World Cup Qualifying Wrap: First Finalists from UEFA Zone Groups Confirmed

Following two more rounds of qualifying matches for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the first of the confirmed finalists from Europe are now known, with Holland one of those guaranteed to feature in Brazil after beating Andorra on Tuesday evening.

Most groups have just two more rounds of games left to play, and the race for places is really hotting up.

Here is your comprehensive wrap to the UEFA qualifying zone and all nine groups within, including who is likely to be in the running for the playoff matches which come with finishing second.

Group A: Wins for Serbia and Scotland, but Neither Will Qualify

Scotland recorded an impressive away victory against FYR Macedonia, courtesy of a last-minute winner from Shaun Maloney. The Scots had taken the lead in the second half before a late equaliser from the home side looked to have stolen a point—but that was until Maloney's timely intervention.

That result lifted Scotland off the foot of the table with their place taken by Wales, who suffered a heavy home defeat against Serbia.

Aleksandr Kolarov scored the pick of the goals with a ferocious long-range strike, as Serbia won 3-0 to go clear in third place.

However, they are still six points off second-place Croatia and will not be competing for a place at the finals, with just one match to play.

Croatia and Belgium meet in Zagreb in October with the home side needing a win to have any chance of stealing top spot, but at present will be a certainty for a playoff place.

Group B: Mario Balotelli Penalty Sends Italy to Brazil 2014

Italy secured their place at next summer's World Cup by coming from behind to beat Czech Republic by a 2-1 scoreline, with Mario Balotelli beating Petr Cech from the penalty spot with the all-important winning goal.

The defeat leaves Czech Republic all but out of the running for second place, and the same can be said for Armenia after they lost 1-0 at home to Denmark.

A tense but entertaining match was decided just a quarter of an hour from the end after a poor challenge by Varazdat Haroyan saw him sent off for a second bookable offence, and Daniel Agger score the resulting penalty for the Danes.

Bulgaria are the team currently in pole position for the playoff place, however, after they beat Malta 2-1.

They are now one point clear of Denmark, with games against Armenia and Czech Republic to come, while Denmark must play Italy and Malta.

Group C: Zlatan Scores Inside 30 Seconds, Germany Almost There

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the quickest goal of the night as he netted for Sweden against Kazakhstan after only 26 seconds. Had any fans been slow to take their seats, they were to be disappointed in the rest of the night—the match finished 1-0.

That result keeps Sweden three points clear in second place, with two matches left to play.

Behind them, Austria kept up their hopes of making the playoffs as they ended Ireland's own lingering aspirations. A late David Alaba goal—just as in the reverse fixture—condemned the Irish to a second disappointing loss in four days.

At the top of the table, Germany were rather uninspiring in a 3-0 win over minnows Faroe Islands, but won't care in the slightest as it has put them within touching distance of the 2014 World Cup. One win from their remaining two games will guarantee their place at the finals.

Group D: Robin Van Persie Scores Twice as Holland Qualify for World Cup 2014

Robin van Persie was the name of the night as he hit two goals to simultaneously beat Andorra, send Holland to the World Cup finals next year and become his nation's second-highest goalscorer of all time.

Both goals in the 2-0 win came in the space of a few minutes in the second half, with the win enough to send Holland eight points clear with two games to go.

Behind them, Hungary stole a march on second place with a thumping 5-1 win over Estonia, while Turkey won 2-0 in Romania to put themselves right back in the running for the playoff spot. Just one point separates Hungary, Turkey and Romania with two games to play.

Romania may still feel they have the best chance to qualify despite the damaging home defeat, as they face Andorra and Estonia in their final games, while the other two both face Holland.

Group E: Switzerland on Verge After Win, Iceland for First-Ever WC Appearance?

Switzerland are close to guaranteeing their passage to the World Cup finals after a 2-0 win over Norway, with Fabian Schar heading both goals in the match.

The Swiss are five points clear at the top with two games to play, and will be confident of sealing their place at their third consecutive World Cup.

Iceland are the surprise nation now in second place after taking four points from their two games in four days, and are looking a great bet for taking the playoff spot in Group E.

Coming from behind to beat Albania 2-1 put them a point ahead of Slovenia going into the final two matches, and with bottom-of-the-group Cyprus next in their fixtures, Iceland should be still in second place going into the final round of matches.

Slovenia beat Cyprus 2-0 in the other Group E game.

Group F: Russia Go Top, Luxembourg Make History

Russia put themselves on top of Group F with a convincing second-half performance against Israel, which yielded a 3-1 win.

After a goalless first half, Russia hit three goals without reply in 25 minutes after the break, with only a late consolation reply from the away team. Russia are now one point ahead of Portugal, with straight-forward looking matches against Luxembourg and Azerbaijan to play.

Portugal need only one win from two games, or a draw at home to Israel, to guarantee second place.

In the other game of Tuesday night, Northern Ireland suffered a humiliating defeat to European minnows Luxembourg, who won a topsy-turvy match 3-2 with an 87th-minute winning goal from Mathias Janisch, after Stefano Bensi's long-range strike had earlier given them a 2-1 lead.

It was Luxembourg's first World Cup qualifying victory for more than 40 years and puts them level on points with Northern Ireland in the group table.

Group G: Bosnia-Herzegovina and Greece Battle It out for Qualification

Bosnia-Herzegovina and Greece both won important matches and are locked on 19 points at the top of Group G with two games to go.

Greece beat Latvia 1-0 thanks to a Dimitris Salpingidis goal, while Bosnia had an altogether more impressive victory with a 2-1 away win in Slovakia.

Marek Hamsik gave the home side the lead before half time, but a second-half turnaround for Bosnia was capped by Izet Hajrovic's fantastic long-range rocket, a goal worthy of sending his nation top of the group.

Lithuania beat Liechtenstein 2-0 in the other game of the day.

Group H: England Top but All to Play for in Tight Group

England scrapped their way to a 0-0 draw in Ukraine to go top of Group H, but they were uninspiring in their performance and the outcome of the tightest qualifying group is still far from certain.

The leaders are one point ahead of Ukraine with two games to play, with Montenegro in third level on points with Ukraine and Poland in fourth just two points further back.

England have to play both Montenegro and Poland at home in their last games, while Ukraine also face Poland. With so many head-to-head games still to come, there is still a lot to play for and no nation can be certain of a top-two place just yet.

Poland beat San Marino 5-1 to put themselves back in the running, but San Marino will merely be delighted at having scored their first competitive goal since 2008. Their strike means Andorra are now the only team in the UEFA zone to have failed to find the back of the net in this qualifying campaign.

Group I: Spain in the Driver's Seat Despite France Victory

France suffered a real scare against Belarus after a Hugo Lloris horror show cost them two goals, but they finished the game strongly to come from behind twice and eventually win 4-2.

Samir Nasri and Paul Pogba eventually sealed the win, after two earlier Franck Ribery goals had twice pulled France level.

Roman Eremenko gave Finland a 1-0 win over Georgia in the group's other match, which leaves France in second with Spain on top by goal difference.

Spain, though, have two matches left to France's one, so can seal automatic qualification to the 2014 World Cup by taking four points from home games against Belarus and Georgia in October.

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