GERMANY and Denmark got off to winning starts in European World Cup qualifying with Thomas Muller and Christian Eriksen shining.

    The world champions coasted to a 2-0 lead against Norway at halftime before adding a third on the hour mark.

    Muller opened the scoring after 15 minutes before setting up Joshua Kimmich and adding the third himself with a header.

    Denmark put in a similarly dominant display against an Armenia side without Manchester United’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

    The result leaves the Danes top of Group E following a 2-2 draw between Kazakhstan and Poland and a 1-1 draw between Romania and Montenegro. Northern Ireland held Czech Republic to a goalless draw in their first game following the Euro 2016 run.

    The defense that served Michael O’Neill’s men so well in Euro 2016 qualifying stood up admirably to the Czechs, albeit while creating few chances of their own. Germany currently tops the group, with Azerbaijan in second after beating San Marino 1-0.

    Scotland, however, got off to a much more positive start, beating Malta 5-1.

    Meanwhile, Adam Lallana capped Sam Allardyce’s debut as England manager with a stoppage-time goal to secure a 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over 10-man Slovakia in Group F.

    The Liverpool midfielder struck in the fifth minute of added on time in Trnava on Sunday to snatch all three points for the Three Lions, his low strike creeping under Matus Kozacik.

    Lallana’s heroics saved England from a frustrating draw at the City Arena, the visitors having dominated possession against a lacklustre Slovakia.

    It took 64 minutes for Wayne Rooney to register England’s first shot on target, but the visitors were relentless in piling on the pressure after Martin Skrtel was sent off following a series of fouls on Harry Kane.

    Rooney saw a free-kick ripple the top of the net, and Lallana thudded a left-footed strike against the post as frustrations grew. Substitute Daniel Sturridge wasted a glorious chance after replacing Kane, but his blushes were spared as Lallana netted his first international goal to secure the win.

    England made an assertive start with good periods of possession but Allardyce’s side lacked quality in the final third, the visitors unable to test Kozacik in the Slovakia goal.

    The hosts also lacked a cutting edge and the opening 20 minutes passed by with little worthy of note, although that changed midway through the half as Lallana and Kyle Walker made good ground down the England right.

    A one-two released Walker but Kane missed his kick from five meters when trying to get on the end of his teammate’s cross.

    After wasting two promising free-kicks, Slovakia had to wait until the 37th minute for their best chance of the half. Danny Rose was caught in possession by Michal Duris inside his own penalty area, but the striker’s low cross just evaded Dusan Svento’s lunge.(SD-Agencies)