Germans, Belgians, Swiss qualify
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Germany, Belgium and Switzerland qualified for the World Cup in Brazil while Spain, England and Russia also won on Friday to keep their fate in their own hands heading into the European zone’s final round of group games.
Next year’s tournament is also within sight for Bosnia-Herzegovina, which has never played in a World Cup, but Cristiano Ronaldo looks destined for the playoffs with Portugal after a night when the qualifying picture in the nine groups became much clearer.
The Netherlands had already secured their passage to the World Cup before their 8-1 demolition of Hungary, featuring a hat trick by Robin van Persie that put the Manchester United striker top of his countryÕs all-time scoring chart with 41 goals.
Three-time champion Germany eased past Ireland 3-0 through goals by Sami Khedira, Andre Schuerrle and Mesut Ozil to guarantee first place in Group C and reach footballÕs biggest tournament for the 16th straight time. ÒWeÕve won eight from nine games and we should have won the ninth,Ó Germany coach Joachim Loew said.
For Belgium, though, it will be a first World Cup in 12 years after the countryÕs so-called golden generation topped Group A with a 2-1 win in Croatia, with Romelu Lukaku scoring twice.
Switzerland prompted a jubilant tweet from tennis great Roger Federer after beating Albania 2-1 to win Group E with a game to spare and advance to the World Cup for a third successive occasion.
ÒSwitzerland made it to the World Cup, how happy am I on a scale 1-10?Ó Federer wrote. ÒAbout a 25.Ó
Spain beat Belarus 2-1 through second-half goals by Xavi Hernandez and Alvaro Negredo and requires just one point from a home match against Georgia to guarantee the world champion will defend its title.
England stayed top of Group H, a point clear of Ukraine, after an impressive second-half display sealed a 4-1 win over Montenegro, with in-form strikers Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge and debutante Andros Townsend among the scorers. The English now just need a victory over Poland on Tuesday to go through automatically but a draw will let in Ukraine, which beat the Poles 1-0 and have an easy match against San Marino.
The scenario is easier for Russia after its 4-0 win in Luxembourg, which left Fabio CapelloÕs team three points ahead of Portugal and needing only a draw in Azerbaijan to guarantee first place.
Portugal conceded a goal to Eden Ben Basat with five minutes left to draw 1-1 at home to Israel and virtually ensure it will be in next monthÕs two-legged playoffs, which feature the top eight runners-up.
Helped by two goals by Edin Dzeko, Group G leader Bosnia-Herzegovina beat Liechtenstein 4-1 at home and can qualify automatically for its first major tournament with a win at Lithuania on Tuesday. Greece defeated Slovakia 1-0 and is level on points with the Bosnians, but has a vastly inferior goal difference.
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