Belgrade  - Serbia took another step towards direct qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with a draw against France Wednesday night, but it should have closed the issue with a win, Belgrade newspapers said on Thursday.

Serbia went ahead in the 13th minute on a doubtful penalty awarded against the guests, which also resulted in a red card for French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Thierry Henry leveled in the 31st minute to make the final score 1-1.

The result gave Serbia 19 points, four clear of France and with only two matches to play, they have already "entered the World Cup lobby," the Vecernje Novosti daily said, while for Blic the outcome was the "French key to doors of Africa."

A win against the 1998 world champions would have, however, ended all mathematics regarding the winner and direct qualifier in Group 7, leaving open only the battle for second place and the play-offs.

"Serbia misses the first match-point," Politika said, while Press reflected how "we survived France ... who were closer to victory." As it is, Serbia still needs a win against Romania or Lithuania to certainly win the group.

"We9ll finish the job against Romania," on October 10 in Belgrade, coach Radomir Antic was widely quoted as saying after the duel with France. (dpa)