The final qualification battle for the biggest football event in the world is rounding off with more qualifiers emerging from Europe and Africa.
GHANA booked their place defeating Egypt 7-2 on aggregate. They lost 2-1 in the return leg in Cairo but the 6-1 demolition of the Egyptians in the first leg ensured that the loss counted for nothing.
ALGERIA scored the all important lone goal to defeat Burkina Faso 3-3 on the away goals rules even though the first leg ended 3-2 in favour of the side which reached the final of the 2013 nations cup.
FRANCE fought back from two goals down against Ukraine to seal their place at next year's finals thanks to unlikely two-goal hero Mamadou Sakho. After suffering a 2-0 loss in the first leg in Kiev, France faced an uphill task in Paris -- and coach Didier Deschamps reacted by making a number of changes, including the selection of Sakho. And on 22 minutes his faith was rewarded when the Liverpool defender followed up from close range to make it 2-1 on aggregate. Karim Benzema, selected ahead of Olivier Giroud, then put France 2-0 up on the night, although in controversial circumstances as he was in an offside position. Ukraiane then had Yevhen Khacheridi sent off for a second yellow card, before France completed the turn around with 18 minutes left thanks to Sakho.
CROATIA comfortably won their play off second leg against Iceland 2-0 to qualify for next summer's World Cup. Mario Mandzukic scored but was then sent off, all within the first half, and Darijo Srna netted a second early in the second period. Iceland could find no way back and a 2-0 scoreline was enough to see Niko Kovac's side to Brazil.
GREECE finished off the job they started in Athens last week as a 1-1 draw with Romania on Tuesday night carried them safely through. Holding a 3-1 advantage from the opening leg, Fernando Santos' men arrived in Bucharest looking to wrap up the tie and they all but achieved that with a first-half strike from Konstantinos Mitroglou. A bizarre own goal from Vasileios Torosidis early in the second half pulled Romania level on the night, but there was to be no dramatic comeback as Greece booked their ticket to Brazil 4-2 on aggregate.
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