The Premier hit men: Van Persie, Suarez, Hazard, Dzeko, Sigurdsson, Hernandez and Giroud on target in World Cup qualifiers
By AIDAN MCCARTNEY
The Premier League might not be represented in the last eight of the Champions League this year but our domestic stars have proven once again they can still cut it on the international stage.
Chelsea's Eden Hazard, Manchester City's Edin Dzeko, Tottenham Gylfi Sigurdsson, Arsenal's Olivier Giroud and Manchester United's Robin Van Persie and Javier Hernandez were all among the goals for their respective countries during tonight's World Cup qualifiers.
France remain in control of Group I as they completed a simple 3-1 victory over Georgia in Paris. A first-half header from Gunners front-man Giroud was followed up by efforts from the outstanding Mathieu Valbuena and Frank Ribery.
In the goals: Hazard and Fellani celebrate after the Chelsea man netted for Belgium
Alexander Kobakhdze hit one back for the visitors but Les Bleus now face Spain on Tuesday two points clear in the group and looking good for automatic qualification.
In what was the upset of the night, reigning world and European champions Spain were held to 1-1 draw by Finland in Gijon. The home side took a 49th minute lead through Sergio Ramos, on his 100th appearance for his country, but Teemu Pukki hit back for Finland 12 minutes from time.
The result leaves Spain visiting the Stade de France on Tuesday needing a victory or facing the likely possibility of having to qualify through the play-offs.
In Group C Germany maintained their unbeaten group form as they brushed Kazakhstan aside with ease with goals through Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Gotze and Thomas Muller saw them move five points clear of rivals Sweden.
French delight: Goal-scorer Olivier Giroud (left) celebrates with Paul Pogba (right)
The Swedes played out a goalless draw with the Republic of Ireland in Stockholm to leave just a point between the two side's. However Ireland have fallen back into fourth place on goal difference after Austria smashed the Faroe Islands 6-0 in Vienna.
In England's group, Montenegro remain two points clear after sneaking past Moldova despite most of the second half with ten men. Milorad Pekovic saw red soon after the restart, but Mirko Vucinic's late winner won the points. While Ukraine recorded their first win of the campaign surprisingly beating Poland 3-1 in Warsaw.
Portugal face a struggle to qualify after drawing 3-3 in Israel. Fabio Coentrao fired a last-minute to save his side after they had gone 3-1 down. The result leaves both sides on eight points in the group, with Israel shading things on goal difference.
Flying Dutch: Manchester United's Robin van Persie celebrates with Ruben Schaken during his side's 3-0 victory
Russia are the runaway leaders with 12 points, but their match away to Northern Ireland was postponed until tomorrow due to heavy snow in Belfast, while minnows Luxembourg and Azerbaijan drew 0-0.
Croatia claimed a comfortable 2-0 win over Serbia in the first meeting between the two sides since the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. Although there were fears surrounding the match, it passed off peacefully and was settled by goals from Mario Mandzukic and Ivica Olic.
Chelsea duo Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard both netted to ensure Belgium continue to lead the group on goal-difference from Croatia with a 2-0 victory in Macedonia.
What a screamer: Gylfi Sigurdsson hit a scorching free-kick for Iceland as he hit a brace for his country
At the bottom of the group, Wales came from behind to beat Scotland 2-1 at Hampden Park, with Aaron Ramsey's 70th-minute penalty quickly followed by Hal Robson-Kanu's header to wipe out Grant Hanley's opener after the Scots had Robert Snodgrass sent off.
Holland recorded their 13th consecutive World Cup qualifying victory, beating Estonia 3-0, to stay on course in Group D. Former Tottenham man Rafael van der Vaart gave Holland the lead before Manchester United's Robin van Persie hit his first goal in eight games.
City man: Edin Dzeko scored for Bosnia against Greece in their 3-1 success to move clear at the top of Group G
That sends them five points clear after Hungary were held 2-2 by Romania, who equalised for the second time in the third minute of stoppage time.
In Group E, Tottenham midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson scored both goals to sink Slovenia 2-1 and keep Iceland's hopes of World Cup qualification alive.
Sigurdsson cancelled out Milivoje Novakovic's opener with a 55th-minute free-kick, and then lashed home the winner 12 minutes from time. Norway slipped to fourth place after losing 1-0 at home to Albania, Hamdi Salihi getting the goal in the 67th minute.
Brace: Javier Hernandez scored twice for Mexico against Honduras. The Manchester United man has now hit an incredible 30 goals in his 45 games for his country
Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko scored twice as Bosnia-Herzegovina brushed aside Greece 3-1 in their top-of-the-table clash in Group G, sending them three points clear. Dzeko struck either side of Vedad Ibisevic's goal, while Theofanis Gekas had a late consolation for Greece.
In the CONCACAF standings Honduras scored twice in three minutes to snatch a 2-2 draw at home to Mexico after the visitors had taken charge of their World Cup qualifier through a pair of superb goals from Javier Hernandez.
Hernandez put 'El Tri' ahead with a superbly angled glancing header in the 28th minute after Andres Guardado burst past two defenders and delivered a pinpoint cross.The Manchester United striker struck again nine minutes into the second half with a darting run at the near post, poking in a free-kick by Carlos Salcido.
But goals through Carlos Costly and Jerry Bengtson gained a deserved point for Honduras to see them top the group after two matches.
Not enough: Liverpool striker Luis Suarez (centre) put Uruguay ahead but it was not enough to beat Paraguay, who scored a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw
In Montevideo, substitute Edgar Benitez struck four minutes from time to snatch a 1-1 draw for struggling Paraguay away to Uruguay.
Luis Suarez had put the home side ahead four minutes earlier with a fine goal that looked to have breathed new life into 2010 semi-finalists Uruguay's campaign to reach Brazil 2014.
Benitez took advantage of a mistake in central defence by Uruguay captain Diego Lugano to latch onto the loose ball and shoot past Fernando Muslera in the 86th minute.
Suarez shot low inside the far corner from midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro's cross in the 82nd minute as Uruguay looked to end a run of four matches without a victory.
Uruguay have 13 points from 10 matches with Paraguay, quarter-finalists in 2010, still rooted to the bottom of the nine-nation South American group with eight.
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