Germany, Belgium, Switzerland qualified for World Cup

Germany's midfielder Mesut Ozil celebrates scoring his side's 3rd goal during the FIFA 2014 World Cup Group C qualifier against Republic of Ireland in Cologne, Germany, Oct 11, 2013. [Photo/CFP]

Germany, Belgium and Switzerland qualified for the World Cup in Brazil while Spain, England and Russia also won on Friday to keep their fate in their own hands heading into the European zone's final round of group games.

Next year's tournament is also within sight for Bosnia-Herzegovina, which has never played in a World Cup, but Cristiano Ronaldo looks destined for the playoffs with Portugal after a night when the qualifying picture in the nine groups became much clearer.

The Netherlands had already secured their passage to the World Cup before their 8-1 demolition of Hungary, featuring a hat trick by Robin van Persie that put the Manchester United striker top of his country's all-time scoring chart with 41 goals.

Germany eased past Ireland 3-0 through goals by Sami Khedira, Andre Schuerrle and Mesut Ozil to guarantee first place in Group C and reach football's biggest tournament for the 16th straight time.

"We've won eight from nine games and we should have won the ninth," Germany coach Joachim Loew said.

For Belgium, though, it will be a first World Cup in 12 years after the country's so-called golden generation topped Group A with a 2-1 win in Croatia, with striker Romelu Lukaku scoring twice.

"It's a party in Belgium. What more can you ask?" said coach Marc Wilmots, whose team played in front of Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo in Zagreb.

Switzerland prompted a jubilant tweet from tennis great Roger Federer after beating Albania 2-1 to win Group E with a game to spare and advance to the World Cup for a third successive occasion.

"Switzerland made it to the World Cup, how happy am I on a scale 1-10?" Federer wrote. "About a 25."

Spain beat Belarus 2-1 through second-half goals by Xavi Hernandez and Alvaro Negredo and requires just one point from a home match against Georgia to guarantee the world champions will defend their title next summer.

England stayed top of Group H, a point clear of Ukraine, after an impressive second-half display sealed a 4-1 win over Montenegro, with in-form strikers Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge and debutant Andros Townsend among the scorers. The English now just need a victory over Poland on Tuesday to go through automatically but a draw will let in Ukraine, which beat the Poles 1-0 and have an easy match against San Marino left.

"It is only a half-done job, but it is nice to know whatever happens we will not be out," said England coach Roy Hodgson, whose team can't finish lower than second place.