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Italy, Netherlands and US qualify for WCup
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Italy and the Netherlands became the first European teams to qualify for next year’s World Cup, while the United States and Costa Rica also grabbed spots in the field on Tuesday.
Giorgio Chiellini scored in the 51st minute and Mario Balotelli converted a penalty in the 54th, giving Italy a 2-1 come-from-behind win over the Czech Republic in Turin. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon made his 136th international appearance, matching Fabio Cannavaro’s Italian record.
The Azzurri, a four-time World Cup-winner, clinched first place in Group B and will be appearing in soccer’s top tournament for the 14th straight time.
“Now we can celebrate everything. I’m even happier with my personal record after we’ve qualified,” Buffon said.
With little chance to qualify, Czech coach Michal Bilek resigned after the game.
Robin Van Persie’s goals in the 49th and 53rd minutes lifted the Netherlands to a 2-0 win at Andorra. The Oranje, a three-time World Cup runner up, won Group D.
“We have done the job. We could not have qualified quicker for the World Cup than the way we did,” Dutch coach Louis Van Gaal said.
They joined host Brazil and Asian nations Australia, Iran, Japan and South Korea in the 32-team field for the World Cup, which kicks off on June 12.
Second-half goals by Eddie Johnson and Landon Donovan lifted the United States to a 2-0 home victory over Mexico. The US then secured its seventh straight World Cup appearance when Honduras drew 2-2 against Panama.
“We wanted to qualify for the World Cup. We’ve done that. Now we’ve got to make sure we do well in Brazil,” said Clint Dempsey.
The US moved into first place in the CONCACAF qualifying group with 16 points from eight games, one ahead of Costa Rica, which still qualified for Brazil despite a 1-1 draw at last-placed Jamaica.
In Europe, the nine group winners qualify, and eight second-place teams advance to playoffs that will determine four additional berths.
Three-time champion Germany won 3-0 at the Faeroe Islands through goals by Per Mertesacker and Thomas Mueller around Mesut Ozil’s penalty, getting in position to clinch Group C next month. Sweden is second after winning 1-0 at Kazakhstan, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring the lone goal.
England drew 0-0 at Ukraine, leaving the Three Lions atop Group H with two games left, one point ahead of Montenegro and Ukraine.
Russia moved into the Group F lead ahead of Portugal by defeating visiting Israel 3-1.
France won 4-2 at Belarus as Franck Ribery scored twice and Samir Nasri and Paul Pogba added goals. Defending champion Spain leads France on goal difference in Group I.
Switzerland won 2-0 at Norway in Group E and can finish first by winning one of its last two games.
Bosnia-Herzegovina leads Greece in Group C after beating Latvia 1-0 as the Greeks defeated Slovakia.
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