World Cup qualification review: Argentina reach World Cup finals but Netherlands miss out
A review of Tuesday night's World Cup qualification action as Argentina, Portugal and France booked their places in Russia and Holland missed out.
World Cup qualification results
Belgium 4-0 Cyprus
Estonia 1-2 Bosnia & Herzegovina
France 2-1 Belarus
Greece 4-0 Gibraltar
Hungary 1-0 Faroe Islands
Latvia 4-0 Andorra
Luxumbourg 1-1 Bulgaria
Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
Portugal 2-0 Switzerland
Brazil 3-0 Chile
Ecuador 1-3 Argentina
Paraguay 0-1 Venezuela
Peru 1-1 Colombia
Uruguay 4-2 Bolivia
Honduras 3-2 Mexico
Panama 2-1 Costa Rica
Trinidad 2-1 USA
Review
Argentina overcame a scare to book their place in next summer's World Cup finals after beating Ecuador away for the first time since 2001.
Jorge Sampaoli's side had Lionel Messi to thank - as his hat-trick rescued a side which found themselves 1-0 down in the first minute.
Argentina went into the clash needing a win to book a place at the finals in Russia - and Messi cancelled out Romario Ibarra's opener with an 11th minute strike.
Two more goals from Messi either side of half-time in Quito meant his side qualified for their 12th consecutive World Cup, finishing third in the group.
Sky Bet immediately installed Argentina as 8/1 in the latest betting for next year's tournament.
Uruguay cemented their second place in the group with a 4-2 win over Bolivia.
The home side scored all six goals in Montevideo with Gaston Silva and Diego Godin both finding their own net. Martin Caceres, Edinson Cavani and a brace from Luis Suarez sealed the three points.
Brazil were already sure of their place in Russia and swept to a convincing 3-0 win over Chile in Sao Paulo.
The visitors were also hopeful of heading to the finals, but Alexis Sanchez's side failed to fire on all cylinders as La Roja crashed out due to a late equaliser in the Peru v Colombia game.
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Paolo Guerrero scored in the 74th minute in Lima after James Rodriguez was on target for Colombia.
The Peru goal helped push them into fifth place in the table on goal difference - with Chile falling to sixth - as they booked a two-legged play-off against New Zealand.
In the night's other fixture, Paraguay's slender hopes of playing in Russia next summer were dashed by bottom-of-the-table Venezuela, a Yangel Herrera goal on 84 minutes securing a 1-0 win.
The United States will miss their first World Cup since 1986 after a 2-1 defeat to Trinidad and Tobago - as Panama secured their debut appearance at the tournament next summer.
Bruce Arena's side started the day in pole position to secure the last of three qualifying spots, joining Mexico and Costa Rica in Russia, but a loss to the already-eliminated Trinidadians dashed hopes of an eighth straight appearance.
In the other group fixture, Honduras set up a tie against Australia with a 3-2 win over visitors Mexico in San Pedro Sula.
The home side found themselves 2-1 down at half-time, but an own goal from Guillermo Ochoa on 53 minutes and a Romell Quioto goal seven minutes later booked a two-legged play-off against the Socceroos in November.
Earlier, Portugal and France secured their places but Holland will miss out on a second successive major tournament.
Portugal's 2-0 victory over Switzerland in Lisbon saw the European champions usurp their opponents at the top of Group B.
Switzerland had maximum points going into the decider but they were second best on the night and a Johan Djourou own goal just before half-time set Portugal on their way before Andre Silva's 57th-minute strike settled the nerves at the Estadio da Luz.
Portugal finished top of the group on goal difference and Switzerland will try to follow them to Russia via the play-offs.
Elsewhere in Group B, two goals from Valerijs Sabala and further strikes from Davis Ikaunieks and Igors Tarasovs gave Latvia a 4-0 home win against Andorra while Daniel Bode's late effort saw Hungary win 1-0 at home against Faroe Islands.
France, Sky Bet's 11/2 second-favourites behind 5/1 market leaders Germany for World Cup glory next summer, made sure they finished top of Group A with a 2-1 win over Belarus in Paris. Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud were on the scoresheet for the French before Anton Saroka pulled a goal back just before half-time.
Holland, who also failed to qualify for the last European Championships, had to beat Sweden by seven goals to finish behind France in the runners-up spot but they could only manage a 2-0 win against the Swedes, who will head to the play-offs.
The unthinkable looked more possible when Arjen Robben scored from the penalty spot after 16 minutes but the Bayern Munich winger's second strike just before half-time was the only other goal of the game.
Luxembourg's point in a 1-1 home draw with Bulgaria meant they did not finish bottom of Group A. That distinction fell to Belarus after Olivier Thill's early opener for the hosts. However, they were denied a rare win by Ivaylo Chochev's equaliser.
Greece, European champions in 2004, made sure they were in the play-offs after beating Gibraltar 4-0, with Konstantinos Mitroglou scoring twice in between goals from Vassilis Torosidis and Giannis Gianniotas.
Belgium were already assured of winning Group H and they also finished their qualifying campaign with a 4-0 home victory against Cyprus. Thorgan Hazard scored in between two goals from his brother Eden - the second from the penalty spot - before Romelu Lukaku also got his name on the scoresheet.
The other match in the group saw Estonia lose 2-1 at home to Bosnia-Herzegovina as Izet Hajrovic scored twice for the visitors either side of Ilja Antonov's equaliser.
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