But while the defending European champions and England struggled, France scored their first victory under new coach Roger Lemerre when they snatched a 3-2 away win over Russia, and Italy defeated Switzerland 2-0 in Udine.Galatasaray striker Hakan Sukur, nicknamed `The Bull of the Bosphorus', sent the Turkish crowd into delirium and left the Germans in despair when he headed his side clear in the 69th minute.

Sukur struck with 20 minutes left when German 'keeper Oliver Kahn punched away an effort from substitute Oktay Derelioglu.

Turkey's immediate jubilation died down seconds later, however, when Tayfun Korkut was sent off for a second bookable offence. Even against ten men and despite considerable late pressure, the Germans could notclimb back into the match.

It was the first Turkish victory over Germany in 15 matches since 1951 and it was greeted by wild street celebrations all over the country.

Turkey now top Group three with a maximum six points from two games while Germany, playing their first game under new manager Erich Ribbeck, will be hoping for better things when they travel to Moldova on Wednesday.

England's dour stalemate against Bulgaria at Wembley in Group five was almost as bad and Glenn Hoddle's future as England coach looks anything but rosy after he and his players were booed off the Wembley pitch.

Poland, meanwhile, went top of the group after squashing Luxembourg 3-0 at Warsaw.

FRENCH SUCCOUR: France, desperate to forget the embarrassment of last month's draw in Iceland, threw away a two-goal lead against a well-drilled Russian side in Group four before Alain Boghossian finally netted the winner nine minutes from time.

However, Ukraine top Group four with six points, having followed up their successagainst Russia last month by beating Andorra 2-0 away yesterday.

DEL PIERO ENDS DROUGHT: Italy lead the way in Group one after Alessandro del Piero silenced his critics by scoring both goals in the win over Switzerland. It ended a five-month goal drought for the striker which wrecked the Italians' World Cup campaign.

DANES UPSET: Elsewhere, 1992 champions Denmark slumped to a shock 2-1 defeat against plucky Wales at Copenhagen. Norwich star Craig Bellamy bagged the winner four minutes from time.

Soren Frederiksen had put the Danes in front on 57 minutes but Adrian Williams scored straight from the restart and the Danes, who could only draw with Belarus in their first match, never recovered.

In Group nine, Scotland needed two goals from substitute Billy Dodds on his international debut to scrape a 3-2 win over Estonia at Tynecastle.

Keith Rowland scored his first international goal to give Northern Ireland a 1-0 Group three win over Finland at Windsor Park and Latvia took the early command inGroup two after beating Georgia 1-0. They had already beaten Norway, who came away 2-1 winners from Slovenia.

Meanwhile, in Group eight, Croatia bounced back from their shock defeat in Ireland by hammering Malta 4-1 away.

Euro Qualifiers Results

Group I: Italy bt Switzerland 2-0; Wales bt Denmark 2-1

Group II: Latvia bt Georgia 1-0; Norway bt Slovenia 2-1

Group III: Turkey bt Germany 1-0; Northern Ireland bt Finland 1-0

Group IV: France bt Russia 3-2; Ukraine bt Andorra 2-0

Group V: England drew Bulgaria 0-0; Poland bt Luxembourg 3-0

Group VIII: Croatia bt Malta 4-1

Group IX: Scotland bt Estonia 3-2