Nemanja Vidic and Zoran Tosic's Serbia are the latest 'United Nation' to qualify automatically for South Africa 2010 - at the expense of Patrice Evra's France.
As Group 7 leaders in Europe, the Serbs confirmed their likely passage to the World Cup finals in emphatic style on Saturday, hammering Romania 5-0. Vidic played for 73 minutes while Tosic was an unused substitute.
The French also won 5-0, against the Faroe Islands, to confirm their runners-up spot. Evra completed the 90 minutes and can now plan for the play-offs in November.
Nani is another United player pinning his World Cup hopes on the play-offs, after Portugal's group was won by Denmark at the weekend. The Portuguese beat Hungary 3-0 in Lisbon - despite Cristiano Ronaldo limping off after 15 minutes - and will definitely enter November's knock-out phase if they overcome Malta on Wednesday.
The play-offs beckon for John O'Shea and the Republic of Ireland, following their impressive - but ultimately disappointing - 2-2 draw with the reigning world champions in Dublin. The Irish twice led in the match and when Sean St Ledger put them 2-1 up in the 87th minute, they seemed all set to cut Italy's lead in Group 8 to one point with one game remaining. However, Alberto Gilardino's last-gasp leveller ensured the Azzurri's automatic berth and a play-off place for O'Shea, Darron Gibson and their compatriots.
Bulgaria's chances of overtaking the Irish were wiped out in Cyprus, despite Dimitar Berbatov finding the net. His strike on the brink of half-time turned out to be a mere consolation goal in a demoralising 4-1 defeat.
Antonio Valencia was the other United man to score at the weekend but like Berba, he was on the losing side too. Ecuador are now in danger of missing the World Cup after losing 2-1 at home to Uruguay, courtesy of Diego Forlan's injury-time penalty.
Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney also suffered a defeat, losing 0-1 with the already-qualified England in Ukraine. Their cause wasn't helped by West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green being sent off in the 13th minute.
The French also won 5-0, against the Faroe Islands, to confirm their runners-up spot. Evra completed the 90 minutes and can now plan for the play-offs in November.
Nani is another United player pinning his World Cup hopes on the play-offs, after Portugal's group was won by Denmark at the weekend. The Portuguese beat Hungary 3-0 in Lisbon - despite Cristiano Ronaldo limping off after 15 minutes - and will definitely enter November's knock-out phase if they overcome Malta on Wednesday.
The play-offs beckon for John O'Shea and the Republic of Ireland, following their impressive - but ultimately disappointing - 2-2 draw with the reigning world champions in Dublin. The Irish twice led in the match and when Sean St Ledger put them 2-1 up in the 87th minute, they seemed all set to cut Italy's lead in Group 8 to one point with one game remaining. However, Alberto Gilardino's last-gasp leveller ensured the Azzurri's automatic berth and a play-off place for O'Shea, Darron Gibson and their compatriots.
Bulgaria's chances of overtaking the Irish were wiped out in Cyprus, despite Dimitar Berbatov finding the net. His strike on the brink of half-time turned out to be a mere consolation goal in a demoralising 4-1 defeat.
Antonio Valencia was the other United man to score at the weekend but like Berba, he was on the losing side too. Ecuador are now in danger of missing the World Cup after losing 2-1 at home to Uruguay, courtesy of Diego Forlan's injury-time penalty.
Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney also suffered a defeat, losing 0-1 with the already-qualified England in Ukraine. Their cause wasn't helped by West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green being sent off in the 13th minute.
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