First-timers Bosnia, England also make it
Paris: Bosnia-Herzegovina reached their first ever major finals as a 1-0 win over Lithuania saw them confirm their place at next year’s World Cup.
They will be joined by holders Spain, who made no mistake in beating Georgia 2-0 at home in Albacete, and England, who also won 2-0 at home on Tuesday to Poland to reach their fifth successive World Cup finals.
England’s manager from their failed 2010 finals campaign Fabio Capello will also be in Brazil after Russia got the point they needed with a 1-1 away draw at Azerbaijan.
It will be the 2018 World Cup hosts’ first World Cup finals since 2002.
Bosnia – who had lost to Portugal in play-offs for the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 – progress at the expense of Greece, who go into the play-offs, while Portugal finish runners-up to Russia and will also contest a winner takes all play-off.
Vedad Ibisevic was Bosnia’s hero as he scored what was the most important of his 20 international goals as the 29-year-old Stuttgart striker struck in the 68th minute.
His sidefooted effort came just two minutes after he had seen another shot brilliantly saved by Giederius Arlauskas, who had denied Bosnia throughout the match in a stunning performance.
Arlausakas’s performance could be put into the context that only the Germans and the Dutch have scored more goals in the qualifying games than the Bosnians.
Bosnia coach Safet Susic, who appeared in two World Cup finals for the former Yugoslavia, was ecstatic.
“I congratulate these guys for their great work in the last four years,” he told local TV.
Greece by contrast have failed to sparkle in front of goal and were only able to beat Liechtenstein 2-0 in Athens leaving them with just 12 goals in their 10 qualifiers.
Spain’s 2-0 win extends their remarkable record in being unbeaten in World Cup qualifying matches dating back to 1993 and while they have also like the Greeks not piled on the goals coach Vicente del Bosque said they had shown other qualities.
“We need to value what we have done in this group. It hasn’t always been easy because the opponents have defended deep and made it difficult for us. But we have a virtue which is to keep the ball and have patience,” del Bosque said.
England have made solid if unspectacular progress during qualifying but their last two games – home wins over Montenegro and now Poland have suggested that Roy Hodgson’s side could yet bloom at the finals.
Capello, who was replaced by Hodgson shortly before Euro 2012 after the Italian resigned after a falling out with his bosses the Football Association, was also pleased with the manner in which is side had topped their group which had included the dangerous Portuguese.
Portugal, Greece, France and Ukraine – the latter two finishing runners-up to Spain and England respectively, will learn who their opponents are in the play-offs in the draw next Monday.
Portuguese coach Paulo Bento admitted they had not been the best team in the group but pledged his side would do their utmost to reach Brazil.
Meanwhile, two-time champions Uruguay served up a thrilling 3-2 win over Argentina but must beat Jordan in next months’s intercontinental playoff if they are to reach the finals.
Uruguay were beaten to the punch by Chile and Ecuador, who claimed the final automatic South American qualifying berths behind regional group winners Argentina and second-placed Colombia.
From the North American, Central American and Caribbean grouping, Honduras qualified by drawing 2-2 away to Jamaica, while Mexico stayed in contention by claiming the playoff spot after Panama suffered a loss to the USA.
Mexico lost 1-2 to Costa Rica and will face New Zealand in the playoffs. Panama were beaten 3-2 by the US. (AFP)
Countries qualify for World Cup 2014
Europe:
Italy
Netherlands
Belgium
Switzerland
Germany
Russia
Bosnia
England
Spain
– –
Asia:
Australia
Iran
Japan
South Korea
– –
South America:
Brazil (hosts)
Argentina
Colombia
Chile
Ecuador
– –
North, Central America and Caribbean:
Costa Rica
United States
Honduras