England and Spain ease into finals, relief for Portugal

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.

England cruised into next summer’s finals with a 5-1 drubbing of Croatia. Spain sealed qualification by downing Estonia 3-0, both joining the already-qualified Netherlands - with all three sides enjoying a record of eight wins in eight games.

England gained ample revenge for a 3-2 defeat at Wembley which ended their Euro 2008 qualifying hopes by blasting Slaven Bilic’s Croatia thanks to two goals apiece from Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard and one from Wayne Rooney.

Croatia are left vying with Ukraine - who drew 0-0 in Belarus - for the play-off place in Group 6. Ukraine are two points behind but have a game in hand.

Group 5 leaders Spain continued their winning charge thanks to goals by Cesc Fabregas in the 33rd minute, Santi Cazoria in the 82nd and Juan Manuel Mata in the last minute against Estonia.

The victory was enough to secure qualification after Bosnia-Herzegovina and Turkey finished 1-1. The result leaves Turkey still four points adrift of Bosnia who would clinch second place with a win at Estonia next month.

Scotland’s World Cup dreams were dealt a cruel blow by an 82nd-minute Eljero Elia goal to give runaway Group 9 winners Netherlands a 1-0 victory at Hampden Park.

Norway clinched the runners-up spot thanks to a 2-1 victory over Macedonia, with Thorstein Helstad and John Arne Riis on target.

World champions Italy downed Bulgaria 2-0 in Turin with first-half goals from Fabio Grosso and Vicenzo Iaquinta to go four points clear of Ireland - not in action - in Group 8.

Germany and Russia are left vying for top spot in Group 4 after victories, while Finland dropped out of contention with a 1-1 draw at Liechtenstein.

Germany enjoyed a 4-0 win over Azerbaijan who had a man sent off shortly after the break, while Russia overcame Wales 3-1 in Cardiff to set up a showdown between the two teams in Moscow next month.

Second-half substitute Miroslav Klose scored twice for Germany adding to a first half penalty by captain Michael Ballack. Lukas Podolski scored the final goal for his side late in the game.

Igor Semshov, Sergei Ignashevich and Roman Pavluchenko bagged Russia’s goals after James Collins had levelled for Wales.

Portugal’s hopes of a play-off place survived thanks to a 10th-minute Pepe header from a Deco free-kick for a 1-0 win at Group 1 rivals Hungary.

Denmark were held 1-1 at Albania but lead the group on 18 points, ahead of Sweden (15) who scraped a 1-0 win in Malta, and Portugal and Hungary (both on 13).

Serbia stayed four points clear of France in Group 7 after a 1-1 draw in which both sides finished with 10 men.

France had keeper Hugo Lloris sent off in the 10th for a penalty converted by Nenad Milijas while Serbia’s Danko Lazovic was red carded in the last minute. Thierry Henry levelled in the 31st minute for France who may now have to accept a play-off place.

Romania and Austria finished 1-1, a result which did not help either side, while Faroe Islands chalked up a rare win by beating Lithuania 2-1 to dash the visitors’ hopes of qualification.

It was a first win in a World Cup qualifying match for Brian Kerr’s side since a September 2001 victory over Luxembourg.

Switzerland stayed three points clear at the top of Group 2 after a 2-2 draw at Latvia, with Greece missing the chance to make up ground after a disappointing 1-1 draw at bottom side Moldova.

Greece and Latvia stay level on 14 points, with Israel moving to 12 after a 7-0 thrashing of Luxembourg.

Slovakia boosted their qualification chances with a 2-0 win over Northern Ireland in Belfast to move five points clear at the top of Group 3.

Slovenia defeated Poland 3-0 to move second in the group, level on 14 points with Northern Ireland but with a game in hand.

Milan Baros scored four goals as Czech Republic thrashed San Marino 7-0 to keep in the running on 12 points.