HAMBURG - Germany, Serbia and Denmark booked their places at the 2010 World Cup finals with qualification victories Saturday.
A 35th-minute Miroslav Klose goal gave Germany a 1-0 win over Russia in Moscow to give Joachim Loew’s side an unassailable lead in Group 4 and consign the Russians to a play-off tie next month.
Germany survived the 69th-minute loss of Jerome Boateng who was sent off for a second booking on his international debut.
Denmark overcame second-placed Sweden 1-0 thanks to a 79th-goal from Jakob Poulsen to clinch top spot in Group 1. Ironically, the Danes scored at a time when the Swedes were pushing and has also had two goals disallowed.
Portugal and Hungary were playing later in the three-way battle for second place which will now be settled on the final day Wednesday.
Serbia enjoyed a 5-0 drubbing of Romania with goals from Nikola Zigic, Marko Pantelic, Zdravko Kuzmanovic and two late on from Milan Javanovic to seal top place in Group 7 ahead of likely runners-up France.
Two goals from defender Philippe Senderos in the sixth and eighth minutes and a third from Benjamin Huggel in the 23rd earned Switzerland a 3-0 win at Luxembourg in Group 2.
The Swiss under Ottmar Hitzfeld need one more point from Wednesday’s home encounter against Israel to make absolutely sure.
Theofanis Gekas scored four goals as Greece defeated Latvia 5-2 to stay within three points of the Swiss. The Greeks must now hope the Swiss lose their last match while they beat Luxembourg.
Bosnia-Herzegovina earned a 2-0 win at Estonia with goals from Edin Dzeko (32nd minute) and Vedad Ibisevic (66th) to make sure of a play-off place behind European champions Spain in Group 5.
Turkey, who lost 2-0 in Belgium, now have no hope of qualification from the group.
Already-qualified Spain made it nine straight wins with a 2-1
victory in Armenia.
Juan Manuel Mata hit the winner for Spain from the penalty spot in the 64th minute after Robert Arzumanyan had six minutes earlier equalized an early Cesc Fabregas goal.
Group 3 remains tight after Slovenia earned a 2-0 win at leaders Slovakia. The Czech Republic kept alive their outside hopes of a runners-up spot with a 2-0 win over Poland.
The Slovaks need to win their final game in Poland to be assured of qualifying for the next round.
England lost their perfect record in qualifiers after a 1-0 defeat against Ukraine in Dnepropetrovsk.
Having already secured qualification, Fabio Capello’s men failed to record a ninth straight win as they were reduced to 10 men after the early sending off of Robert Green and were beaten by a Sergiy Nazarenko goal.
England remain on 24 points at the top of Group 6, while Ukraine moved into second place on 18 points, one clear of Croatia in third.
In Group 8, Bulgaria went down 4-1 in Cyprus, a result which ensures Ireland - hosting Italy in a later kick-off - at least a play-off place. In the same group, Montenegro defeated Georgia 2-1.
Elsewhere in matches with no bearing on qualification, Belarus downed Kazakhstan 4-0 in Group 6, while Finland - Germany’s Group 4 opponents on Wednesday - earned a 2-1 win over Wales.
Related News
Safina remains top of unchanged WTA rankingsOctober 5th, 2009 HAMBURG - Dinara Safina continues to head an unchanged top 10 tennis rankings released Monday by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). Russia's Safina has 8,250 points, with American Serena Williams 7,806 and sister Venus on 6,367.
Safina heads unchanged women tennis rankingsSeptember 28th, 2009 HAMBURG - Dinara Safina remains top of an unchanged tennis rankings released Monday by the WTA. Russia's Safina has 8,340 points, followed by Serena Williams on 7,807 and sister Venus on 6,645.
Safina stays top in WTA rankings; Dementieva, Wozniacki move upSeptember 21st, 2009 HAMBURG - Dinara Safina stayed ahead of the Williams sisters Serena and Venus in the WTA tennis rankings released Monday. The Russian Safina has 8,340 points, with Serena Williams on 7,807 and sister Venus on 6,645.
England and Spain ease into finals, relief for PortugalSeptember 10th, 2009 HAMBURG - European champions Spain and England clinched their tickets for South Africa, Portugal grabbed a lifeline but France were left still struggling after World Cup football qualifiers in Europe Wednesday. Meanwhile there was heartache for Scotland after a late Dutch goal, world champions Italy stayed on course for the 2010 finals while Germany and Russia both won to set up a showdown next month.
Germany book 2010 World Cup accommodationSeptember 9th, 2009 HAMBURG - Captain Michael Ballack and his teammates have found their 2010 World Cup base camp in the form of a five-star hotel halfway between Johannesburg and Pretoria, the German football federation DFB said Wednesday. The DFB said that Germany will set up its camp in the Velmore Hotel in Centurion and travel to its matches from there, provided that the three-time champions qualify for the World Cup.
Spain and Italy on course; France, Portugal struggleSeptember 6th, 2009 HAMBURG - World champions Italy and Europe's title-holders Spain took major steps towards qualifying for next year's World Cup finals with victories, but France and Portugal have a fight on their hands after being held to draws Saturday. A last-minute goal from Zlatan Ibrahimovic meanwhile gave Sweden a 2-1 victory in Hungary to boost their hopes in a closely-fought Group 1 where leaders Denmark were pegged by a late Portugal equalizer.
World records set at the swimming world championshipsJuly 30th, 2009 ROME - A list of the world records set at the Foro Italico in Rome by the end of Thursday's events. The competition ends Sunday.
Safina supreme at top of WTA rankingsJuly 13th, 2009 HAMBURG - Dinara Safina of Russia maintained her top spot on the women's tennis rankings issued by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Monday. Safina, who was beaten in straight sets by Venus Williams in the Wimbledon semi-finals earlier this month, leads an unchanged top 10 with 10,521 points.
Federer stays top, Roddick moves up in ATP rankingsJuly 13th, 2009 HAMBURG - Wimbledon champion Roger Federer stayed ahead of Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray at the top of the men's tennis rankings, issued by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Monday. The leading 10 was largely unchanged, with losing Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick of the United States moving up one place to fifth, exchanging places with Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro.
Safina tops rankings despite latest Grand Slam setbackJuly 6th, 2009 HAMBURG - Dinara Safina of Russia maintained her top spot in the women's tennis rankings issued Monday by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) after she yet again failed to get a first career Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. Safina, crushed in straight sets by Venus Williams in the Wimbledon semi-finals last week, leads an unchanged top 10 with 10,521 points.
Safina heads WTA list into WimbledonJune 22nd, 2009 HAMBURG - Dinara Safina of Russia took the women's number one ranking in tennis into the Wimbledon fortnight which began Monday. Safina has 9,801 points in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) list as she eyes her first career Grand Slam title after losing three finals at the majors in the past.
Russia keep heat on Germany; England nearly there (Lead)June 11th, 2009 HAMBURG - Russia moved to within a point of Germany after a 3-0 win over Finland, while England and already-qualified Netherlands continued their winning runs in World Cup qualifiers. Two goals from Alexander Kershakov in the 26th and 54th minutes and a third from Konstantin Zyrianov in the 73rd gave Russia a decisive victory over Finland in a Group 4 match in Helsinki Wednesday.
Sweden captain Henrik Larsson doubtful after brother's deathJune 7th, 2009 STOCKHOLM - Sweden captain Henrik Larsson is unlikely to play in the next World Cup qualifier Wednesday against Malta after the death of his younger brother, reports said Sunday. Larsson has left the squad and is with his family, Swedish team spokesman Thomas Saleteg told reporters.
Dutch qualify for World Cup, England march on (European Roundup)June 7th, 2009 HAMBURG - The Netherlands became the first team from Europe to qualify for the 2010 football World Cup and England moved closer to the finals in South Africa. With goals from Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel, Dutch won 2-1 in Iceland Saturday and clinched their place 369 days before the opening match of the 2010, World Cup finals.
Safina tops women's rankingsMay 25th, 2009 HAMBURG - Dinara Safina retained first place in the latest women's tennis rankings issued Monday by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) as she makes another attempt to claim her first title at the majors. The Russian Safina takes 9,801 points into the French Open which started Sunday, with the Williams sisters Serena and Venus following on 7,838 and 7,237 points, respectively.