Mata and Negredo book Spain's World Cup place as Dzeko's Bosnians go bonkers... but Nani faces the play-offs with Agger's Danes missing out

PUBLISHED: 14:37 EST, 15 October 2013 | UPDATED: 20:34 EST, 15 October 2013

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World Champions Spain confirmed their place in the World Cup with a Premier League double.

Chelsea star Juan Mata doubled Spain's lead over Georgia after Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo opened the scoring.

It confirmed Spain's expected place at the top of Group I, while France's 3-0 win over Finland secured them in the play-off spots.

Gunshow: Alvaro Negredo celebrates opening the scoring for Spain to help them on the way to the World Cup

...before celebrating with Juan Mata after the Chelsea star sealed the world champions' win over Georgia

We're going to Brazil: Spain's world stars celebrate Mata's goal safe in their World Cup place

STAT ATTACK

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Franck Ribery, Karim Benzema and an own goal from Joona Toivio gave France the win, but Didier Deschamps' men - in their number Patrice Evra, Olivier Giroud, Samir Nasri, Laurent Koscielny, Yohan Cabaye and Loic Remy - had to settle for second in the group.

Negredo's fellow City frontman Edin Dzeko also added himself to the list of Premier League stars at next year's World Cup as Bosnia secured their place in Brazil, sparking incredible scenes among fans at the game and back home in Sarajevo.

Bosnia won 1-0 in Lithuania to qualify for their first-ever tournament, with Dzeko finding space in the hosts' resolute defence to set up strike partner Veded Ibisevic scoring the decisive goal in the 68th minute.

Physical: Edin Dzeko (centre), is challenged by Lithuania's Marius Zaliukas (right) and Tadas Kijauskas

Bosnia's players celebrate

Sucess; Bosnia's Emir Spahic celebrates against a backdrop of riot police

Fiery affair: Bosnia's travelling army of supporters celebrate in style

Flying the flag: Bosnia fans celebrate in Lithuania

Incredible: Bosnia's win sparked wild celebrations from their travelling support and their players (below)

Incredible: Bosnia's win sparked wild celebrations back home in Sarajevo

Flaring up: Bosnian fans celebrate their first-ever World Cup qualification

Wheeling away: More fans celebrate in Sarajevo, looking forward to watching their side in the World Cup

The result meant Bosnia topped Group G, sending Greece, who beat Liechtenstein 2-0, into the play-off spots.

It also ended years of qualification heartache for Bosnia, who lost out in play-offs to Portugal in qualification for the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.

However, it wasn't such good news for Dzeko's cross-city rival Nani, whose Portugal side must contend with the play-offs next month.

Celebrating: But Karim Benzema and France face a nail-biting World Cup play-off

Flying the flag: French fans cheer on their side to a 3-0 win over Finland

City slicker: Samir Nasri (right) races past Finland's Perparim Hetemaj

A Cristiano Ronaldo-less Portugal, despite easing to a 3-0 win over Luxembourg, had to settle for second place in Group F due to Fabio Capello's Russia drawing 1-1 in Azerbaijan.

Nani - skipper in Ronaldo's absence - netted Portugal's second, sandwiched between goals from Silvestre Varela and former Spurs striker Helder Postiga.

Meanwhile in Group B, Italy, who had already qualified, saw Mario Balotelli spare their blushes by grabbing a last-minute equaliser at home to Armenia.

Armenia went ahead as early as the fifth minute before Alessandro Florenzi's equaliser, while Balotelli's effort cancelled out Henrik Mkhitarayan putting the minnows ahead for a second time.

Rollercoaster: Nani netted for Portugal... but it wasn't enough to book their place in Brazil (below)

Of more consquence in that group was Denmark's 6-0 thrashing of Malta, in which Liverpool's Daniel Agger netted two penalties.

The result saw the Danes leap into second place in the group, but they were ultimately handed heartbreak as the worst-performing runners-up in the nine groups, thus missing out on a play-off place.

Petr Cech's Czech Republic paid the price for a poor campaign by finishing third, despite winning 1-0 in Bulgaria.

His Chelsea team-mate Andre Schurrle had more luck, scoring a hat-trick for Germany in a breathtaking Group C dead rubber against Sweden.

Last-gasp: Mario Balotelli celebrates after scoring a late equaliser for Italy

From the spot: Daniel Agger's two penalties couldn't stop Denmark cruelly being the worst runners-up

The teams, seemingly enjoying being unburdened with pressure - Germany winning the group at a canter with Sweden cemented in second place - contested a thrilling eight-goal clash, with Germany coming out on top 5-3, thanks to Schurrle's hat-trick and goals from Arsenal star Mesut Ozil and Mario Gotze.

Things got worse for Ozil, however, who hobbled off in the 82nd minute, but the extent of the injury is unclear.

Darron Gibson was a Premier League star whose immediate future is more certain, being taken off on a stretcher in Ireland's 3-1 win over Kazakhstan in front of Everton boss Roberto Martinez in the same group.

London Calling: Andre Schurrle (left) and Mesut Ozil celebrate one of the Chelsea star's three goals for Germany

London Calling: Andre Schurrle (left) and Mesut Ozil celebrate one of the Chelsea star's hat-trick for Germany

On target: Schurrle has struggled to find the net for the Blues but netted a hat-trick against Sweden

Robbie Keane and John O'Shea both grabbed goals for Ireland, followed by an own goal from Andrey Finonchenko, whose challenge injured the Everton midfielder.

Similarly sure of their qualification were Robin van Persie's Holland, who ended Turkey's hopes of qualification by winning 2-0 in Istanbul.

The visitors, who also counted Norwich's Leroy Fer among their number, won through goals from Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder.

The big news in Group D, however, saw Romania - in their number West Ham defender Razvan Rat - clinch the play-off spot thanks to a 2-0 win over Estonia.

Flying in: Holland's Arjen Robben celebrates his goal with his side already through

In the play-offs: Romanian players, with Florin Gardos (front) celebrate after Ciprian Marica's goal

Switzerland, including Fulham's Philippe Senderos, carried on their storming form at the top of Group E with a 1-0 win over Slovenia.

Iceland's 1-1 draw in Norway saw them take the dramatically take the play-off spot in the group with the hope of reaching a first-ever World Cup.

Kolbeinn Sigthorsson scored Iceland's opener against a Norway side containing Brede Hangeland and Alexander Tettey, while Gylfi Sigurdsson, Aron Gunnarsson and former Chelsea favourite Eidur Gudjohnsen were among the visitors celebrating.

Group A played host to a night of dead rubbers with Belgium and Croatia safe in the knowledge they had already secured a place in Brazil and a play-off spot respectively.

Chance for glory: Iceland celebrate making the World Cup play-offs, with Eidur Gudjohnsen (below)

However, out-of-favour Chelsea midfielder Kevin de Bruyne proved a point to take back to Jose Mourinho by opening the scoring against Wales before Arsenal's in-form midfielder Aaron Ramsey netted a last-gasp equaliser to salvage Chris Coleman's side a point.

Thomas Vermaelen, Mousa Dembele Nacer Chadli, Kevin Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku all started for Belgium, while Jan Vertonghen and Eden Hazard came off the bench.

Elsewhere in the group, Aleksandar Kolarov netted a penalty in Serbia's 5-1 win over Macedonia, while Robert Snodgrass and Steven Naismith netted in a morale-boosting 2-0 win for Scotland over Croatia.

Back in action: Kevin de Bruyne (left) celebrates his goal with Romelu Lukaku

One of the lads: De Bruyne celebrates after the game with jubilant Belgian supporters

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iti john, heywood, 22 minutes ago

The Beast is coming to get you WHU,CTID

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Ndeangio, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 3 hours ago

Where do i found Canada in this WCQ groups? Someone help me please!!

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Dave Love, Camborne, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

Lost out in the third round of the CONCACAF section. Honduras did qualify from that section of Canada's draw.

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the philosopher, staffordshire, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

Ah yes, the overrated Ronaldo fails his country yet again, they are always in the play offs. He is average without Madrid's super midfield behind him.

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jimmybond007, Moscow, Russia, 1 hour ago

He actually got booked to be available for the play-offs dude.

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Ezequiel Saavedra, Seville, Spain, 5 hours ago

Spain´s national team is still by far the best one

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skinz, Singapore, Singapore, 6 hours ago

mata, de brunye and schurrle!!!!!

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TubarãoLuso, Atlantic Portugal, 7 hours ago

I will congratulate Iceland if they get to the World Cup, even if they do so by beating Portugal. However, there are no congratulations from me to Bosnia, after witnessing the Portuguese national team and fans being insulted by the Bosnians in 2009 and 2011. Most of them are an ungrateful lot who disrespected the Portuguese servicemen who lost their lives in the 1990s helping that ungrateful bunch have their own country. If our incompetent players and especially the coach miraculously get their act together and finally start playing well enough to be able to get rid of whatever opponent they get in the playoff, I will hope Portugal play Bosnia in Brazil so we can humiliate them once again.

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TubarãoLuso, Atlantic Portugal, 7 hours ago

I will congratulate Iceland if they get to the World Cup, even if they do so by beating Portugal. However, there are congratulations from me to Bosnia, after witnessing the Portuguese national team and fans being insulted by the Bosnians in 2009 and 2011. Most of them are an ungrateful lot who disrespected the Portuguese servicemen who lost their lives in the 1990s helping that ungrateful bunch have their own country. If our incompetent players and especially the coach get their act together and finally start playing well enough to be able to get rid of whatever opponent they get in the playoff, I will hope Portugal play Bosnia in Brazil so we can humiliate them once again.

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K7, London, United Kingdom, 8 hours ago

"Bosnia's travelling army of supporters celebrate in style" So the Bosnians with flares are celebrating with style yet there is a whole article slamming the Polish use of flares at Wembley?

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bali_red, bali, 6 hours ago

for goodness sake please let the Bosnian people enjoy this magical moment of happiness - they deserve it probably more than anyone else in Europe after what they went through not so long ago....