England were made to sweat before ultimately dispatching Kazakhstan 5-1 at Wembley.

After a goalless first half, Rio Ferdinand's header from Frank Lampard's corner settled the nerves before an own goal from Alexandr Kuchma doubled the lead.

Kazakhstan pulled one back through Zhambyl Kukeyev after an Ashley Cole error before two late goals from Wayne Rooney and a cool finish from substitute Jermain Defoe added gloss to the scoreline.

The likes of Sunderland's Craig Gordon and Manchester United's Darren Fletcher played as Scotland drew 0-0 at home with Norway.

Scotland came close when debutant Chris Iwelumo missed an incredible second-half chance as he failed to convert with the goal gaping from three yards out.

Returning captain Craig Bellamy missed a penalty as Wales made heavy weather of the 2-0 victory at home to Liechtenstein which gave them three vital World Cup qualifying points.

David Edwards scored his first goal for his country four minutes from the break, and Bellamy then had a spot-kick saved by Peter Jehle just before the interval.

Wales toiled against a packed defence but finally got their second with 11 minutes to go when substitute Ched Evans saw a header deflected home by Liechtenstein captain Mario Frick.

scored four

Northern Ireland suffered their second defeat in three World Cup qualifiers after crumbling late in the Group Three match against Slovenia in Maribor. Goals from Milivoje Novakovic and substitute Zlatan Ljubijankic in the 84th and 85th minute did the damage.

A miserable night was capped in injury-time when influential Manchester United defender Jonny Evans picked up a booking which means he will be suspended for Wednesday's home match against San Marino.

Liverpool's Daniel Agger scored a penalty as Denmark defeated Malta 3-0. Soren Larsen scored the other two goals. Meanwhile, another Liverpool player Yossi Benayoun scored in Israel's 3-1 win over Luxembourg.

Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor scored four as Togo romped home against Swaziland 6-0. Aston Villa's Moustapha Salifou also helped himself to one.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack netted Germany's winner as they defeated Russia 2-1. Lukas Podolski put the home side ahead, and Ballack doubled the lead from close range, before Andriy Arshavin ensured a tense second-half for the Germans.

New Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini scored the second in Belgium's 2-0 defeat of Armenia. Wesley Sonck put them ahead.

Elsewhere, Branislav Ivanovic netted the opener as Serbia eased past Lithuania 3-0, Stoke's Ricardo Fuller scored the only goal as Jamaica beat Mexico and Manchester City sensation Robinho scored twice as Brazil beat Venezuela 4-0, with Kaka and Adriano also finding the back of the net.