Gignac's first international goal had given France a vital three points when the two sides met in August, and the 23-year-old took his tally to three in two games against the Scandinavians with a first-half brace. William Gallas also found the net, but Serbia's 5-0 win over Romania means the 2006 World Cup finalists will have to go through the play-offs to reach South Africa.

With France's need the greater, it was no surprise that Raymond Domenech's side started in determined fashion at Guingamp's Stade Municipal du Roudourou.

Lyon midfielder Jérémy Toulalan had clearly been given licence to roam forward and he sent a header narrowly wide before crashing a low drive off an upright as Les Bleus threatened to make an early breakthrough.

Rifling

Toulalan's club team-mate Sidney Govou then stepped away from a challenge before finding the woodwork himself with a rising shot, but it was Gignac who would eventually provide the goal that would ease French nerves on 34 minutes.

Selected to start ahead of Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, the Toulouse forward justified Domenech's faith as he spun on Nicolas Anelka's cross before just getting enough on his shot to beat Jakup Mikkelsen in the visitors' goal.

And five minutes later, Gignac struck again to double his country's advantage.

After Rogvi Jacobsen had narrowly failed to touch a free-kick goalwards, Steve Mandanda cleared upfield. Gignac battled to win possession, and evaded a couple of challenges before rifling a shot across Mikkelsen and into the far corner.

Weaving run

Eight minutes into the second half, and Les Bleus eased into cruising altitude when Thierry Henry's deep cross found William Gallas leaping highest at the back post and the Arsenal defender headed home.

Gignac could have registered a maiden international hat-trick only to fire a close-range effort straight at Mikkelsen following a weaving run past several white-shirted defenders.

Anelka and Benzema gave the scoreline a flattering gloss while Gignac's club team-mate Moussa Sissoko emerged from the bench after the hour mark to make his senior international debut.

However, events in Belgrade mean the Toulouse duo still have work to do before they can begin dreaming of a trip to South Africa next summer.

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