0 victory out of an unconvincing performance in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier in the Faroe Islands while Germany labored to a 2-0 win in Azerbaijan. France had forward Andre-Pierre Gignac's first international goal to thank for a triumph that lifts it within five points of Group Seven leaders Serbia with a game in hand. With striker Thierry Henry injured and playmaker Franck Ribery only fit enough to come on in the second half, the former world champion struggled to shine even though it never looked like conceding against dogged opponent. Azerbaijan was no pushovers in Group Four either. It made a bright start in Baku only for midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger to give Germany the lead against the run of play, driving the ball in from the edge of the box in the 12th minute. The visitor rode its luck on a couple of occasions before Miroslav Klose made up for a dreadful first-half miss by doubling the lead with a header in the 54th. Germany leads the group with 19 points from seven games, four more than second-placed Russia who has played six matches. Norway moved off the bottom of Group Nine and revived its campaign by thrashing 10-man Scotland 4-0 in Oslo with Morten Gamst Pedersen grabbing a double. It has six points from as many games, one behind second-placed Macedonia. The Netherlands has already qualified from the group. The match turned when Scotland's Gary Caldwell got himself sent off after two yellow cards in quick succession and gave away the free kick that enabled John Arne Riise to score the first goal. Slovenia moved up to third in Group Three by crushing San Marino 5-0 at home. Croatia won 3-1 in Belarus to go solo in second place in Group Six and keep alive its slender hopes of catching runaway leader England, who is still seven points in front after winning its seven games so far. The group winners qualify for the finals in South Africa, with the eight best runners-up going through to a two-legged playoff. Favorites win In friendlies played across Europe, European champion Spain hit back from two goals down to beat Macedonia 3-2, England rallied from 2-0 behind to draw 2-2 with the Netherlands in Amsterdam, Argentina beat Russia 3-2 in Moscow and Brazil captured a 1-0 victory over Estonia. Portugal outplayed Liechtenstein 3-0 despite the absence of flu victim Cristiano Ronaldo but World Cup holder Italy was held 0-0 by Switzerland in Basel, its third game in a row without scoring. Fabio Cannavaro made his 127th international appearance to beat Paolo Maldini's record for Italy. Macedonia threatened a major shock in Skopje when Goran Pandev netted twice against Spain. But three goals in four minutes by Fernando Torres, Gerard Pique and Albert Riera turned the game around. After defensive blunders had handed first-half goals to Dirk Kuyt and Rafael van der Vaart, Jermaine Defoe came off the bench to score twice for England. Argentina took some pressure off coach Diego Maradona by beating Russia 3
