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Published: Thursday September 10, 2009 MYT 7:22:00 AM
Updated: Thursday September 10, 2009 MYT 12:16:32 PM

England, Spain qualify for World Cup

LONDON: (AP) European champion Spain and rejuvenated England booked their World Cup places with two games to spare on Wednesday by both maintaining their perfect records in qualifying.

Spain clinched top spot in Group 5 by beating Estonia 3-0 and the English secured their place in South Africa next June with a 5-1 victory over Croatia.

The pair joined the Netherlands as Europe's qualifiers so far.

Wayne Rooney scores watched by Croatia's Danijel Pranjic at Wembley Stadium Wednesday.(AP Photo/Tim Hales)

Qualification through an eighth straight Group 6 win for England came almost two years after Slaven Bilic's side won on the same Wembley Stadium pitch to stop England reaching Euro 2008.

Like England last year, 1998 World Cup winner France might miss out on a major tournament after a second straight draw.

Group 7 leader Serbia held the French to 1-1 in Belgrade to leave them trailing by four points with two matches to go.

Portugal could also be relying on capturing second place and a playoff to reach South Africa, although the side - featuring world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo - won 1-0 in Hungary.

Frank Lampard, top right, scores from the penalty spot at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday.

World champion Italy enjoyed a 2-0 victory over Bulgaria to leave it needing only a draw in its next match to qualify.

The result that pleased World Cup organizers the most on Wednesday was England's, with organizing chief Danny Jordaan responding to its victory by stressing the importance of the presence of Fabio Capello's team of star names and - as importantly for the country - their tens of thousands of traveling fans.

Although England needed only a point to guarantee a place in the finals in South Africa, they raced into a 2-0 lead by the 18th minute with Lampard's eighth-minute penalty and Gerrard's close-range header.

Frank Lampard, left, scores his second goal past Croatia goalkeeper Vedran Runje, watched by Ivica Krizanac at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday.

Lampard added a third in the 59th and Gerrard's second header put England out of reach.

Wayne Rooney added a fifth when goalkeeper Vedran Runje passed straight to him after Eduardo da Silva had scored a consolation goal for the hapless Croatians.

England manager Fabio Capello, left, and Croatia manager Slaven Bilic shout to their players at Wembley Stadium Wednesday. (AP Photo/Tom Hevezi)

"We were fantastic," Capello said. "The spirit of the group. The concentration for every moment. The movement with the ball. I was happy with everything."

Croatia will now hope England does it a favor when playing third-placed Ukraine next month. Ukraine drew 0-0 with Belarus to close the gap on Croatia to two points having played a game less with two to go.

In Merida, Cesc Fabregas, Santi Cazorla and Juanma Mata scored to provide Spain with the win over Estonia that ensured a ninth straight appearance at football's showcase event.

Substitute Miroslav Klose scored twice as Germany routed 10-man Azerbaijan 4-0 to remain in control of Group 4.

The win gives Germany 22 points from eight games, leaving it one point ahead of Russia, which won 3-1 in Wales.

Germany and Russia play on Oct. 10 in Moscow in a match that will decide the winner of the group and the team that qualifies directly for the World Cup.

In Group 1, leader Denmark damaged its chances of earning a direct route to the World Cup by drawing 1-1 with Albania.

Ian Azzopardi's own-goal gave Sweden a 1-0 win over Malta that lifted it to within three points of Denmark with two matches to go.

Portugal is a further two points adrift after Pepe's early header clinched the 1-0 win over Hungary, which is also on 13 points.

France had been trailing by a goal and a player in Belgrade after Nenad Milijas gave Serbia the lead in the 14th minute from the penalty spot after France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris brought down Nikola Zigic and was sent off.

Thierry Henry equalized 17 minutes later, though, after picking up a rebound by Serbia 'keeper Vladimir Stojkovic.

Serbia leads Group 7 by four points ahead of France with two rounds to go.

Serbia needs three points from its two remaining matches, against Romania at home or Lithuania away, to clinch a direct World Cup spot.

France needs to beat the Faeroe Islands and Austria, which still has a theoretical chance of capturing a playoff spot, to maintain its chance of direct qualification.

Group 3 leader Slovakia strengthened its chances of automatic qualification by winning 2-0 in Northern Ireland.

Slovenia is second on goal difference over Northern Ireland after beating Poland 3-0 and could still take top spot by winning its two remaining matches.

Northern Ireland must win its last match in the Czech Republic next month and hope the Slovenians slip up to earn a playoff.

The Netherlands won 1-0 at Scotland to complete its qualifying campaign with a perfect record and end its opponents hopes of reaching the tournament.

Thorstein Helstad and John Arne Riise scored in the first half as Norway beat Macedonia 2-1 to finish second in Group 9.

The nine European group winners qualify, and eight of the nine second-place teams go to playoffs.

RESULTS

EUROPE

Group One

Albania 1, Denmark 1

Hungary 0, Portugal 1

Malta 0, Sweden 1

Group Two

Israel 7, Luxembourg 0

Latvia 2, Switzerland 2

Moldova 1, Greece 1

Group Three

Czech Republic 7, San Marino 0

Northern Ireland 0, Slovakia 2

Slovenia 3, Poland 0

Group Four

Germany 4, Azerbaijan 0

Wales 1, Russia 3

Group Five

Armenia 2, Belgium 1

Spain 3, Estonia 0

Group Six

Andorra 1, Kazakhstan 3

Belarus 0, Ukraine 0

England 5, Croatia 1

Group Seven

Faeroe Islands 2, Lithuania 1

Romania 1, Austria 1

Serbia 1, France 1

Group Eight

Italy 2, Bulgaria 0

Montenegro 1, Cyprus 1

Group Nine

Norway 2, Macedonia 1

Scotland 0, Netherlands 1

AFRICA

Third Round

Group A

> Cameroon 2, Gabon 1

ASIA

Playoff (Second Leg)

Saudi Arabia 2, Bahrain 2 (2-2 aggregate; Bahrain advances 2-0 on away goals)

SOUTH AMERICA

Bolivia 1, Ecuador 3

Uruguay 3, Colombia 1

Paraguay vs. Argentina

Brazil vs. Chile

Venezuela vs. Peru

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