Germany routed Austria 6-2 to became the first team to qualify for Euro 2012 while top-ranked Netherlands crushed San Marino 11-0 yesterday to move a step closer to the finals.

Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Oezil scored a hat-trick.

Oezil was clearly happy to be back in his home town, scoring in the eighth and the 23rd minutes before Lukas Podolski effectively killed the game with Germany’s third in the 28th.

Marko Arnautovic pulled one back in the 42nd minute, but Oezil completed his hat-trick after the break when he rounded off a counterattack in the 47th.

Martin Harnik scored another Austrian consolation goal in the 51st, before Germany substitutes Andre Schuerrle and Mario Goetze rounded off the scoring with goals in the 84th and 88th, respectively.

Germany have a maximum 24 points after winning all eight of their games in Group A.

The Dutch are on the brink of joining them in Ukraine and Poland, with Arsenal striker Robin van Persie’s four-goal haul helping preserve their perfect record and pulling them six points clear in Group E.

A 90th minute strike by Gergely Rudolf earned Hungary a 2-1 victory over Sweden same Group.

Rudolf tapped home a pass from Tamas Priskin right in front of Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson.

Hungary opened the scoring in the 44th, when Imre Szabics received a pinpoint pass from Rudolf and lifted the ball from 12 metres over Isaksson, who was late coming out.

Sweden equalized on the hour mark, when Johan Elmander took the ball into the penalty area, waited for the challenge from Hungary goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly and then provided a short pass for Christian Wilhemsson to steer the ball into an empty net.

The Netherlands are top of the group, followed by Sweden and Hungary.

France beat Albania 2-1 inanother Euro 2012 qualifier yesaterday despite a shaky defensive performance to increase their lead atop Group D.

France striker Karim Benzema opened the scoring with a low drive in the 11th minute and Yann M’Vila doubled the lead by firing home a diagonal shot in the 18th.

Albania forward Erjon Bogdani beat goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to pull one back in the 46th.

The hosts had spells of domination in the second half but France held on to their lead.

France top Group D with 16 points, three clear of Bosnia-Herzegovina. European champions in 2000, France are undefeated in their last 12 matches and will visit Romania on Tuesday.

Marko Pantelic’s second-half goal earned Serbia a hard-fought 1-0 win over Northern Ireland, putting the visitors in pole position to clinch second place in Group C.

The Olympiakos striker pounced on a poor backpass by Steven Davis, rounded goalkeeper Lee Camp and slotted the ball into the empty net in the 67th minute at Windsor Park.

The victory saw Serbia leapfrog the Irish and move level on points with Slovenia, having played a game less.