Photograph by: JOSE JORDAN
Credit: AFP

But three-times winners Germany, who Spain beat in the final of Euro 2008, had to rely on a last-gasp goal from Lukas Podolski to secure a 2-2 home draw with Ivory Coast.

W orld champions Italy had a second-string side come through 1-0 at home against a Sweden team missing star player Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with central defender Giorgio Chiellini netting in Cesena.

While Portugal were coming through their play-off match against Bosnia, to sneak into the World Cup finals through the back door, the team that beat them to automatic qualification, Denmark, had to come from a goal down to beat the USA 3-1 at Aarhus.

Two other qualifiers, Holland and Paraguay, ended goalless in the Netherlands, while Serbia ended a 27-match unbeaten South Korea run. Striker Nikola Zigic was on target with the only goal of the game at Fulham's Craven Cottage.

Africa Nations Cup hosts Angola drew 0-0 with a Ghana side missing key players Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Asamoah Gyan.