News » great chances before maintaining his record of never missing

MANCHESTER, England - Italy and the Netherlands became the first European teams to qualify for the 2014 World Cup but Germanys passage to the finals in Brazil was delayed despite also winning on Tuesday. Mario Balotellis 54th-minute penalty secured a 2-1 win for Italy over the Czech Republic to seal first place in Group B, while Robin van Persies second-half double in a 2-0 win at Andorra guaranteed the Dutch top spot in Group D. Both countries qualified with two matches to spare, with the Azzurri qualifying for their 14th straight World Cup on the night goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon made a record-equaling 136th appearance for Italy. Germany beat the Faeroe Islands 3-0 but still needs one more win for automatic qualification, with Sweden five points behind with two matches left after a 1-0 win in Kazakhstan. Englands destiny in its own hands after drawing 0-0 at Ukraine to stay top of Group H and Russia can also make the finals by winning its last two games after beating Israel 3-1 to topple Portugal in Group F. France twice came from behind to defeat Belarus 4-2 and draw level with Group I leader Spain, which has a game in hand. Elsewhere, Switzerland won 2-0 at Norway in Group E and needs just one victory from its last two games, against Albania away and Slovenia at home, to finish first. Bosnia-Herzegovina remained ahead of Greece on goal difference in Group G after coming from behind to beat Slovakia 2-1. The top team from each of the nine European groups qualifies automatically for Brazil. The best eight runners-up go into playoffs in November and that is likely to include Cristiano Ronaldos Portugal, with Russia having two easy final games. Spain wasnt in World Cup qualifying action but still played Tuesday, twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Chile in Geneva. At halftime in their respective matches, Italy and the Dutch were on course to blow their chances of sealing qualification early but their star forwards came through for them when it mattered. Three minutes after Giorgio Chiellini cancelled out Libor Kozaks opener for the Czechs in the 19th, Balotelli stepped up after being brought down in the area to coolly convert his penalty. The AC Milan striker had missed a string of great chances before maintaining his record of never missing a spot kick. Kozaks goal meant Buffon couldnt mark his special night with a clean sheet but he will still never forget matching Fabio Cannavaros appearance record at the Juventus Stadium — the home of the Turin club where he has spent most of his club career. Italy has missed only one World Cup since 1934, but has never qualified with two matches to play. "Its a great satisfaction," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said. "This is a very talented team which always manages to give its maximum. I saw a great Italy." Czech coach Michal Bilek tendered his resignation after the match, with his team fourth in the group and unlikely to reach the playoffs. The Netherlands can also start planning for next summers finals, although it took goals from Van Persie in the 50th and 55th minute to squeeze past a team ranked 205th in the world. With Romania losing at home to Turkey for the first time since 1925, the Dutch cant be caught. "Weve qualified, thats step one," said Van Persie, who moved to 38 goals for his country — two off the record held by Patrick Kluivert. "Now have to start working toward the World Cup." With Zlatan Ibrahimovic grabbing Swedens winner in one of the early matches in the latest batch of qualifiers, the Germans knew they would have to wait until next month to progress. They had little trouble seeing off the Faeroes, who were reduced to 10 men late on, with Per Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil and Thomas Mueller scoring the goals. Austria can still catch Sweden for second place after beating Ireland 1-0 in Vienna. A nail-biting finish is guaranteed in Englands group after Roy Hodgsons side — featuring Frank Lampard in his 100th international appearance — held on for a goalless draw in Kyiv to stay in command with two games left. Three points separates the English from Montenegro, Ukraine (who are both one behind) and fourth-place Poland, which thrashed San Marino 5-1. Poland must still travel to Ukraine and England, which first plays Montenegro at home. Russia only has to beat Azerbaijan and Luxembourg — the groups bottom two teams — away to qualify for its first World Cup since 2002 and condemn Portugal to the playoffs. Vasiliy Berezutsky, Aleksandr Kokorin and Denis Glushakov scored for Fabio Capellos side in Moscow. Elsewhere in Group F, Luxembourg beat Northern Ireland 3-2 for only its fourth win in 122 World Cup qualifiers and its first at home since 1972. Chidobe Awuzie Jersey . The senior threw for 319 yards and no interceptions in his final college game, leading No. Chidobe Awuzie Cowboys Jersey .com) - The Buffalo Bills will return to the friendly confines of Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday when they welcome the upstart Cleveland Browns to town. http://www.cowboysrookieshop.com/Dorance-Armstrong-Jr-Cowboys-Jersey/ . The Brazilian heads into Saturday afternoons race coming off a close runner-up finish to Ryan Hunter-Reay in the Indianapolis 500. Dallas Cowboys Jerseys . You can catch all of the action LIVE on TSN2 at 6pm et/3pm pt. The Heat reached that mark Saturday night when they ruined the Philadelphia 76ers home opener. Terrell Owens Jersey . - Tiger Woods only made it through 10 holes Thursday — this time because of the weather, not his back.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos and punter Britton Colquitt on Sunday agreed on a three-year contract extension through 2016. Colquitt is the franchise leader in career gross (46.1 yards) and net (39.5) punting average. In 48 regular season games, hes had 79 punts inside the 20 with just 18 touchbacks. In three playoff games, he has placed five of 16 punts inside the 20 with no touchbacks.dddddddddddd. Colquitt signed with Denver in 2009 after averaging 42.6 yards at Tennessee, where he was a two-time All-SEC selection. His brother (Craig), brother (Dustin) and uncle (Jimmy) and punted for the Volunteers and went on to punt in the pros. 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