Miroslav Klose’s goal in Moscow puts Germany in the World Cup

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Veteran German striker Miroslav Klose’s 50th goal for his country was also one of the most important because it earned Germany a 1-0 victory over Russia today in front of a sellout crowd of 80,000 in Moscow and clinched a place in the 2010 World Cup for the Germans.

The goal, in the 35th minute, was all that separated the teams but was enough to allow the three-time world champions, who won the World Cup in 1954, 1974 and 1990, to qualify for the 15th time.

Germany, under Coach Joachim Loew, came into the game in first place in its qualifying group, and the victory increased its lead over Russia from one point to an insurmountable four points with only one game remaining. Russia already has secured second place and a spot in the November playoffs.

Elsewhere, Switzerland moved to within one point of securing its place in next year’s 32-nation world championship in South Africa with a trouble-free 3-0 victory over Luxembourg. Philippe Senderos scored twice in the first eight minutes and Benjamin Huggel added a third goal before halftime.

The Ivory Coast became the third African team to win its place in the tournament when a goal by Chelsea’s Didier Drogba earned it a 1-1 tie on the road against Malawi. The Ivory Coast joins host South Africa and Ghana as the continent’s representatives in the Cup, with three other African teams still to qualify.

Bahrain and New Zealand played to a 0-0 tie in Bahrain in their playoff series, which will be decided when the teams play each other again Nov. 14 in New Zealand, with the winner going to the World Cup.

-- Grahame L. Jones