Spain and the Netherlands continued to keep clean sheet with wins on Friday in the 2012 European Championship qualifying to dominate respective groups.
Spain, the current world and European champion, rallied to a 2-1 victory over second-place Czech Republic in Group I thanks to Barcelona striker David Villa's double in the space of four second-half minutes.
Villa extended his national-record haul to 47 goals with a deflected shot and a penalty in Granada as the Spanish moved six points clear with a fourth straight win.
The Dutch were also playing the closest challenger in their pool but enjoyed a much more comfortable evening, routing Hungary 4-0 for a fifth win in a row in Group E.
Premier League stars Rafael van der Vaart, Dirk Kuyt and Robin van Persie were joined on the scoresheet by Barcelona winger Ibrahim Afellay as free-scoring Netherlands ran riot in Budapest.
Italy and France, two European powers looking to rebuild their reputations after torrid World Cup campaigns in South Africa, also claimed victories on Friday to build healthy cushions in their groups.
The Italians edged past Slovenia 1-0 through a 73rd-minute goal by Brazilian-born midfielder Thiago Motta to go six points clear in Group C.
Roma defender Philippe Mexes and Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff were the scorers for Group D leader France in its routine 2-0 win at last-place Luxembourg. Les Bleus are now four points ahead of second-place Belarus.
Elsewhere, Serbia rallied to beat Northern Ireland 2-1 and Belgium triumphed 2-0 at Austria, with both winners going joint second in Groups C and A respectively.
Germany and Norway, the other two teams to have 100 percent records so far in qualifying, play qualifiers on Saturday.
Spain, the current world and European champion, rallied to a 2-1 victory over second-place Czech Republic in Group I thanks to Barcelona striker David Villa's double in the space of four second-half minutes.
Villa extended his national-record haul to 47 goals with a deflected shot and a penalty in Granada as the Spanish moved six points clear with a fourth straight win.
The Dutch were also playing the closest challenger in their pool but enjoyed a much more comfortable evening, routing Hungary 4-0 for a fifth win in a row in Group E.
Premier League stars Rafael van der Vaart, Dirk Kuyt and Robin van Persie were joined on the scoresheet by Barcelona winger Ibrahim Afellay as free-scoring Netherlands ran riot in Budapest.
Italy and France, two European powers looking to rebuild their reputations after torrid World Cup campaigns in South Africa, also claimed victories on Friday to build healthy cushions in their groups.
The Italians edged past Slovenia 1-0 through a 73rd-minute goal by Brazilian-born midfielder Thiago Motta to go six points clear in Group C.
Roma defender Philippe Mexes and Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff were the scorers for Group D leader France in its routine 2-0 win at last-place Luxembourg. Les Bleus are now four points ahead of second-place Belarus.
Elsewhere, Serbia rallied to beat Northern Ireland 2-1 and Belgium triumphed 2-0 at Austria, with both winners going joint second in Groups C and A respectively.
Germany and Norway, the other two teams to have 100 percent records so far in qualifying, play qualifiers on Saturday.
