World Cup: Germany, Belgium, Switzerland also going to Brazil

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Three-time champions Germany, Belgium and Switzerland reached the World Cup finals on Friday as England, Russia and Bosnia-Herzegovina edged closer to Brazil.

Goals by Real Madrid's Sami Khedira, Chelsea's Andre Schuerrle and Arsenal's Mesut Ozil confirmed Germany's place in Brazil.

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Second-placed Sweden's 2-1 win at home to Austria left Germany five points clear ahead of their final qualifier against the Swedes in Stockholm on Tuesday.

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On-loan Everton striker Romelu Lukaku scored the two first-half goals that took Belgium through.

Lukaku found the target in the 16th and 38th minutes with Niko Kranjcar hitting a late consolation for Croatia who must now hope to make the finals via the play-offs.

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Second-half goals from Xherdan Shaqiri and Michael Lang gave Ottmar Hitzfeld's Switzerland victory in Tirana and an unassailable 21 points at the top of Group E.

Tottenham's Andros Townsend crowned his international debut with a fine goal as England beat Montenegro 4-1 to close in on an automatic place in Brazil.

Wayne Rooney broke the deadlock early in the second half and a calamitous own goal from Branko Boskovic doubled the hosts' lead, before Dejan Damjanovic replied for the visitors.

Townsend restored England's two-goal cushion with 11 minutes to play, however, driving home right-footed from 25 yards before an injury-time penalty from Daniel Sturridge completed the scoring.

England lead Group H by a point from Ukraine, who beat Poland 1-0 in Kharkiv.

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Russia, coached by Fabio Capello, cruised to a 4-0 win in Luxembourg to open a four-point lead over Portugal in Group F.

Alexander Samedov, Viktor Faizukin, Denis Glushakov and Alexander Kerzhakov all scored to put Russia on 21 points.

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Bosnia-Herzegovina, who have never made a major finals, saw off whipping boys Liechtenstein 4-1 with Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko scoring twice.

They lead Group G on goal difference from Greece who edged Slovakia 1-0.

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The Netherlands swamped Hungary 8-1 in Amsterdam with Robin van Persie grabbing a hat-trick.

The Dutch have 25 points from nine games.

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Denmark's play-off hopes suffered a blow after a late equaliser by Alberto Aquilani helped Italy secure a 2-2 draw in Copenhagen that maintained their unbeaten record in Group B.

Italy, who qualified for Brazil with two games to spare, are on 21 points from nine games while Bulgaria, in second, and Denmark are both eight points adrift.

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The Czech Republic sit in fourth, only one further point behind, meaning there is all to play for in the final round of qualifiers on Tuesday when Denmark host Malta and the Czechs visit Bulgaria.