The Netherlands and England continued churning out victories in their World Cup qualification campaigns on Wednesday while Serbia took another big step toward next year's Finals in South Africa. Russia was also impressive as coach Guus Hiddink returned to his international duties to inspire a 3-0 victory in Finland that will keep Germany on their toes. The Dutch, who on Saturday became the first European nation to book their place at next year's tournament, dispatched Norway 2-0 in Rotterdam to make it seven wins from seven in Group Nine. Andre Ooijer and Arjen Robben were both on target. Nearly 60,000 England fans defied a strike which badly disrupted London's underground system to watch a 6-0 thrashing of Andorra in Group Six, England's biggest win at Wembley for nearly 10 years. Like the Netherlands, England has a maximum 21 points, although it still needs one more victory to rubber-stamp its qualification for the Finals. Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe both struck twice for Fabio Capello's side with Frank Lampard and Peter Crouch also on target. “The mood is very good in this squad,” David Beckham, who started an England match for the 100th time, told ITV. England now boasts a 10-point lead over second-placed Croatia and Ukraine who scraped a 2-1 home victory over Kazakhstan to keep alive its hopes of finishing in the runner-up spot and earn a playoff against another second-placed nation. Serbia is looking increasingly likely to qualify automatically as group winner after a 2-0 win in the Faroe Islands extended its lead over France at the top of Group Seven to eight points, although France has two games in hand. Milan Jovanovic and Neven Subotic scored for the Serbians whose next match is at home to France in September. Hiddink, who less than two weeks ago capped a successful assignment as temporary coach of Premier League club Chelsea by winning the FA Cup, watched his Russia side thump Finland in Helsinki to put the pressure on Group Four leader Germany who was not in action. Alexander Kerzhakov's double moved Russia on to 15 points from six matches, one behind Germany and five ahead of Finland. Sweden hit back from their weekend defeat at home to Denmark with a 4-0 defeat of Malta in Gothenburg, although its chances of snatching even the runner-up spot in Group One remain remote. Italy prevails World champion Italy had to come from behind three times to beat New Zealand 4-3 in a breathless warm-up for the Confederations Cup in South Africa on Wednesday. Vicenzo Iaquinta struck twice in the second half to spare Italian blushes against the 82nd-ranked team in world football. Shane Smeltz opened the scoring for New Zealand in the 13th minute before Alberto Gilardino headed in Fabio Quagliarella's chip for the first equalizer. Chris Killen headed in from a corner for 2-1 before Gilardino got his second. Killen won and converted a penalty in the 57th minute as New Zealand again took the lead. Iaquinta's first came after a defence-splitting pass from Andrea Pirlo and the second when he reacted fastest after New Zealand goalkeeper Glen Moss had failed to hold Riccardo Montolivo's shot. New Zealand play their first game of the Confederations Cup against European champions Spain on Sunday in Group A while Italy's opener is against the United States in Group B on Monday.
