Germany 4-1 Ukraine
( Germany win 5-2 on aggregate)
A furious start helped Germany crush Ukraine 4-1 for a 5-2 aggregate victory as they escaped a historic failure and made next year’s finals.
The three-times world champions looked in danger of missing out in the World Cup qualifying for the first time after their 1-1 draw in the first leg on Saturday in Kiev.
But they soon reassured their fans with an impressive display of attacking football, midfielder Michael Ballack showing them the way with a headed goal as early as the fourth minute.
Striker Oliver Neuville made it 2-0 from close range seven minutes later and defender Marko Rehmer almost killed the tie when he added a third by heading home from a corner kick after just 15 minutes.
Ballack, who had poached the equaliser in the first leg and was outstanding throughout the Dortmund game, made it 4-0 with another header six minutes into the second half.
Ukraine, who had been more efficient away from home in their qualifying run, struggled under sustained pressure and Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn had a peaceful evening until striker Andriy Shevchenko pulled one back in the dying moments.
As Germany or West Germany, the soccer giants only missed two finals - 1930 and 1950. Then, it was politics and football chiefs, not the players, who were to blame.
Romania 1 Slovenia 1
(Slovenia win 3-2 on aggregate)
Slovenia reached the World Cup finals for the first time today after battling to a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their World Cup playoff against Romania. Slovenia go through on a 3-2 aggregate score.
Romania - quarter-finalists in 1994 - will miss their first World Cup since 1986.
Slovenia took the lead after 56 minutes when Mladen Rudonja curled the ball home for his first goal in 53 international appearances.
Cosmin Contra equalised after 65 minutes with a superb 25-metre drive.
Only from set pieces did the home side look likely to pose a serious threat, while Slovenia were content to counter-attack from deep.
Turkey 5 Austria 0
(Turkey win 6-0 on aggregate)
Turkey fired themselves into the World Cup finals with a blistering 5-0 win against Austria in the second leg of their playoff for a 6-0 aggregate victory.
The Turks dominated much of the game with Inter Milan forward Okan Burak linking with Hakan Sukur to devastating effect to guarantee a first World Cup berth since 1954.
It was Burak, scorer of the only goal in Vienna, that put the game beyond Austria's reach in the 44th minute after Bayer Leverkusen's Yildiray Basturk and the enigmatic Sukur both scored fine goals to put Austria firmly on the back foot.
Early second half substitutions by coach Otto Baric failed to turn the game for the Austrians as a double strike from Arif Erdem sent Turkey marching to South Korea and Japan.
Czech Republic 0-1 Belgium
(
Belgium win 2-0 on aggregate)
Substitute Marc Wilmots made an inspired comeback with a late goal to put Belgium into next year's finals with a 1-0 victory against the Czech Republic.
After winning the first leg 1-0 at home, Belgium came to Prague needing just a draw and they played for one.
The visitors packed their defence and rarely crossed the halfway line as they withstood everything the Czech Republic - looking for their first trip to a World Cup - could throw at them.
Wilmots, who missed the first leg with a shin injury, came on in the 63rd minute and immediately launched several counter-attacks as the Czechs pressed forward.
He was handsomely rewarded in the 86th minute when Czech defender Marek Jankulovski pulled down Gert Verhayen in the penalty area. Wilmots stepped up and crisply drove the ball into the top corner of the net past a helpless Pavel Srnicek.
The Czechs fell apart when Pavel Nedved and Milan Baros were both sent off in the 88th minute after earning their second yellow cards.