The four two-game European playoff series for berths in next year's World Cup all concluded on Tuesday.
At Solna, Sweden:
Cristiano Ronaldo's second-half hat trick (50', 77', 79') enabled Portugal to outlast Sweden 3-2 on the road in the second match of their two-game playoff and won their series 4-2 on aggregate. For the Portuguese, this will be their fourth consecutive World Cup appearance, their fifth overall.
At Saint-Denis, France:
France, thanks to goals from Mamadou Sakho (22'), Karim Benzima (34'), and Oleh Husyev (OG-72'), reversed their 2-0 road defeat from last week and blanked visiting ten-man Ukraine 3-0 to win their two-game series 3-2 on aggregate and booked their ticket for Brazil. It will be Les Blues' fourteenth World Cup appearance, their fifth in a row.
At Bucharest, Romania:
Konstantinos Mitroglou's goal in the 23rd minute proved more than enough as Greece gained a 1-1 road draw with Romania and won their two-game series 4-2 on aggregate and advanced to their second straight World Cup, their third overall.
At Zagreb, Croatia:
Mario Mandzukic (27') and Darijo Srna (48') provided the scoring as Croatia ruined Iceland's hopes of becoming the smallest nation (based on population) to ever qualify for the World Cup by winning game two 2-0 and the series 2-0 on aggregate. It will be the Blazers' fourth World Cup appearance.
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