There was World Cup qualification joy for Daniel Agger as Denmark secured a place at next year's finals on a busy evening of international action on Saturday.

A 1-0 victory over Sweden assured the Danes of their participation in the 2010 tournament, with Agger playing the entire 90 minutes at the Parken Stadion.

However, Martin Skrtel's Slovakia will be forced to wait a little longer to book their spot in South Africa after the Slovaks were beaten 2-0 at home to Slovenia.

The Liverpool centre-back featured for the whole game in Bratislava and will be hoping his national side, who still top Group 3, can seal their passage to next summer's showpiece away to Poland on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, Steven Gerrard played for the first-half and Glen Johnson lasted the 90 minutes as 10-man England went down 1-0 to Ukraine at the Dnipro Stadium to bring their 100 per cent record in qualifying to an end - though the Three Lions have already clinched a spot at the finals.

Spain, however, were able to maintain their flawless record in Group 5 with a 2-1 success away to Armenia to make it nine wins out of nine.

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina was selected between the sticks for La Furia Roja, while Fernando Torres was handed a 54 minute run out. Albert Riera was an unused substitute.

Yossi Benayoun helped Israel bolster their qualification prospects as the Reds utility man captained them to a 3-1 success against Moldova.   

Earlier in the day, Dirk Kuyt started for Holland in their friendly draw with Australia in Sydney. The Reds' No.18 was replaced by Anfield colleague Ryan Babel after 51 minutes of the goalless stalemate.