Thierry Henry scored two goals barely 60 seconds apart to save France's blushes and send them top of UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying Group B with a 2-0 win over Lithuania on Wednesday.

In so doing, Henry also took sole possession of the record number of France goals that before kick-off he shared with the great Michel Platini - he now has 43 goals in 96 appearances for Les Bleus.

Lithuania had frustrated their hosts for almost 80 minutes before finally caving in, meaning France will qualify for the finals in Austria and Switzerland next summer if they win their final group game away to Ukraine.

However it was anything but plain sailing as Lithuania came close to repeating their remarkable feat of drawing in Italy.

But coupled with Scotland's defeat in Georgia earlier in the day, this result was enough to calm French nerves and put them on the brink of qualification.

Franck Ribery almost gave France the dream start, jinking his way into the area before forcing Lithuania goalkeeper Zydrunas Karcemarskas into a smart save, turning the ball onto the bar.

France were in the ascendancy in the early stages and Florent Malouda rocked the bar on 15 minutes with a thunderous drive.

However the visitors soon gave notice of their intent minutes later as Andrius Ksanavicius hit the post with a curling effort that had Mikael Landreau well beaten in the France goal.

The change of momentum was only momentary as back came the French with Arsenal centre-back William Gallas forcing Karcemarskas into another great save.

Just past the half hour mark, Ribery set Henry free with a clever flick but the Barcelona striker slammed his effort high and wide.

And moments later Lyon forward Karim Benzema, starting in the blue shirt for the first time due to an injury to Bolton striker Nicolas Anelka, created space for himself in the box but dragged his left foot shot wide of the far post.

France continued to press after the break but gradually started taking pot shots from further and further away from the goal.

Henry had a great chance on 64 minutes to break the deadlock when he was sent through on goal but his shot was straight at Karcemarskas.

France had a strong shout for a penalty when Ribery had his shirt tugged in the box but the referee gave nothing.

Substitute Hatem Ben Arfa, making only his second appearance for the national team, squandered the best chance of the game 15 minutes from time. Ribery beat Karcemarskas to a ball wide on the edge of the box and chipped it back into the middle for Ben Arfa, who completely miskicked his effort and saw the ball bobble almost apologetically wide.

Lithuania survived another penalty shout two minutes later when Henry went down in the box but that too was waved away despite howling from the crowd.

Ben Arfa was causing the visitors problems and it was his storming run down the left that created the havoc in the box that allowed Henry to fire home 10 minutes from time.

And barely 60 seconds later Jeremy Toulalan released Henry to run from the halfway line and slot the ball under Karcemarskas for number two.

France could have added a late third but Benzema overelaborated when clean through and his weak dinked effort was saved by Karcemarskas's outstretched arm.