Italy, Denmark, Germany, Serbia Qualify For 2010 World Cup

The puzzle pieces for the 2010 FIFA World Cup became a lot clearer on Saturday on the penultimate day of UEFA qualification. Longtime stalwarts Germany and Italy both punched their tickets, while Denmark and Serbia also booked passage to South Africa next June.

Germany was the first European country to qualify on Saturday, defeating Russia 1-0 in what was essentially a first-place Group 4 playoff game in Moscow. The Germans held on with 10-men after a first-half goal from Miroslav Klose. Meanwhile, Guus Hiddink's Russia must now await its fate in the second-place playoffs. For the Germans, it's the country's 15th-straight World Cup finals berth and 17th overall placing it second to Brazil. (These streaks include time as West Germany.)

A little later in Copenhagen, Denmark kept up its unbeaten run in Group 1, defeating rival Sweden 1-0 on a late goal from Jakob Poulsen. It was a sweet victory for the jubilant Danes, which were ousted from qualifying from Euro 2008 by the Swedes.

Sweden now must await its fate on the final matchday, as it drops behind Portugal by one point for second place, which defeated Hungary Saturday. Sweden will host Albania, while Portugal welcomes Malta. As a result, it means either Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Cristiano Ronaldo will miss out on the world stage next June in South Africa.

Later from Croke Park in Dublin, Marcello Lippi's Italy will travel to South Africa, looking to defend its 2006 crown. The Azzurri got through at the expense of the Republic of Ireland, who's fate is now left to the second-place playoffs. Tied 1-1 late in the match, Ireland looked like it would keep its chances of automatic qualification alive when Sean St. Ledger got on the receiving end of Stephen Hunt's 87th minute free kick. The Irish, however, couldn't hang on as Vincenzo Iaquinta found Alberto Gilardino at the top of the box, as he beat Shay Given to make it 2-2.

Serbia took care of business, romping 5-0 over Romania to qualify for its first World Cup independent from Montenegro. The Serbs victory means France, a 5-0 winner over the Faroe Islands, throws its fate into the UEFA second-place playoffs.

Elsewhere, England suffered its first qualifying loss under Fabio Capello, falling 1-0 at Ukraine on a goal from Serhiy Nazarenko. Ukraine now gets the inside edge on Croatia for the second-place spot by one point. Ukraine is at Andorra on Wednesday, while Croatia travels to Kazakhstan.

The only two UEFA Groups that haven't been claimed are 2 and 3. Switzerland leads Group 2 and gets through with a win or draw vs. Israel, which itself is still alive for the second place spot with Greece and Latvia. In Group 3, Slovakia has already clinched at least a playoff spot and will fend off a challenge from Slovenia, which places point-less San Marino on Wednesday. Slovakia owns a two-point lead, with an equal goal differential with Slovenia and plays Poland Wednesday. The Czech Repblic and Northern Ireland are still alive, but are likely long shots for second-place.

Around the globe, Cote D'Ivoire booked its place in its second-consecutive World Cup, winning CAF Group E.

The playoff between Oceanicia winners New Zealand and fifth-place Asian team Bahrain played out to a 0-0 draw. The return leg will be played in New Zealand on Nov. 14.

CONMEBOL and CONCACAF qualifiers take place later on Saturday night.