Spain edge closer to World Cup; England cruise; Cristiano Ronaldo sizzles in World Cup qualifiers

England players celebrate Steven Gerrard's opener against Moldova. Source: Getty Images

 

World and European champions Spain, Italy and Germany moved close to World Cup qualification with victories, while Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick for Portugal in busy round of overnight European World Cup qualifiers. 

England were 4-0 winners over Moldova, and Belgium have a foot in the door of the 2014 finals in Brazil after a 2-0 defeat of Scotland, but the Netherlands and France were held to draws.

Spain kept on course with a 2-0 win away to Finland through goals by Jordi Alba and Alvvaro Negredo.
Spain are now three points clear of France - who were held 0-0 in Georgia - at the top of Group I, with 14 points from six games and two matches remaining.

Unbeaten Germany moved close to qualifying with a 3-0 defeat of neighbours Austria in Group C.

Miroslav Klose drew level with Gerd Mueller's national team record 68 goals when he opened the scoring in the 33rd minute in Munich.

Toni Kroos struck from long range after the break before Thomas Mueller scored a late third.

Germany move to 19 points, five ahead of Sweden who came from behind in Dublin to beat Ireland 2-1 with goals from Johan Elmander and Anders Svensson.

England eased to a 4-0 win over Moldova at Wembley with first-half goals from Steven Gerrard, Rickie Lambert and Danny Welbeck, who added a second after the break, to go top of Group H on goal difference over Montenegro who drew 1-1 with Poland.

Ukraine stayed within a point of England with a 9-0 hammering of minnows San Marino ahead of Tuesday's meeting with Roy Hodgson's side.

Belgium moved five points clear of Croatia at the top of Group A with a 2-0 win over Scotland at Hampden Park.

In Belgrade, Mario Mandzukic opened the scoring for Croatia in the 53rd minute but Aleksander Mitrovic levelled as both sides had players dismissed.

Group B leaders Italy downed Bulgaria 1-0, Alberto Gilardino heading the winner, to move close to qualifying, while the Czech Republic went down 2-1 at home to Armenia and Denmark edged Malta 2-1 away to stay in the running

Italy are on 17 points in the group, with Bulgaria on 10 and the Czech Republic, Armenia and Denmark level on nine points.

After six straight wins, the Netherlands were held 2-2 at Estonia, Robin van Persie rescuing a point with a stoppage-time penalty.

Arjen Robben scored after two minutes for the Dutch but Konstantin Vassilyev levelled before hitting a second in the 57th minute.

Despite the draw the Dutch stay on course for the World Cup finals, six points ahead of Romania who moved second with a 3-0 defeat of Hungary, while Turkey thrashed Andorra 5-0, Umut Bulut scoring a hat-trick, to stay three points behind the Romanians.

Group E leaders Switzerland were held to a 4-4 draw by Iceland, while Norway moved second by beating Cyprus 2-0 and Slovenia kept their hopes alive by beating Albania 1-0.

The results put the Swiss on 15 points, four ahead of Norway, with Albania and Iceland on 10 and Slovenia on nine.

Aleksandr Kokorin scored twice as Russia beat Luxembourg 4-1, but Portugal stayed top of Group F with a 4-2 win at Northern Ireland in which Cristiano Ronaldo bagged three and both teams had men sent off.

Bruno Alves opened the scoring for Portugal who had Helder Postigo shown a red card just before half-time with the scores level thanks to Gareth McAuley's 36th-minute equalizer.

Jamie Ward put the home side ahead after the break but after Chris Brunt was dismissed for a second booking,

Portugal hit back with two Ronaldo goals. Kyle Lafferty was then sent off with 10 minutes remaining and Ronaldo wrapped up the scoring with his third three minutes later.

Portugal lead the group on 17 points, two ahead of Russia who have a game in hand.
Group G remains tight after Bosnia-Herzegovina slipped up 1-0 at home to Slovakia, and Greece squeezed a 1-0 win at Liechtenstein.

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Bosnia and Greece are now level on 16 points, with Slovakia four points adrift.