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Ukraine qualifies for World Cup, Israel in running

Ukraine qualified for the World Cup for the first time Saturday and became the first European team to win a spot in next year's tournament in Germany -- thanks to Denmark.

France, England, Poland, Croatia, Portugal, Romania and the Netherlands picked up key victories -- and Italy settled for a draw -- as they chase places in the 32-team championship. Israel earned a tie to keep alive its bid to qualify for the first time since 1970.

On a dramatic night of 22 qualifying games across Europe, Ukraine advanced despite slipping to a 1-1 draw at Georgia. Twenty-four more games are on tap next Wednesday, with the final two rounds of European qualifying matches next month.

Ukraine, a former Soviet republic, got in through the back door when nearest Group 2 rival Turkey could only tie 2-2 with Denmark in Istanbul. Turkey needed a victory to have any chance of winning the group.

Soren Larsen's goal in the 90th minute earned Denmark the draw, clinching qualification for Ukraine. Turkey could still qualify by finishing second in the group.

With two qualifying matches to play, Ukraine has 24 points and Turkey has 17. Greece has 15 points and, if it wins its last three games, could also reach 24. Even if Ukraine loses its last two games, it would still advance because it has beaten and drawn with Greece in two head-to-head games.

Ukraine is the seventh team to qualify for the 32-team tournament, joining host Germany, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Argentina.

Ukraine led 1-0 on Saturday and was within minutes of a victory that would have allowed it to claim a spot on its own. But Georgia's Georgi Gakhokidze scored in the 89th in Tbilisi for a 1-1 tie.

Ruslan Rotan scored in the 44th for Ukraine.

The Group 2 game was played in an empty stadium in Tbilisi. FIFA ordered Georgia to play its two remaining home qualifiers behind closed doors after fans threw fireworks onto the field during qualifiers against Greece and Turkey.

In Group 6, Poland stayed on top with a 3-2 over Austria on goals by Euzebiusz Smolarek, Kamil Kosowski and Maciej Zurawksi. Poland improved to 21 points, with England just behind with 19. England has played one fewer game.

England beat neighbor Wales 1-0 on Joe Cole's 54th-minute goal at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

England captain David Beckham sent a long ball from central midfield to Shaun Wright-Phillips. The Chelsea winger delivered a cross to Cole, whose side-footed shot deflected off the shoulder of Wales defender Daniel Gabbidon to beat goalkeeper Danny Coyne.

"If we go on like this, we will win the group," coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said, calling the team's performance "up and down."

Italy needed a 76th-minute goal by Fabio Grosso to salvage a 1-1 draw against Scotland in Glasgow in Group 5. Italy leads the group with 14 points and is on course to qualify for its 12th straight World Cup. Kenny Miller scored in the 13th for Scotland, which still has an outside chance to advance.

"It's a real honor to score my first goal for the national team," Grosso said. "It was an important goal and it came at a tough stadium to play in."

Scotland has beaten Italy only once in eight games -- in 1965. In another group game, last-place Moldova upset Belarus 2-0.

In Europe, the eight group winners and the top two runners-up advance to the June 9-July 9 World Cup. The other six runners-up play off for three spots.
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