Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored twice to take his qualifying tally their perfect record in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group E

The Netherlands maintained their perfect record in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group E with a convincing win against Sweden.

Two goals each from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Ibrahim Afellay put the game beyond the visitors to Amsterdam, who did at least manage a consolation through Andreas Granqvist. The Netherlands, who have now won their last 12 qualifying fixtures, are three points ahead of Hungary with Sweden a similar distance further back, holding a game in hand.

Missing the injured Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie, the Netherlands started with the same side that won 1-0 in Moldova on Friday and they made their first attack after four minutes count, a combination move that cut through the heart of the Sweden team. Joris Mathijsen's reverse pass was met by a Wesley Sneijder back-heel to Rafael van der Vaart, who sent Huntelaar free to shoot hard and low past Andreas Isaksson.

Straight from the restart, the Netherlands pushed forward again and Sneijder's shot hit the side netting before he then forced Isaksson to save at full stretch. Ola Toivonen had a chance to equalise in the 23rd minute but his chip over the onrushing Maarten Stekelenburg fell just wide of the post.

Dirk Kuyt was forced off with an ankle injury after landing awkwardly just before the half-hour but eight minutes before the break it was 2-0, the Oranje again finding a route through a visiting back line missing the suspended Olof Mellberg. Sneijder intercepted a Sweden throw and his precise pass was finished off by Afellay at full speed, his first international goal in 30 appearances.

Afellay did not have to wait long to double that tally though first, ten minutes into the second half, he turned provider as he tricked Mikael Lustig on the left and crossed for Huntelaar to head in his eighth goal in qualifying. Four minutes later Huntelaar returned the compliment, setting up Afellay to make it four.

Granqvist pulled one back from Sebastian Larsson's free-kick and Stekelenburg saved from Zlatan Ibrahimović and Marcus Berg but victory was secure and the FIFA World Cup finalists will go to Hungary on 25 March knowing another win would put them in sight of qualification.

UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying match between Italy and Serbia in Genoa was abandoned due to crowd trouble.

The UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying match between Italy and Serbia in Genoa was abandoned due to crowd trouble.

Only six minutes of play were possible at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, the kick-off of which had been delayed by 35 minutes due to crowd disturbances. It was subsequently decided to abandon the match in order to ensure the safety and security of all parties involved due to the disturbances and flares thrown by the Serbian fans.

UEFA now awaits the receipt of the official UEFA delegate's match report before deciding whether to open a disciplinary case.

Group C minnows the Faroe Islands are Cesare Prandelli's first competitive opposition at home in charge of Italy, with only Giuseppe Rossi struggling

Italy will be looking to claim maximum points at home against the Faroe Islands in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group C, but their visitors were by no means pushovers when the sides were pooled together on the road to UEFA EURO 2008.

Antonio Cassano and Leonardo Bonucci both finished from Andrea Pirlo corners as Cesare Prandell's men recovered from falling behind.

Two second-half goals in quick succession allowed Italy to come from behind to start UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group C with a 2-1 win in Estonia, their first victory in 2010.

Overseeing his first competitive game since replacing Marcello Lippi following the FIFA World Cup, Cesare Prandelli watched his charges head into the interval 1-0 down after Sergei Zenjov punished a mistake by visiting goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu. A pair of Andrea Pirlo corners nonetheless spared the Azzurri's blushes as Antonio Cassano finished on the hour mark and Leonardo Bonucci struck three minutes later, earning their side three points ahead of Tuesday's home meeting with the Faroe Islands.

Estonia, who next travel to Serbia on 8 October, caused much of the early danger and they threatened with just 13 minutes gone when a headed pass from Sergei Zenjov released Konstantin Vassiljev with only Sirigu to beat. The midfielder fired over, but after Sergei Pareiko saved well from Giampaolo Pazzini's close-range effort, Sirigu failed to deal with a long-range Vassilijev free-kick and Zenjov converted the rebound.

The hosts nearly doubled their lead three minutes into the second half when Sander Puri's powerful shot from distance hit the bar with Sirigu beaten. Italy were struggling to find space in attack, but Cassano eventually levelled the scores by heading in a Pirlo corner from the right. The AC Milan playmaker then helped Italy take the lead when he delivered from the opposite corner, with Cassano's back-heel at the near post allowing Bonucci to finish.

Cesare Prandelli enjoyed a memorable return to Florence as the Azzurri won for the second match in a row.

Italy won for the second match in succession as Cesare Prandelli enjoyed a five-star return to the Stadio Artemio Franchi and a convincing win in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying group Group C against the Faroe Islands.

Prandelli, back at the stadium that was his home as ACF Fiorentina coach for five years until this summer, made five changes to the side that beat Estonia 2-1 on Friday, including Alberto Gilardino, who headed the hosts in front on 11 minutes. Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Cassano added further first-half strikes before Fabio Quagliarella pounced nine minutes from time and Andrea Pirlo curled in a late free-kick to send the Azzurri top of Group C.

Italy hit the ground running and could have twice taken the lead before Gilardino's opener. First the lively Cassano shot wide after a neat one-two on the edge of the area with Gilardino, and then the influential Pirlo sent a free-kick narrowly beyond the far post.

As in Estonia, it was a set piece from the Italy captain that produced the first goal, Gilardino rising to glance his 17th international goal past Gunnar Nielsen in front of his delighted home fans.

The next two strikes owed much to Luca Antonelli, the Parma FC full-back beginning by embarking on a forceful run before cutting the ball back to De Rossi, who rifled a deflected shot in off Atli Gregersen at the second attempt. Following further sterling approach play down the left by Antonelli, Cassano then picked up possession 22 metres out and scored with a powerful strike.

But for the intervention of Nielsen, the visitors, whose only threat before half-time was a tame free-kick by Christian Mouritsen, could have been worse off. In fact, it was a surprise that the hosts had to wait until nine minutes from time to make it 4-0, Juventus striker Quagliarella finally poking in from close range after Giampaolo Pazzini's shot had been blocked on the line.

After Cassano was again thwarted by Nielsen, Pirlo capped a polished performance with a curling effort that cemented Italy's place atop the section, two points clear of Serbia, who drew 1-1 with Slovenia. Prandelli's charges will next be tested in Northern Ireland on 8 October, when the Faroe Islands are in action away against Slovenia.