Spain 2 - Georgia 0; France 3 - Finland 0

Photo by Jose Jordan

France needed to defeat Finland at home in Saint-Denis and see Spain lose in the other Group I match in order to qualify directly for Brasil 2014.  Any thing less would leave them in the draw for the UEFA Playoffs.  Franck Ribery continue his spectacular week at the Stade de France tonight.  Ribery avoided the block of Teemu Pukki and fired a laser from outside the box that clipped the underside of the crossbar on its way to glory.  France led 1-0 at halftime.

Mathieu Debuchy played in a nice cross from the right wing with a quarter hour left on the clock.  Olivier Giroud hit a powerful header that was going in at the back post.  A desperate swing by a defender could only hit the ball into the net at a different angle, so France were now up 2-0.  Ribery finished the match off in style.  He drove into the box on the left side of goal and then held up play while waiting for support.  He found some and then made his move to the end line before popping a pass to Karim Benzema.  Benzema swung a volley from waist level into the goal to make it an emphatic 3-0.  France win 3-0 but were all but resigned to their fate of appearing in the UEFA Playoffs.

Spain needed only a draw at home in Albacete against Georgia in order to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals.  A bicycle kick shot from Spain forward Alvaro Negredo was tipped over by Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Loria.  Pedro Rodriguez played to Andres Iniesta, who laid back off to Rodriguez who one-timed a chipped pass to Iniesta, who first-timed a volley into the box.  Negredo one-timed a tap-in off the bounce to give Spain an intricate opener.  Negredo hit the post on a chance later in the period.  Spain took a comfortable 1-0 lead with them into their dressing room.

On the hour mark, Spain received a good bit of fortune as a defensive header deflected off Gerard Pique and fell to Juan Mata inside of ten yards.  Mata blasted the rebound into the back of the net to give Spain a 2-0 and the crowd reason to begin booking flights to Brasil.  Spain continued to be the only team with any designs on goal, and they eased to victory.  Spain win 2-0 and clinch a berth at Brasil 2014.  They will be there looking to defend their South Africa 2010 championship.  France will take part in the UEFA Playoffs next month.

Spain 20 pts IN
France 17 pts
Finland OUT
Georgia OUT
Belarus OUT

Goals
France
Franck Ribery 8
Joona Toivio 76 OG
Karim Benzema 87

Spain
Alvaro Negredo 26
Juan Mata 61

Match Reports:
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/92609/france-vs-finland/report?
http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2013/10/15/4842260/france-vs-finland-2014-world-cup-qualifying-final-score-report
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1812676-france-vs-finland-score-grades-and-post-match-reaction
http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2013/10/15/4842256/spain-vs-georgia-uefa-world-cup-qualifying-final-score-result
http://www.goal.com/en-us/match/92610/spain-vs-georgia/report?
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/15/spain-qualify-georgia-world-cup

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfNSMjfWrQY (France v. Finland)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75EAcVvHRCY (Spain v. Georgia)