Italy, Spain and Israel all won to stay in the running in their tight World Cup qualifying group while Ireland also enjoyed an important win and Wales were held by Serbia in this morning's qualifiers.
Spain scored two late goals in a 4-0 defeat of FYROM in Granada while Italy netted four first-half goals as they cruised to a 4-0 win in Liechtenstein to stay neck and neck at the top of Group G, with Spain ahead on goal difference.
Israel grabbed a 3-0 win over Albania, who had two players sent off, in a game moved from Shkoder to Elbasan following security fears, to stay in the running in the group. The results put Spain and Italy on 10 points, while Israel move to nine and Albania stay on six.
In Granada, an own goal from FYROM'S Darko Velkovski put 2010 world champions Spain on their way, then Vitolo, Nacho Monreal and Aritz Aduriz sealed the win with second-half goals.
Andrea Belotti bagged a brace for Italy with Ciro Immobile and Antonio Candreva were also on target for the Azzurri in Liechtenstein.
Gareth Bale scored a 30th-minute goal for Wales against Serbia in Cardiff in a key Group D game, but Aleksandar Mitrovic levelled five minutes from time when his header went in off the post and Wayne Hennessey.
Ireland went to the top of the group with a 1-0 win over Austria in Vienna. James McClean struck the winner three minutes after the break to give Ireland a first win over Austria in 53 years and a first ever victory on Austrian soil.
It was also Austria's first defeat in four years in the Ernst Happel stadium, leaving Marcel Koller's side with an uphill task now to make the finals in Russia.
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