Spain Victorious in the Stade de France

After one of their most unimpressive competitive results in recent memory, Spain showed why they are World and European Champions last night with a victory over rivals France that took them back to the top of Group I.

Pedro scored the only goal of a game that Spain largely controlled in the Stade de France.   While France came back into the match a little after the opening goal, they were hampered by going down to ten men, after Paul Pogba was sent off on 76 minutes.

The result is hugely significant, as after a draw in the reverse fixture in Spain, and against Finland in their last outing, Spain knew anything other than a victory would give France the opportunity to secure first place by winning all their remaining fixtures against lower opposition.  Now Spain are back in control of their own destiny.

Elsewhere in Europe, Holland recorded their sixth victory out of six by beating Romania 4-0, with Robin Van Persie overcoming a little bit of a recent drought to score twice.  Italy beat Malta 2-0, thanks to the revitalised Mario Balotelli, and England failed to defeat a Montenegro side that continues to impress, and leads the way in Group H.

Germany recorded their second win over Kazakhstan in a week.  Having played in Kazakhstan on Friday, the teams may well have shared a plane to Germany for the return fixture.   Croatia and Portugal remain deadlocked together on 16 points each in Group A, while Israel and Portugal moved closer to Russia in Group F, as Russia did not play and now have two games in hand on the teams behind them.

In South America, Argentina dropped points in their quest to qualify for the finals in their greatest rivals home territory, however when their 1-1 draw against Bolivia is compared with the last time they traveled there in a World Cup qualifier where they suffered a 6-1 defeat, it starts to look like a point gained.

Bolivia play their games high above sea level, so anyone not used to the altitude finds it extremely tough to play there, and with only four days since their last match, Argentina did not have time to acclimatise.

In Asia, Australia battled back to scrape a 2-2 draw with Oman which leaves them with some work to do if they are to be in Brazil in 2014.  Japan suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Jordan that makes their passage seem less assured.  The Korea Republic (South Korea) were the only major power in Asian football to record a win, and even they left it late.

Mexico played the USA in a match which is fast becoming the rivalry to attract Americans to the sport.  However this match will not have endeared football to many Americans, as while a 0-0 draw is a good result on Mexican soil, the lack of goals will bemuse American viewers as to the attraction of the sport.