The Axis victory conditions are as follows:
EITHER
Control 8 of the 11 Victory Cities on the Europe board while still controlling at least 1 Axis Capital (Berlin or Rome)
OR
Control 6 of the 8 Victory Cities on the Pacific board while still controlling Tokyo.
The fall of France has nothing to do with the victory conditions other than the fact that Paris is a Victory City. Theoretically, the Axis could accquire 8 Victory Cities on the Europe Board without France falling, although that is highly unlikely since Germany is pretty much set up to pound France from the start.
I guess that to try an odd new strategy, Germany could simply leave France alone and go directly after UK or Russia, but that would make it really hard on the Axis because Germany really needs that plunder money from taking Paris for round 2. Also, both Germany and Italy would have to build up heavy to guard against French expansion – Holland/Belgium and W. Germany for the Germans, Northern Italy for the Italians. Probably not a good idea leaving an enemy power alone so close to your own most valuable territories.