England, rated as outsider after an unsettled few months following Fabio Capello's resignation, kicked off Roy Hodgson's tenure as national coach Saturday with a workmanlike 1-0 win in a friendly against Norway — its first in the Scandinavian country for 32 years. It was a mixed night for the various Euro 2012 qualifiers as they fine-tuned their squads for the tournament that kicks off with Poland versus Greece on June 8 in Warsaw. German pride took a second bashing in eight days as its Euro 2012 countdown began in earnest with a humbling 5-3 defeat by Switzerland but European champion Spain and tournament co-host Poland enjoyed useful victories. World Cup runner-up the Netherlands, which like Germany is fancied to challenge for the title next month, suffered a surprise 2-1 home defeat by Bulgaria. Spain, which will defend the title it won four years ago when it beat Germany in the final, fielded a below-strength side without any Barcelona players against Serbia in Switzerland, but still had enough in reserve for a 2-0 win. There was concern for Spain's coach Vicente del Bosque, however, as Barca midfielder Cesc Fabregas was ruled out for up to 10 days with a hamstring strain. Poland, staging the Finals with neighbor Ukraine, beat Slovakia 1-0 although there was some disturbing news for the host with second choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski being ruled out with a shoulder injury. Defender Damien Perquis headed Poland's winner in Warsaw. Germany takes on Portugal, Netherlands and Denmark in the tournament starting in a fortnight — a tough group that may be beyond some of the players who appeared Saturday. Netherlands also have much to ponder after a surprise defeat by Bulgaria in Amsterdam. Robin van Persie put Bert van Marwijk's side ahead just before the break but Ivelin Popov equalized from the penalty spot and Ilyan Mizanski grabbed the winner in stoppage time. Van Marwijk's mood was not helped by a hamstring injury to defender Joris Mathijsen who limped off. England's new coach Hodgson, appointed on May 1 to replace Italian Capello who guided the team to the Finals, said he was satisfied with the performance of an experimental side which featured Liverpool's Andy Carrol and Ashley Young up front. They could form England's attack in the Euro 2012 opener against France in the absence of Wayne Rooney, who is suspended for the first two matches, and Young's classy ninth-minute strike did his chances no harm. Portugal was jeered by its own fans after a disappointing 0-0 draw with Macedonia while Greece, which will travel to the Finals aiming to produce another shock like it did in 2004 when it was European champion, drew 1-1 with Slovenia. Denmark lost 3-1 to Brazil after Hulk scored twice for the South Americans in Hamburg but fellow Euro 2012 outsiders Ireland and Czech Republic secured morale-boosting wins, against Bosnia and Israel respectively. Elsewhere in Florida, Landon Donovan scored first international hat trick in five years to lead the United States to an easy 5-1 victory over Scotland in a friendly. In Texas, meanwhile, Shane Smeltz's header in the 44th minute lifted New Zealand to a 1-0 victory over Honduras.
