A pair of European teams have officially punched their tickets for next summer's World Cup in Brazil.
The Netherlands got things underway with a businesslike 2-0 win at Andorra thanks to a brace from Robin van Persie, clinching their perch atop UEFA's Group D. Fifteen minutes later, and a few hundred miles away across the Balearic Sea, Italy joined them thanks to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in Turin.
They joined the already qualified hosts, as well as a quartet of Asian federation teams: Japan, South Korea, Australia and Iran.
Later on Tuesday, both the US and Costa Rica qualified thanks to positive results for them as well as a draw between Honduras and Panama.
Finally, Argentina have their trip booked thanks to a dominant 5-2 win over Paraguay.
The next FIFA international date falls in mid-October, at the end of which 30 of the 32-team World Cup field will be filled.
