Italy and Netherlands punch tickets to Brazil

Powerhouse squads earn early invitations to World Cup dance

Italy and the Netherlands became the first European teams to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, but Germany's passage to the finals in Brazil was delayed despite also winning on Tuesday.

Mario Balotelli's 54th-minute penalty secured a 2-1 win for Italy over the Czech Republic to seal first place in Group B, while Robin van Persie's second-half double in a 2-0 win at Andorra guaranteed the Dutch top spot in Group D.

Both countries qualified with two matches to spare, with Italy qualifying for its 14th straight World Cup on the night goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon made a record-tying 136th appearance for his country.

Germany beat the Faeroe Islands 3-0, but still needs one more win for automatic qualification. Meanwhile, Sweden is five points behind with two matches left after a 1-0 win in Kazakhstan.

At halftime in their respective matches, Italy and the Netherlands were both on course to blow their chances of sealing qualification early, but their star forwards came through when it mattered.

Three minutes after Giorgio Chiellini canceled out Libor Kozak's opener for the Czechs in the 19th, Balotelli stepped up after being brought down in the area to coolly convert his penalty.

Italy has missed only one World Cup since 1934, but has never qualified with two matches to play.

"It's a great satisfaction," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said. "This is a very talented team which always manages to give its maximum. I saw a great Italy."

Czech coach Michal Bilek tendered his resignation after the match, with his team fourth in the group and unlikely to reach the playoffs.

"I wanted to stay with the team as long as there was a chance to go to the World Cup. But now that there is no more chance, I'm offering my resignation," said Bilek, who was appointed after the team's failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

The Netherlands can also start planning for next summer's finals, although it took goals from van Persie in the 50th and 55th minutes to squeeze past a team ranked 205th in the world.

With Romania losing at home to Turkey for the first time since 1925, the Dutch can't be caught.

"We've qualified, that's the first step," said van Persie, who moved to 38 goals for his country - two off the record held by Patrick Kluivert. "Now we have to start working toward the World Cup."

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic grabbing Sweden's winner in one of the early matches in the latest batch of qualifiers, the Germans knew they would have to wait until next month to progress. They had little trouble seeing off the Faeroes, with Per Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil and Thomas Mueller scoring the goals.

England's destiny is in its own hands after drawing 0-0 at Ukraine to stay atop Group H, and Russia can also make the finals by winning its last two games after beating Israel 3-1 to supplant Portugal at the top of Group F.

Meanwhile, Gareth Bale made his first competitive appearance since his world-record move to Real Madrid, but couldn't prevent Wales sinking to a 3-0 Group A loss at home to Serbia.

Bale, who has been struggling with a groin injury, came on as a 58th-minute substitute nine days after sealing a 100 million euros ($132 million) transfer from Tottenham.

"He gave us a lift, the fans were excited and it gave us a spur, although the game was done and dusted," Wales coach Chris Coleman said.

Serbia stayed third in Group A, but can't qualify. Wales dropped to the bottom of the standings below Scotland, which beat Macedonia 2-1 thanks to Shaun Maloney's 88th-minute winner from a free kick.

(China Daily 09/12/2013 page23)