England moved to within three points of next year's World Cup finals by crushing Andorra 6-0 last night to win their seventh successive Group Six qualifier.

Two goals each from Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe and one from Frank Lampard and Peter Crouch preserved England's perfect qualifying record under coach Fabio Capello and lifted them 10 points clear at the top of the group.

Capello gave David Beckham his 100th international start in midfield and he was allowed space to dictate the game which England won at a canter after Rooney opened the scoring with a fourth-minute header.

Lampard and Rooney struck before half-time when Rooney made way for Defoe, who scored twice in two minutes in the final quarter with Crouch adding a sixth as Andorra wilted.

In Rotterdam, Andre Ooijer and Arjen Robben scored to earn the Netherlands a 2-0 home victory over Norway and maintain their perfect record in Group Nine.

The hosts, who booked their place in next year's finals on Saturday, had to wait till the 33rd before Ooijer nodded in a free-kick from Rafael van der Vaart.

Norway's only chance came just after half-time but Maarten Stekelenburg saved a shot from Morten Gamst Pedersen and a minute later Robben settled the match with a tight angled shot.

In Group Seven, Serbia edged closer to next year's finals after goals from Milan Jovanovic and Neven Subotic gave them a 2-0 win at home over the Faroe Islands.

The result left Serbia top of the group with 18 points from seven matches, eight more than 2006 finalists France who have two games in hand.

Serbia's next game is at home to France on September 9.

Russia thumped Finland 3-0 away to close the gap on Group Four leaders Germany and damaging Finnish hopes of reaching the finals.

Goals by Alexander Kerzhakov in the 26th and 53rd minutes and Konstantin Zyryanov in the 71st secured the visiting side's victory as Finland rarely threatened Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeyev.

The winners of Europe's nine qualifying groups win automatic berths in the finals while the eight best runners-up play off for another four places.