Germany, Turkey, Slovenia and Belgium reach World Cup

Germany, Turkey, Slovenia and Belgium were all celebrating their second-chance reprieves on Wednesday after reaching next year's World Cup finals through the European playoffs.

They all triumphed over other teams who finished as runners-up in the European qualifying competition to swell the number of known qualifiers for the finals to 29.

Later on Wednesday and in the early hours of Thursday morning European time, Brazil, Uruguay or Colombia will all be hoping to clinch the final available place in the South American zone when the final qualifiers in that competition take place.

GERMAN CRUISE

Germany, who were in danger of failing to appear in the World Cup finals for the first time since 1950, immediately dispelled such fears by going 3-0 up inside the first 20 minutes against Ukraine in Dortmund.

They ended up 4-1 winners to clinch the tie 5-2 on aggregate after their 1-1 draw in Kiev on Saturday.

Turkey, who won the first leg of their playoff 1-0 against Austria in Vienna, scorched to an emphatic 5-0 second leg victory at the Ali Sami Yen stadium in Istanbul to reach the finals for the first time since 1954 on a 6-0 aggregate.

Slovenia, the small Alpine nation with a population of less than two million, fought hard for a 1-1 draw against Romania in Bucharest for a 3-2 aggregate win to secure their first World Cup finals appearance after making their international finals tournament debut in Euro 2000 last year.

In Prague, Belgium beat the Czech Republic 1-0 to go through 2-0 on aggregate for their sixth successive appearance in the finals.

The Czechs, who had Tomas Repka sent off on Saturday, saw skipper Pavel Nedved and Milan Baros both dismissed two minutes from time on Wednesday.

DAZZLING START

Germany made a dazzling start against Ukraine, who were looking to qualify for their first major tournament after being eliminated in the playoffs for both the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.

It took Michael Ballack, scorer of Germany's goal in Kiev, just four minutes to head Germany in front in Dortmund's Westfallenstadion, where they have never lost an international.

Seven minutes later more poor Ukraine defending saw Oliver Neuville score from close range and Marko Rehmer made it 3-0 with another header four minutes later.

Ukraine continued to defend poorly and Ballack made it 4-0 with a free header after 51 minutes as Germany regained some pride after their recent 5-1 hammering by England and the 0-0 draw in the final qualifier with Finland that forced them into the playoffs.

Andriy Shevchenko scored a last minute consolation for Ukraine.

TURKEY IN CONTROL

There was a similarly one-sided match in Istanbul where Turkey were utterly dominant against an Austrian side already at a disadvantage after losing their home leg 1-0.

Yildiray Basturk made it 2-0 on aggregate after 21 minutes and once Hakan Sukur (30) and Okan Buruk (44) added two more before halftime to make it 3-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate, Austria were all but dead and buried.

Arif Erdem scored twice after 68 and 83 minutes to send Turkey into the finals for the first time in what will be 48 years by the time they kick off next year.

DRAMA IN BUCHAREST

There was nerve-jangling drama in Bucharest as Slovenia held out for a 1-1 draw against the fancied Romanians to seal their place in the finals for the first time in their short, independent history.

Romania, quarter-finalists as recently as 1994 and now managed by Gheorghe Hagi, the inspiration of their team for so long, failed to stamp their authority on the match for far too long -- and when they did they failed to get the goals they needed.

Slovenia went ahead after Mladen Rudonja took advantage of some poor defensive play by the veteran Ghoerghe Popescu to curl a shot past Bogdan Lobont in the Romanian goal for his first strike for his country after 53 internationals.

Romania equalised after 65 minutes when Cosmin Contra hit an unstoppable screamer from 25-metres but despite some frenzied Romanian pressure there were no more goals.

Romania last missed the finals in 1986 while for Slovenia the victory will spark national celebrations.

BELGIUM THROUGH

Belgium reached the finals for the sixth successive time with a 1-0 win on Prague over the Czech Republic for a 2-0 playoff winning margin.

As on Saturday when Repka was sent off, the Czechs failed to finish the match with a full complement of players as Nedved and Baros were sent off in the 88th minute after picking up their second yellow cards.

The only goal came four minutes from time when Marc Wilmots scored with an 86th minute penalty.

The 31st qualifier will be known on Thursday after the second leg of the Iran-Ireland playoff while the final playoff takes place next week when Australia meet the team that finishes fifth in the South American competition.