QUALIFIED TEAMS
(Q) Brazil, Japan, Australia, Iran, South Korea, Netherlands, Italy, United States, Costa Rica, Argentina, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Colombia
ENGLAND enjoyed an ultimately comfortable win against Montenegro to stay on course to make it to the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.
The Three Lions scored four times in the second half and so remain on top of Group H, a point clear of Ukraine, with the Montenegrins and Poland now out of the running.
It all looked rather more precarious at half time. England were being held 0-0, while Ukraine - having beaten the Polish 1-0 in Kharkiv - headed the group by a point with only San Marino left to play.
However, head coach Roy Hodgson will have been pleased to see Wayne Rooney score his 37th international goal, following up on the rebound after club team-mate Danny Welbeck's shot had been saved.
Meanwhile, at the other end, under-pressure goalkeeper Joe Hart saved well to his left from Dejan Damjanović before England doubled their lead thanks to a comical own goal by Branko Bošković.
Nerves were definitely back on display at Wembley when Damjanović diverted Fatos Bećiraj's shot into the net for 2-1.
But, thankfully, England swiftly reasserted their dominance through Andros Townsend's brilliant drive from 25 yards.
And, just to make sure, Daniel Sturridge beat his man down the left channel, winning a clear penalty which he converted himself for 4-1.
Remarkably, this was England's first win against their principal rivals in Group H - but, importantly, one which means the Three Lions will definitely qualify with a home win against Poland on Tuesday.
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Already there after tonight are Belgium, for their first World Cup appearance since 2002, following a fine 2-1 win in Zagreb against Croatia, courtesy of two goals from Romelu Lukaku.
The unbeaten Belgians - ranked sixth in the world - now lead Group A by an unassailable eight points ahead of their hosts, who have nonetheless secured a playoff spot.
Wales and Scotland, also in Group A, were never likely to feature at the business end of the qualifiers after their frankly terrible starts.
Simon Church scored a late goal as the Welsh beat Macedonia to haul themselves off the bottom of the table and into fourth above Gordon Strachan's Scots who didn't play.
In Group B, Alberto Aquilani scored a last-minute equaliser for already-qualified Italy against Denmark to set up a fascinating tussle for second place.
The Danes are still favourites to be runners-up, given that they face minnows Malta in their last game, but Bulgaria - who play the Czech Republic at home - are level on points and poised to take advantage of any slip-ups.
Nevertheless, whoever makes it might still have not done enough - the worst-performing second-placed side is not even worthy of a playoff.
Matters are much clearer in Group C where Germany sealed their long-anticipated qualification against managerless Ireland. Arsenal's Mesut Oezil scored in the final minute to seal a 9-1 aggregate victory over the fourth-placed Irish.
Sweden, meanwhile, guaranteed a playoff spot thanks to Zlatan Ibrahimovic's late winner against rivals Austria in Solna.
In Group D, Netherlands celebrated their qualification from last month with an 8-1 thumping of once-proud football nation Hungary.
Manchester United striker Robin van Persie scored a hat-trick to become his country's all-time leading goalscorer, at the same time leaving Budapest in mourning and Mighty Magyar Ferenc Puskás turning in his grave.
Turkey currently occupy second place - but their final fixture against the Dutch means Romania, who face Estonia at home in the last round of matches, are favourites for the prized playoff place.
In Group E, Switzerland confirmed their third successive World Cup qualification with a 2-1 win against Albania in Tirana.
An underwhelming section could yet have an extraordinary tale with Iceland holding second ahead of Slovenia.
The Slovenians face the Swiss in their last match while Iceland, who were ranked 121 before qualifying began, travel to fellow Scandanavians Norway.
Group F is headed by Fabio Capello's Russia, easy 4-0 winners in Luxembourg tonight.
However, the big result of the night came in Lisbon, where Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by Israel after Eden Ben Basat's goal just five minutes from time.
The draw means Russia will qualify with just a point against Azerbaijan, consigning the Portuguese to the playoffs - again.
Group G is an even tighter two-way battle between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Greece, who are inseparable on 22 points after respective wins over Liechtenstein and Slovakia.
The Greeks can be more assured of victory on Tuesday, given that they travel to Liechtenstein - but leaders Bosnia, with 29 goals from their nine qualifiers, hold a significant goal difference advantage ahead of their tie in Lithuania.
Last - but certainly not least in the UEFA zone - Spain, the holders of course, will almost certainly have the chance to defend their trophy after a 2-1 win over Belarus in Group I.
The Spaniards need just a point at home to Georgia in Albacete, leaving France - who face Finland - nervously assessing their potential playoff opponents.
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In South America, Colombia qualified for their first World Cup finals since 1998 after a stunning comeback against Chile.
The Chileans led 3-0 inside half an hour before Carlos Carmona's second booking halfway through the second period turned the match on its head.
From then on, it was all Colombia with Teofilo Gutiérrez and two Radamel Falcao penalties sending the crowd in Barranquilla into raptures. Los Cafeteros are second in the South American group, five points behind runaway leaders Argentina.
Ecuador are third and likely to qualify after Jefferson Montero's goal earned them a tight 1-0 victory over 2010 semi finalists Uruguay.
That defeat at altitude means the Uruguayans must beat their age-old rivals Argentina to have any chance of an automatic slot, with even victory unable to secure a top-four spot if Ecuador and Chile play out a draw.
At the same time, if Uruguay are forced into a playoff, they should not panic too much as they will be expected to beat their opponents from the Middle East, Jordan.
Also seemingly heading for the playoffs are Mexico after Honduras beat already-qualified Costa Rica to maintain their three-point gap in third, with only rock-bottom Jamaica to come.
The Mexicans have endured awful form throughout the qualifying process, failing to win any of their first four home matches at their former fortress of an international stadium, the Azteca.
It looked as if that run might even be extended to five games when Luis Tejada equalised for Panama with 10 minutes remaining.
But an even later winner from Raúl Jiménez lifted El Tri three points clear of their opponents in the battle for fourth and a home-and-away series against New Zealand.
United States qualified last month and were confirmed as having won the section following a 2-0 victory over the winless Jamaicans.
Finally, the first legs of four playoff matches in Africa took place over the weekend with the winners of each of the ties making it to Brazil.
Burkina Faso, who have never previously qualified, take a lead into their second leg against Algeria but conceded two away goals in a 3-2 victory.
Similarly, Ivory Coast were well in control of their tie against Senegal, scoring two early goals - one from Didier Drogba - on the way to a 3-0 lead.
However, Papiss Cisse kept the Senegalese in it with a last-minute strike which may yet prove more than just a consolation.
In Sunday's matches, Emmanuel Emenike converted a stoppage time penalty for his second goal as Nigeria came from behind to beat Ethiopia 2-1 in Addis Ababa.
And it is all to play for in the second leg in Yaoundé after Tunisia and Cameroon cancelled each other out in a 0-0 draw.
The final playoff tie - Ghana v Egypt - has its first leg on Tuesday, with the second legs of all of the matches played between 16-19 November.
RESULTS
UEFA (Europe)Group A
(Q) Belgium (P) Croatia
| 17:00 | Croatia | 1-2 | Belgium |
| 19:45 | Wales | 1-0 | FYR Macedonia |
Group B
(Q) Italy
| 16:00 | Armenia | 2-1 | Bulgaria |
| 18:30 | Malta | 1-4 | Czech Republic |
| 19:15 | Denmark | 2-2 | Italy |
Group C
(Q) Germany (P) Sweden
| 18:00 | Faroe Islands | 1-1 | Kazakhstan |
| 19:45 | Germany | 3-0 | Ireland |
| 19:45 | Sweden | 2-1 | Austria |
Group D
(Q) Netherlands
| 19:30 | Andorra | 0-4 | Romania |
| 19:30 | Estonia | 0-2 | Turkey |
| 19:30 | Netherlands | 8-1 | Hungary |
Group E
(Q) Switzerland
| 19:30 | Albania | 1-2 | Switzerland |
| 19:45 | Iceland | 2-0 | Cyprus |
| 19:45 | Slovenia | 3-0 | Norway |
Group F
| 17:00 | Azerbaijan | 2-0 | Northern Ireland |
| 19:30 | Luxembourg | 0-4 | Russia |
| 20:45 | Portugal | 1-1 | Israel |
Group G
| 16:30 | Lithuania | 2-0 | Latvia |
| 19:00 | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 4-1 | Liechtenstein |
| 19:45 | Greece | 1-0 | Slovakia |
Group H
| 17:00 | Moldova | 3-0 | San Marino |
| 19:00 | Ukraine | 1-0 | Poland |
| 20:00 | England | 4-1 | Montenegro |
Group I
| 21:00 | Spain | 2-1 | Belarus |
CONMEBOL (South America)
(Q) Argentina, Colombia
| 22:00 | Colombia | 3-3 | Chile |
| 22:00 | Ecuador | 1-0 | Uruguay |
| 22:00 | Venezuela | 1-1 | Paraguay |
| 00:00 | Argentina | 3-1 | Peru |
CONCACAF (Caribbean, North & Central America)
(Q) United States, Costa Rica
| 22:00 | Honduras | 1-0 | Costa Rica |
| 23:36 | United States | 2-0 | Jamaica |
| 02:30 | Mexico | 2-1 | Panama |
CAF (Africa)
Final playoff matches, first leg
| Sat 17:00 | Burkina Faso | 3-2 | Algeria |
| Sat 18:00 | Ivory Coast | 3-1 | Senegal |
| Sun 14:00 | Ethiopia | 1-2 | Nigeria |
| Sun 17:00 | Tunisia | 0-0 | Cameroon |
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