Spain, Switzerland on World Cup brink

Spain all but mathematically booked their ticket to the World Cup with a 4-0 thrashing of Georgia on Saturday, with Turkey delaying their celebrations by edging Bulgaria 2-0.

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Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal celebrates after scoring against Georgia. AFP

(AFP)

Kosovo likewise prevented Switzerland from booking their spot in North America next year, beating Slovenia 2-0 to prolong the Group B suspense for another three days.

Switzerland’s 4-1 win over Sweden, though, means that only an unlikely thrashing in Kosovo tomorrow could prevent them from progressing.

‘A brace by Marko Arnautovic fired Austria to a 2-0 win away to Cyprus that nudged them closer to World Cup qualification for the first time since 1998.

But Bosnia-Herzegovina came from behind to beat 10-man Romania 3-1 and ensure Group H goes down to the wire too.

Belgium missed the chance to secure their spot at the finals after they were held to a 1-1 draw in Kazakhstan.

Mikel Oyarzabal bagged a brace as Spain maintained their perfect qualification record by outclassing Georgia in Tbilisi.

Real Sociedad forward Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 11 minutes after Giorgi Goch-oleishvili was penalised for handling Ferran Torres's cross.