Argentina stunned hosts France in the opening match of the Rugby World Cup last Friday and Scotland darkened the Parisian mood further when James McFadden's spectacular second-half winner had the Tartan Army celebrating a famous Group B victory.

Scotland, who beat France 1-0 in Glasgow, are now the unlikely leaders of the group from Italy [Images] who showed their mettle to beat Ukraine 2-1 in Kiev. France are sweating in third.

"It was one of the greatest and one of the most important goals of Scottish football," said manager Alex McLeish.

"It needed the passion Scottish teams always have...It was very difficult to get this result. We needed a special performance and the players have shown fantastic confidence."

Elsewhere across the continent on a busy night of qualifiers European champions Greece twice squandered the lead to draw 2-2 with Norway in Group C while a resurgent England [Images] were firmly back on course in Group E after crushing Russia [Images] 3-0 at Wembley.

Germany [Images], who beat Romania 3-1 in a friendly, now have one foot in the finals thanks to the Czech Republic's 1-0 win over Ireland. Marek Jankulovski scored a superb goal that cemented second place in Group D for the Czechs.

Leaders Germany are now eight points above third-placed Ireland who have played a game more.

LATE WINNER

The Netherlands needed a stoppage-time winner from Ruud van Nistelrooy [Images] in Albania to go joint top of Group G with Romania.

In Group A leaders Poland drew 0-0 with second-placed Finland in Helsinki but Portugal failed to capitalise after Serbia's Branislav Ivanovic scored a late goal to secure a 1-1 draw in Lisbon after Simao had put the hosts ahead.

Tempers boiled over after the final whistle with Portugal coach Felipe Scolari involved in a fracas with Serbian defender Ivica Dragutinovic.

Without suspended striker Thierry Henry [Images], World Cup finalists France struggled to break down a disciplined Scotland side.

They were hit with a sucker punch after 64 minutes when McFadden let fly from 25 metres and the ball swerved past the flailing arms of goalkeeper Mickael Landreau.

It brought back bitter memories of the last occasion that France played a qualifying tie at the Parc des Princes. In 1993 they lost 2-1 to Bulgaria and ended up missing out on the 1994 World Cup finals.

"The next three matches will be decisive," France coach Raymond Domenech said. "To qualify you have to fight and the players know that very well."

Scotland now have a golden chance to qualify for their first finals since the 1998 World Cup. They lead the group with 21 points from nine games, Italy have 20 and France 19.

ITALY WIN

Midfielder Antonio Di Natale scored twice for world champions Italy with Andriy Shevchenko on target for Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine whose hopes have taken a battering.

"With Scotland beating France tonight the group is still far from being decided. It'll go to the very end," said Italy coach Roberto Donadoni.

England's Michael Owen [Images] took his international goalscoring tally to 40, nine behind Bobby Charlton's record, with two clinical goals in the first half to help his side leapfrog Russia into second place. Rio Ferdinand added a late third.

"In these last two games we've blown teams away in the first half hour," said Owen, who was also on target in the 3-0 victory over Israel on Saturday.

Croatia top the group with 23 points to England's 20 after a 6-0 rout of Andorra. Russia, who had only conceded one goal before Wednesday, have 18.

Sotirios Kyrgiakos scored twice for Greece but John Carew and John Arne Riise gained a 2-2 draw for Norway. Greece stay above Norway at the top of Group C but Turkey are closing in after a 3-0 defeat of 10-man Hungary.

Bosnia and Northern Ireland may have waved goodbye to their chances of qualifying. Bosnia lost 1-0 at home to Moldova in Group C while the Irish suffered a second successive loss in Group F after a Keith Gillespie own goal in the dying minutes condemned them to a 2-1 defeat in Iceland.

Spain moved above Northern Ireland with a laboured 2-0 win over Latvia that leaves them level on 19 points with leaders Sweden. Xavi and Fernando Torres were the scorers in Oviedo.

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