Italy and France qualify for 2008 European Championship as Azzurri beat Scotland 2-1
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GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) -- Christian Panucci scored on a header in second-half injury time to give Italy a 2-1 victory over Scotland on Saturday night, a result that qualified both the Azzurri and France for next year's European Championship.
Luca Toni scored in the second minute for Italy, which beat France in last year's World Cup final, but Scotland tied the score on Barry Ferguson's goal in the 65th.
Italy (8-1-2) leads Group B with 26 points with one game remaining and is one point ahead of France (8-2-1). Scotland (8-4) completed its schedule with 24 points.
The top two nations in each of the seven groups join co-hosts Austria and Switzerland at next June's tournament.
Italy went ahead early when Gianluca Zambrotta passed to an unmarked Antonia Di Natale in the penalty area. Di Natale swiveled and passed to Toni, who scored his 13th international goal.
Ferguson scored after goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon saved Lee McCulloch's shot following James McFadden's free kick. Panucci then beat Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon in for the go-ahead goal.
