Trio share in final-day joy

Groups clinched
A 1-0 victory against Bosnia-Herzegovina was enough to secure first place in Group 7 for Serbia and Montenegro, leaving Spain, 6-0 winners in San Marino, second. Then France defeated Cyprus 4-0 to top Group 4 as Switzerland were held 0-0 by the Republic of Ireland, although the visitors to Dublin made the play-offs ahead of their hosts and Israel.

Sweden through
Sweden were virtually certain of qualification, and while their 3-1 success against Iceland could not deny Croatia - who drew 0-0 in Hungary - pole position in Group 8, it was sufficient to give the Swedes a ticket to Germany as one of the two best runners-up. Poland, pipped to top spot in Group 6 following England's 2-1 triumph in Manchester, are the other side to progress by that route.

Turkish relief
The Czech Republic's 3-0 win in Finland took them above Romania into second place in Group 1 behind the Netherlands, though Sweden avoided the heavy defeat that would have handed the Czechs an automatic qualifying spot. Second slot in Group 2 went to Turkey, who prevailed 1-0 in Albania, meaning Denmark's 2-1 victory in Kazakhstan and European champions Greece's 1-0 success versus Georgia were in vain.

Swiss consolation
Group 3 was won by Portugal on Saturday, and Slovakia took second billing on goal difference by holding their nearest rivals, visiting Russia, 0-0. Italy wrapped up Group 5 at the weekend, when Norway were confirmed in the play-offs.

Play-off draw
The three qualifying play-offs will be contested over two legs on 12/16 November. The draw takes place on Friday at 12.00CET in Zurich, with the three sides holding the highest world rankings - the Czech Republic, Spain and Turkey - seeded to meet Slovakia, Switzerland or Norway. The winners will then enter the 32-team finals draw in Leipzig on 9 December, with the tournament running from 9 June-9 July 2006.

European qualifiers
Hosts: Germany
Group 1 winners: Netherlands
Group 2 winners: Ukraine
Group 3 winners: Portugal
Group 4 winners: France
Group 5 winners: Italy
Group 6 winners: England
Group 7 winners: Serbia and Montenegro
Group 8 winners: Croatia
Group 6 runners-up: Poland
Group 8 runners-up: Sweden

Play-offs
Group 1: Czech Republic*
Group 2: Turkey*
Group 3: Slovakia
Group 4: Switzerland
Group 5: Norway
Group 7: Spain*

*Seeded side

Other qualifiers
South America: Argentina, Brazil (holders), Ecuador, Paraguay
Africa: Angola, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Tunisia
Asia: Iran, Japan, Korean Republic, Saudi Arabia
North/Central America: Costa Rica, Mexico, United States
Play-offs: Uruguay v Australia, Trinidad and Tobago v Bahrain