Paul Pogba's venomous 30-yard strike was enough for France to record a slender 1-0 victory over Holland in Amsterdam.
The £100million midfielder lashed France in front after 30 minutes, picking the ball up from Dimitri Payet before unleashing a swerving shot which Maarten Stekelenburg couldn't keep out.
Vincent Janssen felt he could have won a penalty in the first-half when his shot flicked off the hand of Laurent Koscielny, but in a second period short on clear openings, Memphis Depay was denied spectacularly from point-blank range by Hugo Lloris late on.Â
The victory at the Amsterdam Arena elevated the Euro 2016 runners-up to overwhelming favourites to finish top of Group A and qualify for the finals in Russia in 2018.
France lead on seven points along with Sweden, who won 3-0 against Bulgaria, while Holland are third on four points.
Although each country still has seven matches left, France's win over the team expected to be their toughest opposition in the section hands Didier Deschamps' side a huge advantage.
Pogba hit his shot from midway between the halfway line and the edge of the Dutch penalty area and it swerved wickedly to outfox goalkeeper Stekelenburg, who might have done better with his diving effort as he tried to save it.
Holland made vociferous claims for a penalty four minutes before half-time when the ball struck Koscielny's arm as he dived to block Vincent Janssen's close-range shot but Slovenian referee Damir Skomina turned down the Dutch appeals.
In truth, France should have won by a more comfortably margin on a night when Holland showed some decent flashes but lacked a cutting edge.
Stekelenburg, playing only his second international in four years, denied Kevin Gameiro in the opening 15 minutes and again shortly after the interval. The rebound from the second effort fell favourably for Antoine Griezmann who put his effort wide.Â
Griezmann was guilty of choosing the wrong options at times, Pogba had a close-range header from Payet's corner saved by Stekelenburg, while full-back Layvin Kurzawa dragged a shot wide with 24 minutes remaining.
Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will be sweating over the fitness of Georginio Wijnaldum ahead of next Monday's Premier League clash with Manchester United after the midfielder hobbled off on the hour-mark with a hamstring injury.Â
Holland had already been forced into a change by that stage, with Depay entering the fray as early as the 16th minute for the injured Quincy Promes, and the forgotten man of Jose Mourinho's United squad very nearly earned a point for the hosts in the dying minutes.
The winger shot first time following Tottenham striker Vincent Janssen's knockdown, but Lloris was in the right place to make a stunning one-handed save, leaving Holland with plenty of work to do to qualify from the group.
'They had more quality than us but we didn't give away too many chances, only a long range shot went it,' said Dutch captain Kevin Strootman. 'That made it more difficult but I think we missed just a little finesse in our final attack.'Â
France next host Sweden on November 11 while Holland visit Luxembourg two days later. Daily Mail
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