Euro round-up: Anelka's clear vision puts France on course for finals

Fog and freezing rain prevented France's flight to the Faroe Islands for their Group B European Championships qualifier from landing at Torshavn until the morning of yesterday's match. Thereafter there was no doubting the clear vision of Les Bleus.

Raymond Domenech's side raced into a two-goal lead inside 10 minutes to set up a thumping 6-0 win over the Faroes. The Bolton Wanderers striker Nicolas Anelka opened the scoring after just six minutes from Franck Ribery's cross and two minutes later Thierry Henry fired France's second into the bottom corner, his 41st international goal, the same total as Michel Platini.

After the break the introduction of substitutes freshened up the French approach and five minutes into the second half Karim Benzema headed in the first of his two goals, from a Ribery cross. Jerome Rothen's free-kick, Benzema's second, from a pass by Henry, and Hatem Ben Afra's late strike wrapped up the scoring. France need wins against Lithuania, in Nantes on Wednesday, and the Ukraine in Kiev in November to qualify.

In Gomel, there was an away win of hen's teeth rarity for Luxembourg when Alphonse Leweck scored in the fifth minute of injury time to earn a 1-0 victory over Belarus in Group G. Minnow mauling was restored in Group D, however, when Slovakia administered a 7-0 thrashing to San Marino.