Quagliarella double on Italy debut

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KAUNAS, Lithuania -- Two superb strikes from Fabio Quagliarella on his first start gave Italy a 2-0 win over Lithuania in a Euro 2008 Group B qualifier on Wednesday.

The result keeps the Azzurri in second spot as they head towards September's home clash with leaders France.

Sampdoria striker Quagliarella lashed home from the edge of the penalty area with his left foot in the 31st minute after cutting inside from the right wing.

The 23-year-old, only a late substitute in his previous two appearances, then scored with a delightful dipping effort on the stroke of halftime to settle Italy's nerves after a difficult start.

"I tried to pay back the faith shown in me by the manager and my team mates," Quagliarella told Rai television.

Lithuania, who drew 1-1 in Italy in September, had matched the world champions in the early stages but lost their way after going behind.

"Since the other match (against Lithuania), the team has grown a lot and last time we were not in the right condition," said Italy coach Roberto Donadoni.

He made several changes from Saturday's labored 2-1 win in the Faroe Islands and his side looked more dangerous throughout, although it took Quagliarella to really liven them up.

Nasri joy

Samir Nasri netted his first international goal in his third appearance to earn France a 1-0 home victory over Georgia on Wednesday as the World Cup finalists remained top of their Euro qualifying Group B.

The Olympique Marseille midfielder, voted the league's best young player this season and superb in Saturday's 2-0 win over Ukraine, struck in the 33rd-minute of a one-sided contest.

France now have 18 points from seven games and lead second-placed Italy by two points after the World champions beat Lithuania 2-0.

"It was the toughest match physically," said Domenech four days after the Ukraine win at the Stade de France.

"We saw that in the second half. Having a second striker did not even help. But I am proud of the players."

Franck Ribery, who is set to leave for Bayern Munich, was at his best, crossing from the right for Nasri to shoot France into a well-deserved advantage 12 minutes from the interval.

"I feel better and better in the team," said the 19-year-old Nasri, who earned his first cap in a 1-0 win over Austria in a friendly in March.

"The fact that I scored the goal is not important. What matters is that the whole team worked hard for this victory."

Klaus Toppmoeller's Georgia side were never in contention, hardly crossing the halfway line and having their first shot in the 72nd minute.

France, who were without captain Patrick Vieira and top striker Thierry Henry, next travel to Italy on September 8 in a World Cup final repeat.

Scotland win

First-half goals from Shaun Maloney and Garry O'Connor gave Scotland a 2-0 victory in an evenly fought qualifier against the Faroes Islands.

Maloney opened the scoring in the 31st minute with a well-placed free kick that sailed inside the post from 20 metres.

O'Connor increased Scotland's advantage four minutes later, stabbing home a rebound from close range after Faroese keeper Jakup Mikkelsen saved his first effort.

The Lokomotiv Moscow forward, who returned from international exile last week after having been dropped from the squad for failing to show up for a qualifier against Ukraine, also hit the post in the 24th minute.

Scotland coach Alex McLeish told reporters afterwards he was pleased with his side's first half performance.

"We played very well in the first 45 minutes. We started a wee bit slow in the second half, there was a real tiredness in the squad given the long club seasons that they had. Some of them were running on empty," he said.

The Faroese were the more dangerous team in the second half, but were left to rue their bad luck when Christian Holst hit the post in the 70th minute and Andrew av Flotum, alone with keeper Craig Gordon, hit the crossbar in the 89th minute.

"It's a tough venue and we'll take the three points. If we win the next game we'll put ourselves in a very good position," McLeish said looking ahead to Scotland's match at home against Lithuania in September.

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