Hamburg  - Germany and France struggled to vital wins in World Cup qualifying matches Wednesday to keep alive their respective hopes of automatic qualification for next year's finals in South Africa.

Former world and European champions France needed a goal from debutant Toulouse striker Andre-Pierre Gignac on 42 minutes, which was set up by Chelsea's Florent Malouda, to secure a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Faroe Islands in a Group 7 clash in Torshavn.

Meanwhile in Baku, strikes in either half from Bastian Schweinsteiger and Miroslav Klose ensured a 2-0 victory for Joachim Loew's Germany against Azerbaijan in Group 4.

France move within five points of group leaders Serbia thanks to the win, and have also got a game in hand. Raymond Domenech's side next take on Romania on September 5 before traveling to play Serbia four days later in what looks like being the group decider.

Germany's win sees them open up a four-point gap on Russia in Group 4, although Joachim Loew's side have now played one game more than their chief rivals and must face them in October in a fixture likely to decide which country gets the single automatic qualifying berth.

Germany had to survive a few early scares before a Schweinsteiger strike from the edge on 12 minutes settled the visitors' nerves.

Klose, who had been an injury doubt before the match, ensured the three points on 54 minutes, tapping home from five metres after a Mario Gomez shot came back off the woodwork.

The victory over the side of former Germany coach Berti Vogts means Germany now top Group 4 with 19 points from seven games, followed by Russia on 15. Finland sit third on 10 points from six games.

In Group 9, Scotland's hopes of booking a play-off place took a major blow after they went down 4-0 to Norway in Oslo.

The Netherlands are already guaranteed the automatic qualifying spot in the group and Scotland went into the match hoping to put some space between them and their rivals.

Instead, Craig Burley's side were reduced to 10 men after just 34 minutes when Gary Caldwell was sent off for a second bookable offence for pulling back John Carew.

John Arne Riise fired in the resultant free-kick courtesy of a huge deflection to put Norway in front and Morten Gamst Pedersen doubled the home side's lead just before the break.

Erik Huseklepp made it 3-0 on the hour-mark when Carew's shot rebounded off both posts and it should have been four shortly afterward when Carew's shot clearly crossed the line but the referee waved play on.

Pedersen completed the rout with a curling free-kick shortly before the final whistle.

The result sees Norway move within a point of third-placed Scotland, who remain on seven points behind Macedonia on goal difference and 14 adrift of the Dutch.

Only the winner in each of the nine European qualifying groups is guaranteed a place at next year's finals in South Africa while eight of the best second-placed finishers enter a play-off for the final four places.  (dpa)