Hamburg - European champions Spain and England are hoping to maintain their perfect records to reach next year's World Cup finals, while Portugal and France need victories to keep their hopes alive in decisive European qualifiers on Wednesday.

Several European nations are poised to join already-qualified Netherlands if results go their way as the race for South Africa reaches the closing straight before next month's final matches.

Serbia could book their place with a win over France, leaving the 1998 world champions and 2006 runners-up scrambling for the consolation of a play-off place.

Slovakia and Denmark will also seal qualification if results go their way, but for highly-fancied Portugal failure to come up with a win in Hungary will probably spell the end to their dwindling hopes.

Spain are keen to clinch qualification by beating Estonia in Group 5 in Merida. If Bosnia fail to beat third-placed Turkey - who badly need a win - it will be a ninth successive World Cup finals for Spain.

England - who like Spain have won all their matches - will qualify if they beat Group 6 rivals Croatia, who still have hopes of winning the group but are more likely to be competing with Ukraine - away to Belarus - for the play-off place.

The encounter at Wembley is an opportunity for England to avenge a 3-2 home defeat to Croatia in November 2007 which cost them a place at Euro 2008.

"There is unfinished business for all of us," Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard said.

"The result and the performance that night really hurt us. It was definitely my lowest moment in an England shirt. It has taken a long time to get over it. I'm still not over it now, to be honest."

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic said England were a different team now under Italian manager Fabio Capello, but he was still confident of another victory.

"They have some advantages but they are also missing something from their game," he said.

"All I will say is that they are definitely missing something and we know what it is. But of course I am not going to tell you now what it is. It is our secret."

Serbia have it in their hands to qualify while at the same time condemn Raymond Domenech's France side to a race for second place.

Much in Group 7 would then depend on the results between Romania, who drew 1-1 with Les Bleus in Paris on Saturday - and Austria, and Lithuania's trip to the Faroe Islands.

"The top spot is still up for grabs. I repeat it would have been better to win but we just have to regroup and focus on Wednesday. We have to show character," Domenech said.

Group 1 leaders Denmark will take a giant step towards South Africa with a win in Albania - which could even prove enough depending on the other results.

However Sweden will expect victory in Malta before their clash clash with the Danes next month, while Hungary host Portugal before their return meeting next month, games which will be decisive for both sides.

Direct qualification for Portugal is no longer possible, and they will need the help of other results even to reach the play-offs.

"We have to raise our heads and keep believing. The game is not over and while it lasts we have to believe," coach Carlos Queiroz said.

Slovakia are at Group 3 rivals Northern Ireland knowing they can't be caught if they win and if Slovenia and Poland only draw.

However, the group still appears open, with Slovakia still to face Slovenia and Poland next month, while the Czech Republic should close ground at home to San Marino before they host Poland.

Germany will be expected to beat visiting Azerbaijan, while hoping Group 4 rivals Russia - a point behind - slip up at Wales, before the two meet in Moscow next month. Finland, still in with an outside chance, are at Liechtenstein.

World champions Italy take on Bulgaria in Turin as they seek to extend their lead in Group 8 over Ireland who are not in action.

A first defeat for the unbeaten Bulgarians would end their hopes of direct qualification and give them only an outside chance of a play-off place.

Scotland take on runaway leaders Netherlands in Group 9 in what is now a race for second place, with rivals Norway and Macedonia - both three points behind the Scots - up against each other. (dpa)