LONDON, Sept 8: holders w J Denmark and World Cup fin.i fl list s Italy were held to humbling draws in European Championship qualifiers on Wednesday by Macedonia and Slovenia, international newcomers from old Yugoslavia, reports Reuter, ih. beaien on (x-nalues ’

I ,za nt the World ( up fin , । tuM scavenge only all draw in Maribor against new neighbours Slovenia in one of the major shocks of the night when 12 nations made their European debuts in the qualifying series for the 1996 finals in England.

Slovenia led through a 13th minute goal from Sasa Udovic, but Alessandro Costacurta quallsed two minutes later in the Group Four game.

The Italians, looking leaden looted • and clumsy, were foi tn .qw nil' a

draw against inspired opponents who had a ^econd-half effort scooped off the line.

Denmark, winners two years ago in Sweden when they were substitute entrants for the banned Yugoslavia, needed a goal three minutes from time by Hemming Povlsen to rescue i point in the Macedonian capital Ekopje.

Milko Stojkovski had put the home side ahead after foot minutes on an historic night for the former Yugoslav suite which saw their under 21 team thrash the Danes 5-3.

Norway, who knocked 10 goals past San Marino almost to the day two years ago to start their successful World Cup qualifying, campaign, needed a last-gasp goal to squeeze a 1-0 home win over newcomers Belarus.

The forrper Soviet Union state held out in the Group Five encounter until substitute Self Frigaard scored an 88th

minute winner as Norway suffered a taste of their own medicine against a defensive minded side.

In another shock. Lithuania won 2-0 against fancied Ukraine in Kiev in a Group Four showdown between two former Soviet states.

Spain were made to struggle to take all three points iway from Cyprus, with two first half goals from Francisco Higuera enough for a 21 win.

Belgium also found lhe go fng tough againsl another of the debutantes, grabbing a 2-0 home win. thanks to a fourthminute own goal from Yervand Krbashian and a 73rd minute strike from Marc Degryse.

The Faroe Island, one of two debutantes in the last qualifying series, failed to repeat their shock of four years ago when they beat Austria. They went down 5 I at