Most of Europe's soccer powers chalked up solid wins on a night of 18 friendlies on Wednesday but Russia again came unstuck in a more important Euro 2004 qualifier, going down 1-0 in Georgia.
Spain, France, Germany and Italy all collected friendly victories of varying quality while in the night's two stand-out fixtures the Czech Republic thrashed Turkey 4-0 and the Netherlands drew 1-1 at home with Euro 2004 hosts Portugal.
However, in Tbilisi, Malkhaz Asatiani, who plays for Lokomotiv Moscow, scored early in the first half to give Georgia a well-deserved 1-0 Group 10 win over Russia in new Georgia coach Ivo Susak's first match in charge.
The result, coming after the 3-1 loss in Albania last month, leaves Russia in second place with six points from four matches, two points behind group leaders Switzerland. Albania are third on five with Ireland and Georgia on four.
While Russia have lost the initiative, Latvia are starting to dream of making their first-ever major finals as a 3-0 home win over San Marino took them back to the top of Group Four.
Two goals for midfielder Imants Bleidelis and one for Andrejs Prohorenkovs took Latvia to 10 points from four games, with Poland (seven points), Hungary and Sweden (both five) trailing in their wake.
Slovenia remained on course to finish second behind European champions France in Group One, their 3-1 win in Malta keeping them second on nine points, two ahead of Israel who beat Cyprus 2-0 in Palermo with two goals in the last three minutes.
France, who lead the group with a maxiumum 15 points, were without several leading players, including Zinedine Zidane, but still cruised to a 5-0 home friendly win over Egypt with goals for Thierry Henry (2), Robert Pires, Djibril Cisse and Olivier Kapo.
The Czech Republic looked on course for at least that scoreline as they raced to a 4-0 half-time lead against World Cup semi-finalists Turkey in Teplice.
Goals by Tomas Rosicky, Jan Koller and Liverpool duo Vladimir Smicer and Milan Baros took the Czech's unbeaten run to 14 games as mass substitutions spoiled the second half.
Spain also notched a 4-0 success at home to Ecuador, Real Madrid reserve striker Fernando Morientes grabbing a hat-trick after Javi de Pedro had givent them the lead.
The other big-name match-up ended level in Eindhoven where Patrick Kluivert equalled Dennis Bergkamp's Dutch record of 37 goals in his 68th appearance.
The Barcelona striker struck in the 27th minute but Portugal got a deserved equaliser 12 minutes from time with a deflected Simao shot.
Italy fielded a virtual reserve team but were still good enough to end Switzerland's six-match unbeaten run with a 2-1 win in the first match played in Geneva's new stadium.
Switzerland led early through Alexander Frei but defender Nicola Legrottaglie equalised and midfielder Christiano Zanetti won it in the 75th minute.
Germany were similarly under-strength due to a rash of injuries but ended a three-game winless run by edging past Serbia and Montenegro 1-0 in Bremen courtesy of Sebastian Kehl's 25-metre drive on the hour.
Twenty-one-year-old Sturm Graz striker Imre Szabics had a debut to remember as he came on as a substitute to score twice in Hungary's 5-1 home win over Luxembourg.
Ireland manager Brian Kerr took his unbeaten run to four games since he took over with a 1-0 home win over Norway but Berti Vogts's Scotland produced another limp display to go down 2-0 at home to Austria.
In other friendlies Croatia won 2-1 in Sweden, Denmark beat Ukraine 1-0, Romania won 1-0 in Lithuania, Bulgaria beat Albania 2-0, Belgium beat Poland 3-1 and Liechtenstein edged Saudi Arabia 1-0 for only the third win in their history.
England were the only one of Europe's top 25 nations not to play on Wednesday. Ironically, instead of preparing his team, national manager Sven-Goran Eriksson spent the day in meetings listening to leading premier league managers
complaining about losing their players for international friendlies.
