GERMANY became the first team to make it through the qualifiers after a thumping 6-2 win over neighbours Austria in Group A.
Miroslav Klose moved within six goals of Gerd Muller's record for Germany of 68 international strikes with the opener on nine minutes.
But it was Real Madrid man Mesut Oezil who stole the show with two goals as the Nationalmannschaft sealed their place in the finals in Poland and Ukraine.
Lukas Podolski, Andre Schuerrle and Mario Goetze also scored for Germany who made it eight wins out of eight in Gelsenkirchen.
Turkey did themselves the power of good in the race to finish second with a 2-1 win over Kazakhstan while their rivals Belgium laboured to a 1-1 draw in Azerbaijan. The Turks are now a point clear of the Belgians with a game in hand.
Russia took control of Group B with a narrow 1-0 home win over FYR Macedonia as Republic of Ireland and Slovakia had to settle for 0-0 in Dublin.
The Irish will be the more disappointed of the two teams after Robbie Keane missed a sitter for his 52nd international goal, putting a header over the bar from six yards.
But Giovanni Trapattoni's men should be confident of securing at least second place with a better run-in than the Slovakians, once they have got their visit to Russia on Tuesday out of the way.
Indeed, it is Russia who are in pole position to win the group as they moved onto 16 points, two clear of Ireland and Slovakia.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's hopes of qualifying for a first ever European Championship finals from Group C took a major blow after Serbia won 1-0 at Windsor Park in Belfast.
Marko Pantelic punished Steve Davis' misplaced pass halfway through the second half while Corey Evans had earlier missed the best chance for Nigel Worthington's men with a header.
Northern Ireland have now dropped to fifth place on nine points from seven games, though they are still just two points adrift of the second-placed Serbians and Slovenia, in third.
Estonia are still well in with a shout in fourth place on 10 points after winning 2-1 in Slovenia who must now face the prospect of facing highly-motivated group leaders Italy on Tuesday.
The Azzurri were unconvincing tonight in a 1-0 win over the Faroe Isles but, nevertheless, they are on the verge of joining Germany in the finals, needing a win by any score in midweek.
In Group D, Sejad Salihovic and Haris Medunjanin scored two first-half goals within two minutes as Bosnia-Herzegovina beat Belarus 2-0 in Minsk to become the main challengers to France.
Bosnia are now second on 13 points, a point clear of Belarus having played only seven games as compared to the Belarussian's eight.
France remain top on 16 points, from just seven matches, after early goals from Karim Benzema and Yann M'Vila helped Les Bleus to a 2-1 win in Albania.
However, the narrow score does not reflect the dominance of Laurent Blanc's side who hit the woodwork three times.
Romania are still down in fourth but moved into contention for second place on 11 points after a routine 2-0 win over Luxembourg.
The biggest win of the night came in Group E as 2010 World Cup runners-up Netherlands cruised to their biggest-ever win against hapless San Marino.
Robin Van Persie scored four goals as the Dutch won 11-0 to retain their own 100% record with 21 points from seven games.
Better still for Bert van Marwijk's men, second-placed Sweden were beaten 2-1 in Hungary to fall six points behind with just three matches left to make up the deficit.
Group F is now almost certainly a two-horse race as Greece beat third-placed Israel 1-0 in Tel Aviv thanks to a Sotiris Ninis goal on the hour.
Euro 2004 winners Greece continue to lead the group on 17 points, but they are still just a point clear of Croatia who beat minnows Malta 3-1. Croatia play in Athens in what looks like being the Group decider on 7 October.
England looked set to play an equally vital match on the same date with Montenegro to decide the outcome of Group G but tonight's results may prove to be decisive instead.
While Fabio Capello's men were easing to a 3-0 win in Sofia, thanks to two goals from the in-form Wayne Rooney and one from Gary Cahill, Wales recorded their first points of the campaign in a 2-1 win.
Steve Morison and Aaron Ramsey scored the goals for the Welsh at the Cardiff City Stadium before Stevan Jovetic set up a nervy last 20 minutes.
Gary Speed's men held on, though, for his first competitive win as manager, and the result has dealt a severe blow to Montenegro's qualification chances.
England now lead the group on 14 points, three clear of Montenegro. Switzerland and Bulgaria remain on just five, giving Wales, on three points, the chance to avoid the wooden spoon.
In Nicosia, Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal beat ten-man Cyprus 4-0 to move top of Group H.
However, there remains tough competition from Norway, who joined the Portuguese on 13 points from six games after 1-0 win over Iceland, and Denmark who are three points behind but with a game in hand.
Importantly, Denmark meet Norway at home on Tuesday and Portugal at home next month.
And finally, in this round of matches, Scotland lost much hope of qualifying after a controversial last-minute penalty earned Czech Republic a 2-2 draw in Group I.
Michal Kadlec converted after a clear dive by Jan Rezek as the Czechs twice came from behind.
Earlier, Kenny Miller had given Scotland a lead which they barely merited on the stroke of half-time. The Czechs had been the better side with Milan Baros missing a sitter before being brought down in the box by Charlie Adam.
In a lucky escape, no penalty was given against the Scots on that occasion but Czech Republic did equalise with just 12 minutes left through Jaroslav Plasil.
When Miller was instrumental in setting up a second goal for Scotland through Darren Fletcher five minutes later, though, the Tartan Army's hopes were revived that Craig Levein's men might make a playoff.
Kadlec's penalty killed that hope and left Scotland still trailing the Czechs by five points with Lithuania to come on Tuesday.
At least Scotland should retain a mathematical chance of qualification via the playoffs with victory over the Lithuanians who laboured to a 0-0 draw against Liechtenstein yesterday.
But it is looking more and more likely that, once again, England will be only team from the Home Nations joining Poland, Ukraine, Germany and the others in the finals next summer.
EURO 2012 RESULTS
2 September 2011
Group-by-group standings
GROUP A
Azerbaijan 1-1 Belgium
Germany 6-2 Austria
Turkey 2-1 Kazakhstan
GROUP B
Andorra 0-3 Armenia
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Slovakia
Russia 1-0 FYR Macedonia
GROUP C
Faroe Islands 0-1 Italy
Northern Ireland 0-1 Serbia
Slovenia 1-2 Estonia
GROUP D
Albania 1-2 France
Belarus 0-2 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Luxembourg 0-2 Romania
GROUP E
Finland 4-1 Moldova
Hungary 2-1 Sweden
Netherlands 11-0 San Marino
GROUP F
Georgia 0-1 Latvia
Israel 0-1 Greece
Malta 1-3 Croatia
GROUP G
Bulgaria 0-3 England
Wales 2-1 Montenegro
GROUP H
Cyprus 0-4 Portugal
Norway 1-0 Iceland
GROUP I
Lithuania 0-0 Liechtenstein
Scotland 2-2 Czech Republic
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