Paris: World champions Spain retook control of 2014 World Cup qualifying Group I on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over France, Pedro Rodriguez scoring the only goal of the game in the second half at the Stade de France.

Pedro’s scrambled effort just before the hour mark was Spain’s reward for dominating possession and assured play despite coming into the game trailing France by two points at the top of the group.

The home team were always a threat going forward but could not find a way past Victor Valdes in the Spain goal and finished the game with 10 men after young midfielder Paul Pogba was sent off late on.

With just three matches left to play, Spain now lead France by a point, with only one team qualifying automatically for the finals in Brazil. “I am happy tonight because the three points put us in a good situation, but also because we stuck to our style,” said Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque. “We could have won by a greater margin in the end.”

France coach Didier Deschamps added: “We kept battling, even when down to 10 men, but it is not easy against a team that dominates like Spain do.”You need to take your chances and get some breaks, and that wasn’t the case for us.”

Del Bosque welcomed Xavi Hernandez back into the Spain starting line-up after injury, while Xabi Alonso, Pedro and left-back Nacho Monreal also came in as four changes were made from Friday’s surprise 1-1 draw with Finland.