In Group B, leaders France maintained their lead with a 1-0 victory over Georgia thanks to a Samir Nasri strike, as a brace from Fabio Quagliarella led world champions Italy to a 2-0 win in Lithuania.

France are top with 18 points, while Italy kept up the chase with the victory to reach 16 points in second place. Scotland also won 2-0 at Faroe Islands to lie 3rd on 15 points.

In Hamburg, Group D leaders Germany edged past Slovakia 2-1 to reach 19 points and open a five-point gap with second-placed Czech Republic.

In Group E, David Beckham inspired England to a 3-0 win at Estonia, as the Real Madrid midfielder set up two goals for Peter Crouch and Michael Owen, after Joe Cole scored the opener.

However, England remained fourth with 14 points, as the unfashionable Israel won 2-0 at Andorra to share first place with Croatia on 17 points, the Croatians drew 0-0 with Russia who lie 3rd on 15.

Spain registered an expected 2-0 win at Liechtenstein in Group F, with a double from David Villa who missed a penalty as well.

La Seleccion jumped to second place with 15 points, but Sweden remained top on 18 points after thrashing Iceland 5-0 in Stockholm.