Uruguay reaches World Cup after Jordan draw

Montevideo: Uruguay became the final team to qualify for the 2014 World Cup after grinding out a 0-0 draw in a gritty battle with Asian minnows Jordan.

After Uruguay thrashed the Jordanians 5-0 in the first leg in Amman last week, a capacity crowd at Montevideo's famous Centenario Stadium had looked forward to seeing a full-strength Celeste side produce a high-scoring send-off.

However a fiercely committed Jordan frustrated the South Americans at every turn, defending in numbers and ruffling Oscar Tabarez's men with a physical approach. It did not stop the Uruguayan players and their fans from erupting in wild celebrations at the final whistle as fireworks exploded above the stadium.

Earlier, three Jordanian players picked up bookings during a game that restored some pride for coach Hossam Hassan after his team were embarrassed on home soil last week. Uruguay, the fifth ranked side in South America's qualifying campaign became the last of 32 teams to qualify for next year's World Cup in Brazil.

Only a few months ago, 2010 World Cup semi-finalists Uruguay had been struggling to qualify, scraping into fifth place after mounting a late rally which saw them win four out of their five final qualifiers. They join Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador and Chile as the South American representatives at the finals.

The tone for Wednesday's match was set early on with Mohammed Aldmeiri and Adnan Hasan both booked by referee Jonas Eriksson in the first half for some wild lunges. Uruguay meanwhile struggled to penetrate a resolute Jordanian defence, restricted to only a handful of unsuccessful attacks on goal.

Defender Diego Godin had the best chance for Uruguay, hitting the bar with an instinctive close-range header on the stroke of half-time. It was a similar story in the second half, with captain Diego Lugano going closest on 60 minutes, rising unmarked to meet a corner but steering a downward header just wide.

The introduction of Uruguay veteran Diego Forlan for Nicolas Lodeiro just after the hour mark was unable to change the complexion of the game as the Jordanians hung on for a famous draw.

France qualify; Portugal, Greece, Croatia too through

Paris: An electric performance by France and a hat-trick by Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal (3-2 versus Sweden -4-2 on aggregate) lifted the two European football heavyweights across the line in the race to qualify for next year's World Cup on Tuesday .

A gripping conclusion to European qualifying also saw Croatia and Greece secure their passages to the 2014 finals in Brazil. France took on Ukraine at a tense Stade de France, the scene of the hosts' 1998 World Cup win, with their backs to the wall after last week's 2-0 first leg defeat in Kiev.

But Les Bleus banished the blues that had descended on their supporters with a remarkable show of resolve. Didier Deschamps' men took the lead on the night midway through the first half through Mamadou Sakho and levelled the tie on aggregate when Karim Benzema netted from an offside position on 34 minutes.

Ukraine defender Yevhen Kacheridi was sent off early in the second period. France made their oneman advantage count as an Oleg Gusev own-goal put them ahead in the tie for the first time in the 72nd minute and they saw out the rest of the game to win 3-2 on aggregate and qualify.

MEXICO CRUSH NZ TO CRUISE INTO WC

In Wellington, An Oribe Peralta hat-trick fired Mexico into their sixth successive World Cup on Wednesday, as El Tri downed New Zealand 4-2 to end a roller-coaster qualification campaign on a high. They won the play-off a whopping 9-3 on aggregate.

South Africa shocks Spain

South Africa shocks Spain

World champions Spain suffered only a second loss in 17 matches this year after losing 0-1 to South Africa in a friendly international on Tuesday. Midfielder Bernard Parker scored the early second-half winner, chipping goalkeeper Victor Valdes from close range and a desperate lunge from a defender could not keep the ball out.

Spain rarely threatened to equalise at the Soccer City stadium where they defeated the Netherlands 1-0 to win the 2010 World Cup. The shock defeat came four months after the only other reverse for La Roja this year -a 3-0 hiding from hosts Brazil in the Confederations Cup final.

GERMANY BEATS ENGLAND AT WEMBLEY

In London, Per Mertesacker's header gave Germany a 1-0 victory over England on Tuesday, sending their fierce rivals to back-toback home losses for the first time in 36 years. Captaining Germany in London, Mertesacker powered in the only goal of the Wembley Stadium friendly after meeting a cross from Toni Kroos in the 36th minute.

“The fact that we've won here at Wembley this time-honoured place is a joy for us,“ Germany coach Joachim Loew said.

While Germany deployed a second-string squad -and took control after taking the lead -England started with a strong lineup that couldn't get a shot on target or prevent boos from ringing out around the venue at the final whistle for the second time in four days here.

England, who were beaten 2-0 by Chile on Friday, have now lost consecutive matches at Wembley for the first time since defeats to Wales and Scotland in 1977.

ROBINHO FIRES BRAZIL TO CHILE WIN

In Toronto, AC Milan star Robinho headed the winner as Brazil beat South American rivals Chile 2-1 in an international friendly here on Tuesday. Robinho nodded past Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo on 79 minutes from a Maicon cross after good work from Barcelona maestro Neymar.

The goal was Robinho's first at international level since August 2011 and came before 38,514 fans in Toronto's domed Rogers Center. It was a sixth victory in a row for Brazil, who took the lead in the 14th minute when Hulk blasted a left-footed shot from the wing.