Spain are to defend their European Championships title next year, while Switzerland are to return to the tournament for the first time since co-hosting it in 2008.
Spain secured their Euro 2016 spot by easily defeating Luxembourg 4-0 at home on Friday, while Switzerland trounced San Marino 7-0 to clinch their berth for the tournament in France.
Santi Cazorla and substitute Paco Alcacer scored two goals each to help Spain beat Luxembourg 4-0.
Photo: AFP
Cazorla scored in the 42nd and 85th minutes, while Alcacer netted in the 67th and 80th to give Spain 24 points in Group C, five more than Slovakia and Ukraine. Slovakia lost 1-0 at home to Belarus.
“It is great to finally advance, but we know it was not easy,” Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. “The loss to Slovakia [last year] made things harder for us.”
In the final round, Ukraine host Spain, who will be looking for a third consecutive European title in France next year, and Slovakia play at Luxembourg.
Spain went into Friday’s home match with a depleted squad because of injuries and suspensions, and it only got worse after David Silva had to be substituted early on with an apparent ankle injury. Also in the first half, Alvaro Morata had to leave on a stretcher because of a right-leg injury.
Switzerland thrashed San Marino, with seven players getting on the score sheet.
Three goals came from penalties by Gokhan Inler, Johan Djourou and Breel Embolo, while Michael Lang, Admir Mehmedi, Pajtim Kasami and Eren Derdiyok also netted.
As Switzerland secured second place, Theo Walcott and Raheem Sterling helped already-qualified England beat Estonia 2-0 to win for the ninth time in as many qualifying games.
England are the only team with a 100 percent record in qualifying for next year’s finals and should be with the top-seeded teams in the draw for the group stage.
“That is important, because it fluctuates with the FIFA rankings and I am only hoping I have not been misled that we are now safe to be seeded,” England coach Roy Hodgson said.
With one qualifier remaining, Switzerland have an unassailable five-point advantage over Slovenia, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Lithuania. Slovenia remain in a good position to make the playoffs as one of the third-place finishers. Slovenia have a three-point advantage over fourth-placed Estonia and go into the final qualifier at winless San Marino with a plus-nine goal difference.
Russia took a big step toward qualifying for Euro 2016 thanks to a 2-1 win at Moldova. The victory strengthened their hold on second place, with one round of games yet to be played in the group.
Russia took the lead through veteran defender Sergei Ignashevich, who blasted the ball into the net in the 58th minute after Artyom Dzyuba flicked on a free-kick.
Dzyuba doubled Russia’s lead in the 78th with a tap-in, while Eugeniu Cebotaru rekindled Moldova’s hopes with a header in the 85th.
Russia have a two-point lead over second-placed Sweden, who beat Liechtenstein 2-0.
Austria, who have already qualified as group winner, twice recovered from a goal down to beat Montenegro 3-2.
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