FOOTBALL : HISTORIC FINLAND'S HONORS

FINLAND make major finals, seal Euro 2020 spot.

PARIS : Finland qualified for the first major tournament in their history last Friday with a 3-0 win over Liechtenstein while Sweden sealed their place at the Euro finals following a victory in Romania.

Norwich City forward Teemu Pukki scored twice in Helsinki and Jasse Tuominen also netted to bring the home crowd pouring onto the pitch at the final whistle as Finland  wrapped up second place behind Group J winners Italy.

Roberto Mancini's Italy registered a record 10th straight win as they eased past Bosnia and Herzegovinia 3-0 in Zenica.

Francesco Acerbi, Lorenzo Insigne and Andrea Belotti scored for Italy, who have bounced back impressively after failing to qualify for last year's World Cup year for the first time since 1958.

''Mancini has done a great job, he has given us clear ideas in a short period of time. We are proud of the record of ten consecutive wins but our objectives and our dreams are honestly others,'' said Belotti.

Bosnia are guaranteed a place in the play-offs after finishing top of their UEFA Nations League group last year.

Sweden qualified for a sixth straight European Championship after a 2-0 success in Bucharest that eliminated Romanians from contention.

Marcus Berg and Robin Quaisaon accorded first-half goals for Sweden who secured second place behind Group F winners Spain, leaving Romania hoping for a play-off berth.

Berg headed in an inviting cross from Emil Forsberg as Sweden surged ahead on 18 minutes and then turned provider as he cushioned the ball off for Quaison to double the lead.

RAMOS HONORED

Seven different players were on target for already qualified Spain in a 7-0 thrashing of lowly Malta in Cadiz.

Alvaro Morata opened the scoring on 23 minutes before former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla bagged his first international goal in four years.

Pau Torres, substitutes Pablo Sarabia and dano Olmo, Gerard Moreno and Jesus Navas completed the rout as Spain made sure of the top spot.

Spanish fans honored Sergio Ramos with a huge mosaic of the defender who last month broke the record previously held by the Iker Casillas for most national team appearances.

''I'm very happy. What better way for me to toast this tribute than with a variety of such authority and playing such good football?'' said Ramos who earned his 169th cap Friday.

''The joy is two fold on both a personal and group level,'' Alexander Sorloth struck twice for Norway and in a 4-0 win over the Faroe Islands.

Tore Reginiussen and Iver Fossum got the other goals in Oslo for the hosts who will head into the playoffs.

Denmark requires a draw from their final game against the Republic of Ireland after a 6-0 demolition of Gibraltar.

Crristian Eriksen and Robert Skov both hit a brace in Copenhagen with Martin Braithwaite and Christian Gytkjaer also on the scoresheet.

Switzerland occupy second place in Group D behind Denmark after a nervy 1-0 win over Georgia courtesy of late header from debutante Cedric Itten.

''I'm still in a bit of shock,'' said Itten. ''To score on my debut here in St Gallen is a dream come true. It's still going to take a while to sink in.'' [AFP]