Football: Fright for Italy and Denmark

DENMARK, the masters of Europe, and Italy, the World Cup finalists, were held to humbling draws by international newcomers from the old Yugoslavia in European Championship qualifiers last night.

Italy could scavenge only a 1-1 draw in Maribor against Slovenia, who led through a 13th-minute goal from Sasa Udovic. Italy responded quickly, Alessandro Costacurta equalising two minutes later, but they looked leaden-footed and clumsy. Slovenia also had a late effort kicked off the line.

Denmark, winners two years ago in Sweden when they were substitute entrants for the banned Yugoslavia, needed a goal three minutes from time by Flemming Povlsen to rescue a point in the Macedonian capital, Skopje. Mitko Stojkovski had put the home side ahead after four minutes.