France managed just a 1-1 draw at Israel yesterday, leaving the teams tied atop their group in a battle to reach next year's World Cup finals.
David Trezeguet scored in the 50th minute for France, but Walid Badier tied it for Israel in the 83rd. France was playing with 10 men at the time because Trezeguet was sent off in the 55th for head-butting.
He faces a three-match ban from qualifying play for the straight red card.
France and Israel have 10 points apiece to lead their qualifying group. The winners of Europe's eight groups qualify automatically for next year's World Cup finals in Germany. The best two second-place teams also advance, with the other six going into a playoff for three spots.
France won the World Cup in 1998 but was eliminated in the first round in 2002.
"I'm disappointed by the result," French Coach Raymond Domenech told Agence France-Presse. "After the sending-off [of Trezeguet], we really suffered when they pushed forward."
On a night of 21 games across Europe at the halfway point in qualifying, England and Poland picked up wins in their tightly contested group.
Steven Gerrard and David Beckham scored as England beat Azerbaijan, 2-0, in Newcastle to improve to 16 points and remain one point in front of Poland.
Azerbaijan was ranked 108 places lower than England in FIFA's most recent rankings. But it nearly took the lead in the seventh minute when Gurban Gurbanov sprinted clear before shooting wide.
"It was difficult," Gerrard told the BBC. "Azerbaijan weren't the toughest opponents but we had to be professional. We're confident of winning this group."
The Poles defeated Northern Ireland, 1-0, getting a goal in the 86th minute from Maciej Zurawski.
Ukraine stayed atop its group with a 1-0 victory over Denmark on Andriy Voronin's goal in the 68th minute. Ukraine has 17 points in seven games. It is trying to reach its first World Cup finals.
Defending European Champion Greece is second in the group with 14 points.
Slovakia and Portugal are tied atop their group following their 1-1 draw in Bratislava. They have 14 points, three ahead of Russia.
Serbia drew, 0-0, in Belgrade against Spain. Serbia improved to 11 points and Spain moved up to nine in that group.
• SOUTH AMERICA: World champion Brazil needed Emerson's goal in the 68th minute to tie, 1-1, with host Uruguay. Argentina defeated visiting Colombia, 1-0, on a goal by Hernan Crespo.
Gustavo Morinigo and Jose Cardozo scored as Paraguay downed Chile, 2-1, in Asuncion.
• NORTH AMERICA: Mexico played to a 1-1 tie at Panama. Costa Rica and host Trinidad and Tobago played to a 0-0 tie.
• ASIA: Japan and South Korea kept their World Cup bids alive. South Korea defeated Uzbekistan, 2-1, and Japan topped Bahrain, 1-0. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia played to a scoreless tie, and Iran topped North Korea, 2-0.
