PARIS: An electric performance by France and a hat-trick by Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal lifted the two European football heavyweights across the line in the race to qualify for next year’s World Cup on Tuesday.
A gripping conclusion to European qualifying also saw Croatia and Greece secure their passages to the 2014 finals in Brazil.
France took on Ukraine at a tense Stade de France, the scene of the hosts’ 1998 World Cup win, with their backs to the wall after last week’s 2-0 first leg defeat in Kiev. But Les Bleus banished the blues that had descended on their supporters with a remarkable show of resolve.
Didier Deschamps’ men took the lead on the night midway through the first half through Mamadou Sakho and levelled the tie on aggregate when Karim Benzema netted from an offside position on 34 minutes.
That strike came shortly after the Real Madrid man had seen a perfectly good goal disallowed, and the controversy continued as Ukraine defender Yevhen Kacheridi was sent off early in the second period.
France made their one-man advantage count as an Oleg Gusev own-goal put them ahead in the tie for the first time in the 72nd minute and they saw out the rest of the game to win 3-2 on aggregate.
An ecstatic Benzema said: “We qualified in style.
“The match was tough, we had to turn the situation around – we did it.
“We had pressure, of course, but we never doubted ourselves – I’m extremely proud.
“You can see when the fans are superb and behind us like this evening we can raise our game.”
Deschamps told French television: “Four days ago, we were in a bad position but the players were fantastic tonight.
“I didn’t have doubts but we played a huge match and this qualification is very important for French football.
“It’s a bit of a tradition that when French teams have their backs against the wall, they perform and we had a lot of heart and determination today.
“Now we’ve qualified, we’re capable of some great things.”
Over in Solna it was a case of Ronaldo taking on Sweden’s star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Ronaldo had given Portugal the edge with the only goal in last week’s first leg, and he put them into the lead five minutes after the restart.
Ibrahimovic rattled off a quick fire double to set the tie alight only for Ronaldo to hit back with two more goals to steal the show.
Portugal coach Paulo Bento praised Ronaldo who became his country’s all-time leading scorer with a tally of 50 goals.
“A player who scores a hat-trick in a game of this dimension of course that has an effect that is very influential on the final result,” he said.
In Zagreb, Croatia ended Iceland’s hopes of becoming the smallest ever nation to dine at the World Cup table with goals from Mario Mandzukic and Darijo Srna.
Croatia made it hard for themselves when Mandzukic got sent off for a dangerous tackle not long after his goal.
“My respect goes to the players who left their souls and hearts on the pitch, they all made me proud,” Croatia coach Niko Kovac said.
“We had a vision and a goal. We insisted on that and we succeeded. We showed a modern football,” the 42-year-old added.
Croatia, prevailing 2-0 on aggregate, are appearing at their fourth World Cup finals after the editions of 1998, 2002 and 2006.
The draw will be held on Dec 6 draw in the Brazilian tourist resort of Copa do Sauipe. — AFP