Euro 2012: Montenegro drop points against Bulgaria

Radomir Djalovic (right) gave Montenegro the lead

Montenegro failed to take advantage of Euro 2012 qualifying Group G leaders England dropping two points against Switzerland as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bulgaria.

Radomir Djalovic gave Montenegro the lead only for Ivelin Popov to equalise.

It leaves Montenegro level on 11 points with England, who have a superior goal difference (plus eight to plus three).

England, who were held 2-2 by the Swiss, visit Montenegro on 7 October in a game that could decide who qualifies.

"I think we are in a great position because we have stayed clear of Bulgaria and Switzerland while we are set to continue a neck-and-neck battle with England for the top spot," said Motenegro coach Zlatko Kranjcar.

"A win over Wales in our next match would all but secure the runners-up spot and even if we don't win the group, we have a good chance of being the best second-placed team."

In Group B, two goals from Robbie Keane ensured Republic ofIreland beat Macedonia 2-0 to stay joint-top on 13 points with Slovakia and Russia.

Russia beat Armenia 3-1 thanks to a hat-trick from Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, while Slovakia won 1-0 against Andorra through Miroslav Karhan's strike.

Greece top Group F after beating Malta 3-1 with two goals from Ioannis Fetfatzidis and one from Kyriakos Papadopoulos.

They are a point ahead of Croatia and Israel, who themselves beat Latvia 2-1 with goals from Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun and a Tal Ben-Haim penalty.

And in Group H, Denmark beat Iceland 2-0 with goals from Lasse Schone and Christian Eriksen to go joint top.

Portugal lead that group on goal difference after they beat Norway 1-0 through former Tottenham striker Helder Postiga's 53rd-minute strike. It means Portugal, Denmark and Norway all have 10 points.

Elsewhere in international friendlies played on Saturday, Netherlands drew 0-0 with Brazil while world champions Spain beat the United States 4-0 courtesy of two goals from Gonzalez Santi Cazorla and one each from Alvaro Negredo and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres.