2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa - - Argentina, Slovakia, Switzerland and Honduras Booked Their Places For Finals in South Africa

Argentina, Slovakia, Switzerland and Honduras became the latest nations to book their place at next summer's World Cup in South Africa.

Diego Maradona's Argentina progressed as substitute Mario Bolatti hit a later winner to end Uruguay's hopes of snatching the final automatic qualification berth in the South American zone.

Bolatti fired home with six minutes remaining and Uruguay, who ended the night with 10 men after Martin Caceres' dismissal, now need to prevail in a play-off against Costa Rica if they are to join Argentina in the finals.

At the start of play Ecuador also had a chance of claiming either the final automatic qualifying berth or the play-off spot, but a 1-0 loss to Chile ended their hopes. Honduras made it to the World Cup for the first time since 1982, claiming the third and final automatic qualification berth in the North, Central America and Caribbean zone with a 1-0 victory over El Salvador. Costa Rica, meanwhile, must go through the play-offs after a 2-2 draw with the United States.

In the European zone, Slovakia relied on a Seweryn Gancarczyk own goal after three minutes to beat Poland, while the Swiss played out a goalless draw with 10-man Israel. For Slovakia it meant they qualified for the finals for the first time as an independent nation, as they topped a fiercely-competitive Group Three.

Slovenia claimed second in the group, and a play-off place, after they overcome San Marino 3-0 to dash the slim hopes of Czech Republic and Northern Ireland who could have leapfrogged them.

Croatia were the highest-profile casualties as their qualification bid ultimately ended in failure despite a 2-1 win in Kazakhstan. Slaven Bilic's side had needed Ukraine to slip up in Andorra, but that unlikely scenario never materialised as the eastern Europeans cantered into the play-offs with a 6-0 triumph.

Portugal's stuttering qualification campaign will continue into the play-offs after they defeated Malta 4-0 in Guimaraes. Greece will join them among the four seeded teams in the play-offs after they defeated Luxembourg 2-1 in Athens to clinch second place in Group Two.

Russia and France are the other two seeded teams, and they had already sewed up second place in their respective groups before Wednesday night's action. The other four teams through to the play-offs are Slovenia, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Elsewhere, Bosnia-Herzegovina lost 5-2 to Spain, who secured a perfect qualification record of 10 wins from 10 games.