Angelos Charisteas' strike from a clever free-kick and Kostas Katsouranis' superb long-range effort gave Otto Rehhagel's men a two-goal half-time lead.

Charisteas then bagged his second of the game just after the break as the recently deposed European Champions chalked up three more precious points at the group summit with a 3-0 win ahead of Wednesday's encounter with Switzerland in Athens.

The Swiss will go into that game having finally got their campaign up and running as a 2-1 victory over Latvia restored some pride in the national team.

Switzerland were looking to bounce back from a humiliating loss to Luxembourg on their last outing in Group Two.

And Blaise N'Kufo ensured they picked up their first three-point haul in three games with the winning goal 17 minutes from time.

Latvia defender Deniss Ivanovs had earlier cancelled out Alex Frei's opener moments after the visitors had been reduced to 10 men by the sending off of Juris Laizans.

Ottmar Hitzfeld's men now have four points from their opening three games, three behind second-placed Israel and five adrift of the Greeks.

Israel kept up their unbeaten start with a routine 3-1 win in Luxembourg, Yossi Benayoun opening the scoring with a penalty after just two minutes.

Rene Peters' 14th-minute equaliser gave the hosts hope of repeating their heroics against Switzerland, but it was not to be as second-half goals from Omer Golan and Salim Toama ensured victory for the visitors.

Luxembourg are level on three points with Latvia, while basement boys Moldova are still looking for their first point.