Spain opens Euro qualifying with big win; England takes control of Group E

LONDON: Spain looked back to its old self in opening its European Championship qualifying campaign by running over Macedonia, while England took control of its group by beating biggest rival Switzerland on the road.
Here is a look at Monday's qualifying games around Europe:
Group C:
Spain overcame a few nervous moments to ease past Macedonia 5-1 with five different goal scorers to get its campaign off on the right track after its disappointing World Cup campaign.
Although the defending European champions began well with early goals by Sergio Ramos and Paco Alcacer, Macedonia countered with a 28th-minute goal by Agim Ibraimi that unsettled Spain.
However, an assured performance by captain Iker Casillas in goal helped Spain recover its self-confident, rapid-passing game.
Sergio Busquets, David Silva and Pedro Rodriguez added goals as Spain turned the game into a rout.
Also in Group C, Slovakia won 1-0 at Ukraine, and Luxembourg held Belarus to a 1-1 draw.
Robert Mak gave Slovakia the win by scoring with a left-foot shot in the 18th minute, while Belarus needed a 78th-minute equalizer from Stanislav Dragun to rescue a point at Luxembourg. The hosts had gone ahead in the 42nd when Lars Gerson volleyed into the roof of the net.
Group E:
Danny Welbeck scored twice to give England respite from criticism and a deserved 2-0 win at Switzerland.
Welbeck finished off Raheem Sterling's pass on a fast counter-attack in the 58th minute and slotted in a right-footed shot deep into stoppage time.
England's lead was preserved in the 70th by defender Gary Cahill sliding to block Josip Drmic's shot after the Swiss substitute dribbled around goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Also in Group E on Monday, Lithuania won 2-0 at San Marino, and Estonia beat Slovenia 1-0.
Lithuania extended San Marino's 24-year run of never winning a competitive match with two first-half goals. Deivydas Matulevicius scored in the fifth and Arvydas Novikovas in the 36th.
Estonia got an 86th-minute winner from Ats Purje to beat a visiting Slovenia team it trails by 54 places in the FIFA rankings.
Group G:
Sweden midfielder Erkan Zengin scored his first international goal to help his team draw with Austria 1-1 as Zlatan Ibrahimovic was kept scoreless in his 100th international.
Also in Group G, Russia downed Liechtenstein 4-0 to lead after the opening round, and Montenegro beat Moldova 2-0.
Zengin controlled the ball on the chest before hammering it past goalkeeper Robert Almer in the 12th minute to level the score. David Alaba had given Austria the lead five minutes earlier, scoring from the penalty spot after Sebastian Larsson blocked an attempted cross from the Austria midfielder with his arm.
Ibrahimovic never came close to scoring and was booked in the first half after hitting Alaba with his elbow and roughly tackling Martin Harnik within two minutes.
Earlier, Russia was handed a 2-0 lead by own goals from Liechtenstein midfielder Martin Buechel, who deflected Sergei Ignashevich's free kick in the fourth, and defender Franz Burgmeier in the 50th minute.
Dmitri Kombarov converted a penalty in the 54th and Artem Dzyuba scored 11 minutes later to double the score for coach Fabio Capello's team.
Mirko Vucinic gave Montenegro the lead against Moldova in injury time of the first half, and Zarko Tomasevic doubled the score in the 73rd.