With the win, Germany moves three points clear of both the Czech Republic and Ireland, making them a favorite to advance as one of the two teams to represent the group in Austria and Switzerland next summer.

Kuranyi put the Germans on top three minutes before the half, and then doubled the score line in the 62nd minute to put Germany in control. Milan Baros pulled a goal back for the home side to set up a nervous final 13 minutes for the visitors, but Germany held on to secure all three points.

The Czechs created the first chances of the match, but it was Germany who got on the board first right before halftime. Kuranyi was able to shake off two defenders and get free for a cross from the corner. He then headed the ball past keeper Petr Cech to make it 1-0 to Germany at the break.

The home side looked to be the more dangerous team after the restart, but Baros missed two chances to level the match as he headed a pair of nice crosses from Tomas Ujfalusi over the net.

Germany took advantage and was soon ahead by two goals. Kuranyi once again used his head to punish the Czechs, this time making the most of a Philipp Lahm cross to head the ball into the back of the net.

Baros did finally crack the scoreboard in the 76th to give his club a measure of hope. His shot from the edge of the box took a deflection off of Germany's Jan Polak and beat Jens Lehmann, but there were no more goals in the match despite the efforts of the Czechs.

In other Group D play on Saturday, Ireland slipped past Wales 1-0 on a goal from Stephen Ireland and Slovakia scored three times in the second half to down Cyprus 3-1.

Poland moved to the top of Group A with a 5-0 thrashing of Azerbaijan, Serbia dropped a 2-1 match to Kazakhstan, moving them down to third and Portugal exploded for four goals in the second half to earn a large 4-0 win over Belgium.

Group B remained tight at the top as both Scotland and France recorded wins to remain level on points. Craig Beattie scored in the 89th minute to rescue three points for Scotland in a 2-1 win over Georgia, and France got a goal from Nicolas Anelka in the 73rd minute to beat Lithuania 1-0. The Faroe Islands continued to struggle as they dropped a 2-0 decision to Ukraine, who moved into third place, three points behind the leaders.

Turkey continued to dominate Group C with a resounding 4-1 win over previously unbeaten Greece. Turkey has now won all four of its matches and is in control of the group. Norway missed a chance to pull level with Greece in second place as they dropped a disappointing 2-1 contest at home to Bosnia-Herzegovina, while Moldova and Malta shared the points in a 1-1 draw.

England manager Steve McClaren continues to feel the heat as his side could only come away from its contest with Israel with a dull 0-0 draw, leaving them five points off the pace of leaders Croatia, who stole a come-from-behind win against Macedonia with Da Silva Eduardo's 88th-minute goal. Russia continued its solid form with a 2-0 win over Estonia to remain two points back of Croatia in second place.

Spain kept its hopes of qualifying alive on Saturday with a 2-1 win over Denmark, while Northern Ireland moved into second place with a 4-1 victory against Liechtenstein.

The top two teams in Group G, the Netherlands and Romania, played to a 0-0 draw, as did bottom-half clubs Slovenia and Albania. The only win in the group on Saturday went to Belarus, who downed Luxembourg 2-1.