Football: the best pictures from the World Cup qualifiers

The Dinamo Stadium in Minsk, the scene for England's World Cup qualifier against Belarus Photograph: Mike Egerton/Empics

England and Belarus fans enjoy a kickabout Photograph: Maxim Malinovsky/AFP

Jussi Jaaskelainen despairs as Finland's defence crumbles against Russia. Guus Hiddink's side won 3-0 thanks to two own-goals by Finland and a late Andrei Arshavin strike Photograph: Yuri Kadobnov/AFP

Everton's Tim Cahill finds the target as Australia thrash Qatar 4-0 to go top of their World Cup qualifying group Photograph: Jonathan Wood/Getty

Libor Sionko of the Czech Republic toes the ball away from a high-flying Branko Ilic of Slovenia Photograph: Michael Cizek/AFP

An unconventional goal celebration by Steven Gerrard after he opened the scoring in Minsk Photograph: Michael Regan/Agencies

Kyle Lafferty gets stuck in as Northern Ireland take on San Marino. David Healey saved the home side's blushes against the minnows of the group with a goal on the half-hour Photograph: Lee Smith/AFP

The European Champions Spain were given a rough ride when they faced Belgium at the Koning Boudewijn Stadium. The hosts took the lead after six minutes but Andres Iniesta equalised before half-time Photograph: John Thys/AFP

A chance goes begging for Craig Bellamy as Wales take on Germany in Möenchengladbach Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/AFP

Croatia put their recent poor results behind them by putting Andorra to the sword in Group Six Photograph: Denis Lovrovic/AFP

Alberto Aquilani looks pretty in pink as he celebrates his second goal for Italy against Montenegro Photograph: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP

There was trouble in Bratislava as Poland fans clashed with Slovak police. Two goals in two minutes by Stanislav Sestak gave Slovakia victory and knocked Poland off the top of Group Three Photograph: Samuel Kubani/AFP