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Bulgaria\'s Georgi Milanov, center, celebrates after scoring during a Group B 2014 World Cup qualifying match against Italy, at the Vassil Levski stadium in Sofia, Friday, Sept. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Oleg Popov)

Italy opens WCup qualifying with draw at Bulgaria, rest of Europe’s big teams start with wins

Italy was held to a 2-2 draw by Bulgaria as the rest of Europe’s top teams got off to winning starts Friday night in their first matches in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.

Showing little of the form that took the team to the European Championship final in the summer, the Azzurri were denied victory when Georgi Milanov equalized for 89th Bulgaria in the 66th minute at Sofia.

That was the only big surprise of the opening group of qualifiers, although Portugal was hardly impressive in rallying to a 2-1 win over Luxembourg as Cristiano Ronaldo scored the equalizer for the visitors.

England won 5-0 over Moldova for its biggest road victory margin in 19 years, and the Netherlands beat Turkey 2-0.

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