WORLD champion Italy qualified for the European Championship and took France along with it by beating Scotland 2-1 Saturday on an injury-time goal by Christian Panucci.

Spain, Croatia, Poland and the Netherlands also advanced to next year's tournament in Austria and Switzerland. Defending champion Greece, three-time winner Germany, the Czech Republic and Romania had already qualified for the 16-team event. The final four spots are still be decided.

Israel scored a late winner to beat Russia 2-1, putting Croatia into the final tournament and keeping England in realistic contention.

The English now just need to draw with Croatia on Wednesday, whereas a Russian victory in Tel Aviv would have meant almost certain elimination.

Making his 50th appearance for the Azzurri, veteran fullback Panucci headed in a free kick by Andrea Pirlo after Barry Ferguson's 65th-minute goal had equalized a goal scored by Luca Toni in the second minute.

The victory put Italy at the top of Group B with 26 points from 11 games. France is second with 25 points and Scotland has 24, having lost its 12th and final game. Italy still has to play the Faeroe Islands on Wednesday, when France visits Ukraine.

"We knew that we had to play a physical match and given the (wet) conditions even more so," Italy coach Roberto Donadoni said. "To say that they were marvelous is little. The credit goes to all the players. They deserve it after all they have given."

Scotland coach Alex McLeish was furious that the officials awarded Italy the late free kick that led to Panucci's winner.

"We didn't deserve to lose that game. We battered the Italians in the second half and they were dead men walking at the end," he said.(SD-Agencies)