France twice came from behind to defeat Belarus 4-2 and draw level with Group I leader Spain, which has a game in hand.
Elsewhere, Switzerland won 2-0 at Norway in Group E and needs just one victory from its last two games, against Albania away and Slovenia at home, to finish first. Bosnia-Herzegovina remained ahead of Greece on goal difference in Group G after coming from behind to beat Slovakia 2-1.
The top team from each of the nine European groups qualifies automatically for Brazil. The best eight runners-up go into playoffs in November and that is likely to include Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, with Russia having two easy final games.
Spain wasn't in World Cup qualifying action but still played Tuesday, twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Chile in Geneva.
At halftime in their respective matches, Italy and the Dutch were on course to blow their chances of sealing qualification early but their star forwards came through for them when it mattered.
Three minutes after Giorgio Chiellini canceled out Libor Kozak's opener for the Czechs in the 19th, Balotelli stepped up after being brought down in the area to coolly convert his penalty. The AC Milan striker had missed a string of great chances before maintaining his record of never missing a spot kick.
Kozak's goal meant Buffon couldn't mark his special night with a clean sheet but he will still never forget matching Fabio Cannavaro's appearance record at the Juventus Stadium the home of the Turin club where he has spent most of his club career.
Italy has missed only one World Cup since 1934, but has never qualified with two matches to play.
``It's a great satisfaction,'' Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said. ``This is a very talented team which always manages to give its maximum. I saw a great Italy.''
Czech coach Michal Bilek tendered his resignation after the match, with his team fourth in the group and unlikely to reach the playoffs.
The Netherlands can also start planning for next summer's finals, although it took goals from Van Persie in the 50th and 55th minute to squeeze past a team ranked 205th in the world. With Romania losing at home to Turkey for the first time since 1925, the Dutch can't be caught.
``We've qualified, that's step one,'' said Van Persie, who moved to 38 goals for his country two off the record held by Patrick Kluivert. ``Now have to start working toward the World Cup.''
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic grabbing Sweden's winner in one of the early matches in the latest batch of qualifiers, the Germans knew they would have to wait until next month to progress. They had little trouble seeing off the Faeroes, who were reduced to 10 men late on, with Per Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil and Thomas Mueller scoring the goals.
Austria can still catch Sweden for second place after beating Ireland 1-0 in Vienna.
A nail-biting finish is guaranteed in England's group after Roy Hodgson's side featuring Frank Lampard in his 100th international appearance held on for a goalless draw in Kiev to stay in command with two games left. Three points separates the English from Montenegro, Ukraine (who are both one behind) and fourth-place Poland, which thrashed San Marino 5-1.
Poland must still travel to Ukraine and England, which first plays Montenegro at home.
Russia only has to beat Azerbaijan and Luxembourg the group's bottom two teams away to qualify for its first World Cup since 2002 and condemn Portugal to the playoffs. Vasiliy Berezutsky, Aleksandr Kokorin and Denis Glushakov scored for Fabio Capello's side in Moscow.
Elsewhere in Group F, Luxembourg beat Northern Ireland 3-2 for only its fourth win in 122 World Cup qualifiers and its first at home since 1972.
-AP
