France, World Cup finalists Holland and Italy all picked up away wins in Friday qualifying matches for the 2012 European Championships - while David Villa's predatory qualities rescued world champions Spain as they beat the Czech Republic.
France beat tiny Luxembourg 2-0 to continue their resurrection under new boss Laurent Blanc after a catastrophic World Cup under predecessor Raymond Domenech.
Philippe Mexes and Yoann Gourcuff were the men on target in either half and the win means France now lead opening day Group D conquerors Belarus by four points - having played a game more - after posting a sixth win on the trot to all but erase the traumas of the World Cup.
Italy meanwhile thanked Brazilian-born Thiago Motta for a typically gritty 1-0 win in Slovenia while Villa became Spain's all-time top marksman with a late brace - one from the penalty spot - to floor the Czechs 2-1 in Grenada after Jaroslav Plasil had broken the deadlock.
Spain roared back and Villa claimed his 45th and 46th goals for La Furia Roja in quick succession to surpass Raul in the goalscoring charts.
Raul scored his 44 goals in 102 matches but Villa has outdone him in just 72 appearances.
Spain, for whom Villa's Barcelona teammate Xavi won his 100th cap, are romping through Group I with four wins in as many matches for a six-point cushion over the Czechs.
Motta, in only his second game for the Italians, netted with 17 minutes remaining in Ljubljana, ensuring the Azzurri took charge of Group C.
Slovenia managed few attempts on goal and much of the hosts' passion could be seen not on the pitch but in the stands as supporters of rival outfits Maribor and Olimpia Ljubljana fought amongst themselves before kick-off.
With Serbia coming from behind to edge out battling Northern Ireland 2-1 in Belgrade, unbeaten Italy are now six points clear with half the qualification campaign behind them.
Northern Ireland looked set to cause a stir at the Serbs' expense when Gareth McAuley headed the visitors into the lead from Chris Brunt's free-kick in the 15th minute for his second international goal.
But Marko Pantelic levelled 20 minutes after the break and Zoran Tosic then scored a neat winner after a surging run by Milos Ninkovic with 16 minutes remaining at a practically empty Red Star Stadium.
Serbia had to play the match behind closed doors after crowd trouble marred their match against Italy last year.
World Cup finalists Holland are going well in Group E, and made it five wins out of five in outclassing second-placed Hungary 4-0 in Budapest.
Rafael van der Vaart bagged the opener after just eight minutes and Ibrahim Afellay made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time before Dirk Kuyt and Robin van Persie wrapped up a one-sided affair.
Belgium were another side who pulled out a win on their travels with a 2-0 success at Austria in Group A, where Germany are five points clear ahead of Saturday's home banker against Kazakhstan.
Axel Witsel scored both the Red Devils' goals as the Belgians went joint second with the Austrians.
World champions Spain - three wins out of three and ten goals scored to date to lead Group I - were hosting the Czech Republic in Friday's late match in Granada.
Joining Germany in action Saturday are Fabio Capello's England, who travel to Wales looking to overhaul Montenegro in Group G.
RESULTS
Austria 0 Belgium 2 (Axel 6, 60)
Slovenia 0 Italy 1 (Motta 73)
Serbia 2 (Pantelic 65, Tosic 74) Northern Ireland 1 (McAuley 40)
Luxembourg 0 France 2
(Mexes 28, Gourcuff 72)
Hungary 0 Netherlands 4 (van der Vaart 8, Afellay 45,
Kuyt 54, van Persie 62)
Spain 2 (Villa 69, 73-pen) Czech Republic 1 (Plasil 29)
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