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London. Defending champion Italy and three-time winner Germany were among four European nations to qualify for the World Cup on Saturday.

Denmark and Serbia also made it to next year’s championship in South Africa, while group leaders Switzerland and Slovakia were left to wait until the last round of qualifying games on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, already-qualified England’s winning streak ended at eight games after a 1-0 loss at Ukraine, and 2006 runner-up France was left to seek a place in the playoffs.

It looked as if Italy would need to go to the final round of games to clinch qualification after Sean St. Ledger headed Ireland 2-1 ahead with three minutes to go in Dublin. But Alberto Gilardino equalized for Italy to wrap up Group 8. Ireland now hopes it will get a spot through the playoffs.

“We’re pleased to have it happen tonight,” Italy coach Marcello Lippi said. “It would have been absurd to lose considering the way we played.”

Germany qualified for the World Cup for the 17th time with a 1-0 win over Russia. Miroslav Klose scored his 50th international goal to clinch top spot in Group 4.

“We prepared the team in such a way that we said, ‘We have our hand on the ticket to South Africa, we can decide it ourselves if we win here’ — and the team put that into effect very well,” Germany coach Joachim Loew said.

The Russians have the consolation of the runners-up spot and a place in the playoffs.

Serbia beat Romania 5-0, putting the team out of reach at the top of Group 7, with France runner-up despite beating the Faeroe Islands 5-0. Andre Pierre Gignac scored two first-half goals for the French, who are four points behind the Serbs.

Denmark qualified after a 1-0 victory over Sweden in Copenhagen. Jakob Poulsen scored the only goal at Parken Stadium, where the Danes have not lost a World Cup qualifier since 1981.

The loss for Sweden meant it was overtaken by one point in second place by Portugal, which beat Hungary 3-0.

England’s run ended after a deflected 29th-minute strike by Serhiy Nazarenko beat substitute goalkeeper David James.

Ukraine’s victory meant it climbed above Croatia into second place in Group 6.

Switzerland is closer to qualifying after a 3-0 victory over Luxembourg in Group 2. But Greece stayed within three points with a come-from-behind 5-2 win over Latvia.

Israel moved up to third and stayed in contention for a playoff spot with a 3-1 win over Moldova. European champion Spain made it nine wins out of nine with a 2-1 victory in Armenia.

Bosnia-Herzegovina, which has never played in the World Cup, guaranteed second place in Group 5 with a 2-0 victory at Estonia.

Slovakia’s hopes of qualifying for the first time were hit by a 2-0 loss at home to Slovenia in Group 3.

A draw would have been enough to put the Slovaks through, but they are now only two points ahead.



Associated Press