifying Group I after Paulus Arajuuri had put Finland in front from close range in the 18th minute. Kosovo were accepted into FIFA in May, and this was a remarkable result given that world football's governing body only gave their approval for a host of players to represent the Balkan outfit earlier on Monday.
Among those given the green light at the last minute were goalkeeper and captain Samir Ujkani, previously capped by Albania, Albert Bunjaku, who featured for Switzerland at the 2010 World Cup, and goal-scorer Berisha, who was playing for Norway as recently as June. With several thousand Kosovans living in the Turku region, there was a sizeable support for the away side in their first ever competitive outing.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. About 100 countries recognise it as a state now, but major countries like 2018 World Cup hosts Russia do not. Serbia vehemently opposed Kosovo's admittance to world governing body FIFA, which came soon after Europe's governing body UEFA narrowly approved their membership. Their World Cup bow comes after their Olympic debut at the Rio Games last month, with Kosovo being accepted by the International Olympic Committee in 2014.
Spain's comprehensive win put them atop Group G ahead of Italy on goal difference. Chris Coleman's Wales, who lost to eventual champions Portugal at Euro 2016, are seeking to qualify for their first World Cup since 1958.
In Israel, new Italian manager Giampiero Ventura reflected on his debut win with goals from Graziano Pelle, Antonio Candreva from the penalty spot, and Ciro Immobile, after veteran defender Girgio Chiellini was sent off in the 55th minute for his second yellow card. He said: "I won’t say our performance was perfect, as we conceded that goal similar to the one we let in against France (in last week's friendly)."Earlier on Sunday Adam Lallana ensured Sam Allardyce's reign as England manager got off to a dramatic winning start with a strike deep into injury time to beat Slovakia 1-0.
Allardyce had looked as though he would have to settle for a deeply uninspiring stalemate in Trnava -- the hosts having held firm in the World Cup Group F qualifier despite Martin Skrtel's sending-off after a nasty stamp on Harry Kane. However Lallana picked a perfect moment to break his international duck and seal three points.
The Liverpool forward had already clattered the post when the ball broke for him inside the area, with seconds of the four added minutes left. He showed neat footwork and got his shot away, then turned away in celebration as Matus Kozacik let the ball squirm between his legs and over the line. The victory will be a huge tonic for Allardyce, and buys him a little extra time in his honeymoon period, but he will have seen plenty of familiar shortcomings.
Meanwhile, defending world champions Germany eased past Norway 3-0 in their opening Group C match in Oslo. Thomas Muller shook off his recent struggles in front of goal to open the scoring in the 15th minute against the Norwegians -- his sliding, left-footed shot from close range taking a deflection off goalkeeper Rune Jarstein before looping across the line.
Joshua Kimmich doubled Germany's tally just before the half with a well-struck hit across Jairstein after a fine set-up from Muller at the edge of the box. Muller then rounded off the scoring with his second of the day -- the Bayern Munich star heading home Sami Khedira's inch-perfect cross on the hour mark.
RESULTS
Group G: Albania 2 Macedonia 1; Group D: Georgia 1 Austria 2, Serbia 2 Republic of Ireland 2, Wales 4 Moldova 0; Group G: Spain 8 Liechtenstein 0, Israel 1 Italy 3; Group I: Croatia 1 Turkey 1, Ukraine 1 Iceland 1, Finland 1 Kosovo 1; Group C: San Marino 0 Azerbaijan 1, Czech Republic 0 Northern Ireland 0, Norway 0 Germany 3; Group E: Kazakhstan 2 Poland 2, Denmark 1 Armenia 0, Romania 1 Montenegro 1; Group F: Slovakia 0 England 1, Lithuania 2 Slovenia 2, Malta 1 Scotland 5.
