Belgium 2 - Croatia 1; Wales 1 - Macedonia 0

Croatia needed a win at home in rainy Zagreb to keep visitors Belgium from qualifying as group winners.  Ivan Perisic made a horrific pass in midfield, turning the ball straight over to Steven Defour to begin a Belgian counterattack.  Defour immediately pushed a through ball into the path of Romelu Lukaku, who sprinted with the ball and then rolled around Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa for the goal.  Pletikosa saved a header from Marouane Fellaini off the line.  Belgium scored on another breakaway when Croatia botched a set piece opportunity.  A second clearance fell to Lukaku in his own half of the pitch, but with his speed he managed to rumble into the Croatian box before pushing his shot off Pletikosa's body.  Lukaku tapped in the rebound for his second goal of the match.  Belgium goalkeeper Thibout Courtois had to make a reaction save across his body from a Mario Mandzukic header to preserve the two-goal advantage.  Belgium took a 2-0 lead and a berth in the FIFA World Cup finals with them into their locker room.

Belgium kept pressing for a third goal to deliver the knockout blow.  They never landed it.  In fact, Croatia made the match interesting with less than ten minutes to go.  Mandzukic was denied by a double kick save from Courtois.  However, the clearance Daniel van Buyten was half-volleyed on a line by Niko Kranjcar into the back of the Belgian net.  The Diables Rouges held on through a nervy finish.  Belgium win 2-1 and are the third European team to qualify for Brasil 2014.

Wales were at home in Cardiff to take on Macedonia.  The best chance from the first half fell to Macedonia centerback Nikolce Noveski.  Noveski proved why he is a defender, sending his shot into the heavens rather than anywhere near the target.  The half ended with no goals having been scored.

Midway through the second period, a fantastic bit of play provided the first goal of the match.  Aaron Ramsey picked out a running Craig Bellamy, who in stride slotted a ball into the path of Simon Church.  Church roofed his shot to put the Welsh ahead 1-0.  Ramsey drew a penalty kick when the outstretched leg of Noveski clipped him.  Ramsey's penalty was poorly taken and was easily saved by Macedonia netminder Tome Pacovski.  In spite of that wasted opportunity, Wales win 1-0.

Belgium 25 pts IN
Croatia 17 pts
Serbia OUT
Wales OUT
Scotland OUT
Macedonia OUT

Goals
Belgium
Romelu Lukaku 15, 38

Croatia
Niko Kranjcar 83

Wales
Simon Church 67

Match Reports:
http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2013/10/11/4828016/belgium-croatia-2014-world-cup-qualifying-final-score-result
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/11/croatia-belgium-world-cup-qualifying-match-report
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-match-reports/wales-1---0-macedonia-6177084
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/wales-1-macedonia-0-victory-is-most-enjoyable-for-chris-coleman-but-he-insists-it-hasnt-changed-his-future-8876091.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24393705

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJyB2Y0WpoA (Belgium v. Croatia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0qj9TUEiUY (Wales v. Macedonia)