Slovakia and Switzerland became the latest nations to book their place at next summer's World Cup.

Both nations endured nervy matches before booking qualification for the tournament to be hosted by South Africa.

Slovakia relied on a Seweryn Gancarczyk own goal after three minutes to beat Poland, while the Swiss played out a goalless draw with 10-man Israel.

For Slovakia it meant they qualified for the finals for the first time as an independent nation, as they topped a fiercely-competitive Group Three.

Slovenia claimed second in the group, and a play-off place, after they overcome San Marino 3-0 to dash the slim hopes of Czech Republic and Northern Ireland who could have leapfrogged them.

Croatia were the highest-profile casualties as their qualification bid ultimately ended in failure despite a 2-1 win in Kazakhstan.

Slaven Bilic's side had needed Ukraine to slip up in Andorra, but that unlikely scenario never materialised as the eastern Europeans cantered into the play-offs with a 6-0 triumph.

It meant Croatia, ranked ninth in the world, failed to qualify for a World Cup finals for the first time since they gained independence in 1993 and marked them as the highest-ranked team to have missed out so far.

Portugal's stuttering qualification campaign will continue into the play-offs after they defeated Malta 4-0 in Guimaraes.

The Portuguese had won just four of their nine qualifiers but headed into tonight's game knowing a win would be enough to keep closest Group One rivals Sweden at bay in the race for second place.

They were swiftly on course to do that when Manchester United winger Nani netted after 13 minutes before Simao (45), Miguel Veloso (52) and substitute Edinho (90) completed the rout.

Greece will join Portugal among the four seeded teams in the play-offs after they defeated Luxembourg 2-1 in Athens to clinch second place in Group Two.

Russia and France are the other two seeded teams, and they had already sewed up second place in their respective groups before tonight.

The other four teams through to the play-offs are Slovenia, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Bosnia-Herzegovina tonight lost 5-2 to Spain, who secured a perfect qualification record of 10 wins from 10 games.

The draw for play-off matches, which will be played next month, will be conducted by FIFA next Monday (October 19) in Zurich.

World Cup Qualifier Group Reviews

Group One: Portugal book play-off place

Group Two: Swiss draw to reach South Africa

Group Three: Slovakia to make World Cup bow

Group Four: Germans draw with Finns

Group Five: Spain end qualification perfectly

Group Six: England, Ukraine cruise

Group Seven: Serbs lose to Lithuania

Group Eight: Italy qualify in style