European champion Spain enjoyed a winning start to life under Vicente Del Bosque, but both Italy and England were held to draws as most European nations prepared for World Cup qualifying with friendly matches Wednesday. Two months after Luis Aragones ended Spain's 44-year wait for a major trophy, his successor enjoyed a 3-0 victory over Denmark, while runner-up Germany beat Belgium 2-0. Returning Italy coach Marcello Lippi saw his 2006 World Cup-winning side come back from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Austria. Despite England salvaging a 2-2 against the Czech Republic in stoppage side, Fabio Capello's side was outclassed and jeered by a Wembley crowd. Chief Executive Brian Barwick is also to leave the English Football Association (FA) at the end of the year, the FA said on Wednesday. France rallied from a 1-0 deficit to beat Sweden 3-2, Russia drew 1-1 with the Netherlands, and Argentina, missing its best players on Olympic duty, was held to a 0-0 draw at Belarus. In Copenhagen, Del Bosque's triumphant debut extended Spain's winning streak to 23 matches but was overshadowed by Wednesday's plane crash at a Madrid airport, which claimed more than 150 lives. Midfielder Xabi Alonso volleyed the visitor ahead in the 50th minute, playmaker Xavi Hernandez doubled the advantage in the 73rd and Alonso completed the tally. Lippi, who resigned as Italy coach after the 2006 World Cup triumph, endured an unpleasant return when defender Emanuel Pogatetz put Austria ahead in the 14th after catching goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon by surprise. Marc Janko added a second in the 39th with a deflected strike flying into the top corner. Just as Italy's prospects looked grim, Alberto Gilardino pulled one back in first-half stoppage time. Then as Austria's substitute goalkeeper Ramazan Oezcan tried to punch away a cross in the 67th, he managed to knock the ball into his own net for the equalizer. At Wembley, Milan Baros turned away from England captain John Terry to strike his 32nd international goal with the ball deflecting off Ashley Cole. David Beckham's precise corner set up the equalizer just before halftime, with Wes Brown heading it in at the near post. England was behind again three minutes after the break when Marek Jankulovski left goalkeeper David James flat-footed by curling a left-footed free kick from the edge of the area over the wall and into the top corner. Capello was spared a second defeat when second-half substitute Joe Cole snatched a scrappy equalizer in stoppage time after a scramble in the Czech goalmouth. – AP __
