Argentina's Maxi Rodriguez (centre), celebrates after scoring a goal during the international friendly soccer match between Scotland and Argentina at Hampden Park Stadium, Glasgow yesterday. Argentina won 1-0. - ap

LONDON (AP)

Maxi Rodriguez gave Diego Maradona a winning start as Argentina coach in a 1-0 victory over Scotland yesterday, and John Terry atoned for a blunder to head England to a 2-1 victory over Germany.

Maxi finished off a slickmove in the eighth minute after a run and cross by Carlos Tevez and flick-on by Jonas Gutierrez at Hampden Park in Glasgow. Maradona, who has been hired to turn Argentina's talented players into a team capable of winning the World Cup, spun around and punched the air to celebrate the victory, which was achieved despite the absence of rested stars Lionel Messi and Juan Roman Riquelme.

Both of England's goals in Berlin were scored by central defenders in another impressive performance by Fabio Capello's team, which has also won all four of its World Cup qualifying matches.

Germany punished

Matthew Upson prodded home in the 24th minute after Germany goalkeeper Rene Adler missed Stewart Downing's corner. Germany punished a mix-up between Terry and goalkeeper Scott Carson and Patrick Helmes equalised in the 64th minute, but the England captain made up by heading home a free kick in the 84th.

In the only World Cup qualifying game to be played in Europe, the Czech Republic beat San Marino 3-0 to revive its chances of reaching the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

In more of the 23 friendlies spread across Europe, World Cup holders Italy hit back to draw 1-1 at Greece, and France was held to a 0-0 draw at home by Uruguay with French fans calling for coach Raymond Domenech to quit.

Norway's John Arne Riise was sent off in his team's 1-0 loss to Ukraine for kicking the ball into the referee's back after disputing a decision.

Giovanni Trapattoni had his first loss as Ireland coach in a 3-2 defeat at home to Poland, and Robin van Persie scored twice in the Netherlands' 3-1 victory over Sweden.

In Asian World Cup qualifying, Mark Bresciano's goal in the fourth minute of injury-time kept Australia on course for the 2010 championship with a 1-0 victory over Bahrain.

Japan's 3-0 victory over Qatar in Doha came with goals from Tatsuya Tanaka, Keiji Tamada and Marcus Tanaka as the team stayed two points behind the Socceroos with seven points. Qatar is third with four points.

South Korea moved to the top of the other group with a 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia with goals by Lee Kuen-ho and Lee Young-pyo. The Koreans took over from Iran, which drew 1-1 with United Arab Emirates.

In Oceania qualifying, New Zealand moved to the next phase despite losing to Fiji 2-0. The overall winner faces a playoff with the fifth-place Asian team.

World Cup host South Africa beat Cameroon 3-2 in a friendly on home turf in Rustenberg for its third win in four matches over the continent's top-ranked side.