Logrono: Spain will bid for an unprecedented third straight continental title after securing their place at Euro 2016 with a game to spare thanks to a 4-0 qualifying victory at home to Group C minnows Luxembourg last night.
Champions in 2008 and 2012, with a maiden World Cup in between in 2010, Spain are assured of top spot in the section with 24 points after Santi Cazorla and substitute Paco Alcacer each struck twice in a dominant display in Logrono.
Vicente del Bosque’s side are five points ahead of second-placed Slovakia, who lost 1-0 at home to Belarus, while Ukraine, who host Spain in Kiev on Monday, are third also on 19 points after they won 2-0 away to Macedonia.
Midfielder Cazorla, who earlier crashed a shot against the bar, put La Roja ahead three minutes before halftime when he followed up Pedro’s saved effort and drove the ball home.
Alcacer, who came on in the first half for the injured Alvaro Morata, made it 2-0 in the 67th when he ran on to a Cesc Fabregas pass and finished clinically past Jonathan Joubert.
Alcacer scored his second goal, and Spain’s third, from close range in the 80th minute after fine work from fullback Jordi Alba and Cazorla rifled the ball home from the edge of the penalty area five minutes from time to complete the rout.
The victory came at a cost, however, as Morata was taken off on a stretcher after apparently sustaining damage to his right knee and midfielder David Silva had to be replaced by Juan Mata after 11 minutes with what looked like an ankle problem.
Meanwhile, Switzerland also qualified after securing a 7-0 victory at home to minnows San Marino that guaranteed them second place in Group E.
The Swiss, who scored six times in the second half to subdue San Marino, have 18 points with one match remaining and are five points clear of third-placed Slovenia, whose own faint hopes were dashed as they drew 1-1 at home to Lithuania.
England, who reached the Euro 2016 finals last month, beat Estonia 2-0 at Wembley to stay on course to complete a qualifying campaign with a 100 per cent winning record for the first time.
Goals from Theo Walcott after 45 minutes and Raheem Sterling in the 85th minute gave England their ninth successive win in a qualifying campaign for the first time ever.
England were never under any threat from an Estonia side that have only scored four goals in nine matches on a generally subdued night at Wembley.
One of the high spots came before kickoff when Bobby Charlton presented Wayne Rooney with a golden boot for breaking his 45-year-old scoring record with his 50th goal for England last month.
Rooney sat out the match with an injury but England did not miss him. Ross Barkley created Walcott’s opening goal just before halftime with a superb through ball which the Arsenal man collected with a deft right foot touch before his shot gave Estonia keeper Mihkel Aksalu no chance.
Sterling doubled the lead five minutes before the end with an easy scoring chance following a cross by substitute Jamie Vardy.