( CNN ) -- Defending champions Spain regained control of their qualifying destiny for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil when beating France 1-0 in a crucial encounter in Paris . A home win in the Stade de France , where France lifted the 1998 World Cup , would have given coach Didier Deschamps ' side a five-point margin with just three qualifiers remaining . Such a scenario would have potentially banished Spain to the ignominy of having to qualify for Brazil via the playoffs but now it is their vanquished foes who appear set for such a fate . In a tight encounter , both sides wasted fine openings -- with Franck Ribery at fault for the hosts while Xavi was unusually wayward for the visitors -- before Pedro bundled home after 58 minutes . The victory takes Spain to 11 points in Group I , one more than France , with the other teams in the group -- Georgia , Belarus and Finland -- seemingly out of contention . `` I am happy because the three points put us in a good situation , but also because we stuck to our style , '' said Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque . `` We could have won by a greater margin in the end . '' Only one team automatically qualifies for the World Cup from each of the nine European groups , with the eight best runners-up going into a playoff in November . The defeat was the first in a competitive match as French coach for Deschamps , who saw young Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba sent off for two yellow cards . Like the French , Roy Hodgson 's England also had to settle for second place on an evening when plans for group supremacy were ripped up . The English had been looking to inflict a first Group H defeat for leaders Montenegro , a country of little more than 600,000 inhabitants , but the Balkan nation retained their two-point lead over the visitors when drawing 1-1 . Wayne Rooney , who was sent off on his last visit to Podgorica , thought he had atoned when heading the 1966 world champions into an early lead only for the hosts to dominate the second half and deservedly equalize through Dejan Damjanovic . `` We 're still confident we can finish top of the group , '' said England captain Steven Gerrard , whose side could be five points adrift before they host Moldova in September . Group rivals Poland and Ukraine , who co-hosted the 2012 European Championship , also won , beating San Marino and Moldova respectively , to close the gap on the Group H leaders . Elsewhere , Israel -- the only country to have played World Cup qualifiers in five different continents -- boosted their chances of returning to the finals for the first time since 1970 when winning 2-0 in Northern Ireland . The victory takes them to 11 points , level with a Portuguese side who beat 10-man Azerbaijan 2-0 in Baku , as both sides battle for second place behind Fabio Capello 's Russia , who lead the group with 12 points having played two games less . Russia , who drew 1-1 with Brazil in a friendly on Monday night in London , are one of only two European sides to boast 100 % records , with Holland maintaining theirs on Tuesday as the Group D leaders thumped Romania 4-0 at home to earn their sixth straight win . Group rivals Turkey , who finished third at the 2002 World Cup , endured a disappointing night as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by a resurgent Hungary , with a team that reached the 1954 World Cup final continuing to suggest signs of a long-overdue revival . Having gifted the visitors their equalizer , the Turks trail the Dutch by 11 points with only four qualifiers left . Between them , Germany and Italy have won the World Cup on seven occasions -- and both maintained control of their groups with comfortable victories on Tuesday . Mario Balotelli continued his recent hot streak by scoring both goals in a 2-0 win in Malta , to keep Italy -- who have a game in hand -- three points clear of second-placed Group B side Bulgaria . The Germans -- who lead Group C by eight points -- defeated Kazakhstan 4-1 but the visitors had a moment to savour when Genrikh Shmidtgal found the back of the net after 46 minutes , only the Kazakhs ' second goal from their six qualifiers . One of the most intriguing battles for automatic World Cup qualification comes in Group A where both Belgium and Croatia are tied on 16 points apiece , after their first six matches . Heralding a special group of players including Eden Hazard , Christian Benteke , Moussa Dembele and Vincent Kompany among others , the Belgians beat Macedonia 1-0 at home as Chelsea midfielder Hazard settled the contest shortly after the hour . The goal looked as if it could be decisive as Croatia trailed to an early Gareth Bale penalty in Wales with thirteen minutes left , before goals from Dejan Lovren and Eduardo turned the Swansea clash around and ensured Group A is likely to go all the way to the wire .
World champions Spain beat France 1-0 in Paris to regain Group I control . England are held 1-1 in Montenegro as the Balkan nation maintain grip on Group H. Belgium and Croatia both win to maintain thrilling Group A battle .