Germany, Serbia, Denmark book World Cup places

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.