Italy Held as Deschamps Gets Off to Winning Start

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Beaten Euro 2012 finalists Italy were held to a disappointing 2-2 draw by Bulgaria, but Didier Deschamps got his career as France coach off to a winning start as European qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil got under way on Friday.

Argentine-born striker Pablo Osvaldo scored a brace in only his third game for Italy, but the Azzurri were pinned back by goals from Stanislav Manolev and Georgi Milanov in their Group B match.

Italy manager Cesare Prandelli's decision to revive the 3-5-2 formation he used only fleetingly at Euro 2012 looked questionable during a first half in which Bulgaria regularly exposed Italy's defense.

Just five weeks on from losing to Spain 4-0 in the Euro 2012 final, Italy allowed Bulgaria in for the equalizer in the 66th minute, a superb three-pronged move prying open the visitors' defense to allow Milanov to drive the ball past Gianluigi Buffon.

"I'm glad to have taken a point, but I'm disappointed because when we were leading 2-1 we had the chance to score a third goal," Prandelli told Rai 1.

"They played well and put us into difficulty. We lacked rhythm and precision."

Abou Diaby marked his return to international football with the only goal of the game as France began their bid to qualify for Brazil with a 1-0 win against Finland.

It was hardly vintage stuff from Les Bleus in a brisk Finnish capital, but the Arsenal midfielder's neat strike from a Karim Benzema assist in the first half allowed Deschamps' first competitive game in charge to end in victory.

France also had Hugo Lloris to thank, though, for a crucial late save as the hosts pushed forward in search of an equalizer.

"It's not easy, in general these things don't start well," Deschamps told French M6 television. "It's a shame that we had chances only for their 'keeper to make good saves.

"At the end, they threw on the big lad in (Njazi) Kuqi and created one or two dangerous situations, but you are never safe if you don't get a second goal."

In Group D, Robin van Persie was on target for the Netherlands in a 2-0 win over Turkey, while Hungary routed minnows Andorra 5-0 and Romania won 2-0 away in Estonia.

Arguably the biggest upset of the night was Iceland's 2-0 victory over Atlantic neighbors Norway in Group E, with Albania seeing off Cyprus 3-1 and Switzerland notching up a 2-0 victory over Slovenia in other pool matches.

Portugal recorded an unconvincing 2-1 win over Luxembourg in Group F, Russia going top after a 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland, as Azerbaijan and Israel fought out a 1-1 draw.

Group A action saw Croatia defeat Macedonia 1-0 and Wales go down 2-0 at home to Belgium, Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany on the scoreboard for the Belgians.

The biggest win of the night came in Group G when Bosnia-Herzegovina hammered Liechtenstein 8-1.

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