2014 World Cup Qualifiers: Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Columbia join party

EUROPEAN Zone:

In the European zone, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland booked their places in next summer’s FIFA World Cup at Brazil. With Italy and the Netherlands having already qualified from the European Zone, the four remaining automatic places will be determined on 15th October. Four more slots will subsequently be allocated to the winners of play-offs between the eight second-placed sides with the best records. Bosnia & Herzegovina have their destiny in their own hands as they can qualify for their maiden World Cup by winning at lowly Lithuania. England also need to win their final home against Poland to qualify directly as second placed Ukraine are almost certain to win their final game against the whipping boys San Marino. Spain and Russia are almost sure to qualify directly as they sit 3 points clear over their nearest competitors France and Portugal respectively. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal missed their chance to keep pressure on Russia with their damaging draw against Israel and now almost certainly would have to qualify for the World Cup through the two-legged play-off.

The results of the last night’s qualifiers in full:

Group A:
Croatia 1-2 Belgium
Wales 1-0 FYR Macedonia

Group B
Armenia 2-1 Bulgaria
Malta 1-4 Czech Republic
Denmark 2-2 Italy

Group C
Germany 3-0 Republic of Ireland
Sweden 2-1 Austria
Faroe Islands 1-1 Kazakhstan

Group D
Netherlands 8-1 Hungary
Andorra 0-4 Romania
Estonia 0-2 Turkey

Group E
Iceland 2-0 Cyprus
Albania 1-2 Switzerland
Slovenia 3-0 Norway

Group F
Luxembourg 0-4 Russia
Portugal 1-1 Israel
Azerbaijan 2-0 Northern Ireland

Group G
Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-1 Liechtenstein
Greece 1-0 Slovakia
Lithuania 2-0 Latvia

Group H
England 4-1 Montenegro
Moldova 3-0 San Marino
Ukraine 1-0 Poland

Group I
Spain 2-1 Belarus

SOUTH AMERICAN Zone:

In the South American region, Columbia booked their place in the World Cup and joined Argentina and hosts Brazil from South America.  Chile, Ecuador and Uruguay are in the mix to take the last two automatic spots and the 5th placed team in the region will have to qualify via a two-legged play-off against Jordan.

Argentina 3-1 Peru
Venezuela 1-1 Paraguay
Columbia 3-3 Chile
Ecuador 1-0 Uruguay

CONCACAF Zone:

Mexico clinched a last grasp victory over Panama to keep their faint hopes alive to qualify automatically for the World Cup. They are currently sitting in the 4th place three points behind Honduras, who occupy the last automatic qualifying spot and could clinch their spot with a draw in their final game against Jamaica. The 4th placed team will have to qualify via a two-legged play-off against Oceania champions New Zealand.

Mexico 2-1 Panama
Honduras 1-0 Costa Rica
USA 2-0 Jamaica