Didier Drogba sealed Ivory Coast's spot in next summer's World Cup thanks to an equalising goal away to Malawi on Saturday.
The 31-year-old forward had started the game as a sub, but scored within two minutes of his introduction as a sub after 65 minutes.
Salomon Kalou, wearing his favoured number eight international shirt, played the entire 90 minutes for the Elephants, who progress as top of Group E in African qualifying, with one game to spare.
Michael Ballack captained Germany as they secured their place in next summer's tournament after a 1-0 win in Russia. Yury Zhirkov was on the opposite side, and came close to equalising but will now go into a play-off to determine whether he follows his clubmate to South Africa.
Branislav Ivanovic was the fourth successful Chelsea man of the evening, playing the entirety of Serbia's 5-0 win over Romania.
That victory ensured they could not be caught by France at the top of Group 7, despite the French beating the Faroe Islands 5-0 in Guingamp.
Starter Nicolas Anelka scored the fourth goal late on, while Florent Malouda was a 62nd minute sub.
The French will now go into a playoff situation having sewn up the second spot behind the Serbs.
Things are looking less optimistic for Petr Cech and the Czech Republic despite their 2-0 win over Poland on Saturday. The Chelsea man kept a clean sheet in the win but a surprise victory for Slovenia away at Slovakia make them favourites to finish second behind the Slovaks in Group 3.
Miroslav Stoch played the entire game in Slovakia's 2-0 defeat, earning himself a first half booking.
Elsewhere Portugal leapfrogged Sweden to go second in Group One behind winners Denmark, by beating Hungary 3-0 at home.
Jose Bosingwa, Ricardo Carvalho and Deco all played the 90 minutes, while Paulo Ferreira was an unused substitute. A win over Malta in midweek will guarantee a playoff spot.
Despite already having qualified, England fielded a full strength side away in Ukraine, with John Terry as captain, and Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard both deployed from the start.
All three played the 90 minutes but things did not go to plan, as England, reduced to 10 men after goalkeeper Robert Green was sent off, eventually lost 1-0 after Cole lost possession before deflecting a shot into his own net. Ukraine skipper Andriy Shevchenko also missed a penalty in the game.
Incidentally, the game fell on the 10th anniversary of Lampard's first England appearance, a 2-1 win over Belgium at the Stadium of Light. This was his 75thcap, and for the record, it was Cole's 77th and Terry's 57th.
The 31-year-old forward had started the game as a sub, but scored within two minutes of his introduction as a sub after 65 minutes.
Salomon Kalou, wearing his favoured number eight international shirt, played the entire 90 minutes for the Elephants, who progress as top of Group E in African qualifying, with one game to spare.
Michael Ballack captained Germany as they secured their place in next summer's tournament after a 1-0 win in Russia. Yury Zhirkov was on the opposite side, and came close to equalising but will now go into a play-off to determine whether he follows his clubmate to South Africa.
Branislav Ivanovic was the fourth successful Chelsea man of the evening, playing the entirety of Serbia's 5-0 win over Romania.
That victory ensured they could not be caught by France at the top of Group 7, despite the French beating the Faroe Islands 5-0 in Guingamp.
Starter Nicolas Anelka scored the fourth goal late on, while Florent Malouda was a 62nd minute sub.
The French will now go into a playoff situation having sewn up the second spot behind the Serbs.
Things are looking less optimistic for Petr Cech and the Czech Republic despite their 2-0 win over Poland on Saturday. The Chelsea man kept a clean sheet in the win but a surprise victory for Slovenia away at Slovakia make them favourites to finish second behind the Slovaks in Group 3.
Miroslav Stoch played the entire game in Slovakia's 2-0 defeat, earning himself a first half booking.
Elsewhere Portugal leapfrogged Sweden to go second in Group One behind winners Denmark, by beating Hungary 3-0 at home.
Jose Bosingwa, Ricardo Carvalho and Deco all played the 90 minutes, while Paulo Ferreira was an unused substitute. A win over Malta in midweek will guarantee a playoff spot.
Despite already having qualified, England fielded a full strength side away in Ukraine, with John Terry as captain, and Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard both deployed from the start.
All three played the 90 minutes but things did not go to plan, as England, reduced to 10 men after goalkeeper Robert Green was sent off, eventually lost 1-0 after Cole lost possession before deflecting a shot into his own net. Ukraine skipper Andriy Shevchenko also missed a penalty in the game.
Incidentally, the game fell on the 10th anniversary of Lampard's first England appearance, a 2-1 win over Belgium at the Stadium of Light. This was his 75thcap, and for the record, it was Cole's 77th and Terry's 57th.
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