Croatia and the Netherlands booked their places in the last four of the Nations League as champions France needed a favour to avoid relegation from the top tier on Sunday.
Les Bleus were beaten 2-0 in Denmark to finish with just one win from their six group games, but Croatia’s 3-1 win at Austria saved the world champions from the drop.
Didier Deschamps will be hoping to have a number of key men back from injury by the time France’s defence of the World Cup begins against Australia on November 22.
They will also come up against the Danes in the group stage in Qatar and the Euro 2020 semi-finalists showed they are more than capable of causing France more trouble in two months’ time.
Both goals came before half-time as Kasper Dolberg stretched to turn home Mikkel Damsgaard’s cross before Andreas Skov Olsen volleyed in from the edge of the area.
France were without Hugo Lloris, Jules Kounde, N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba and Karim Benzema through injury.
But the star trio of Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe failed to find a way back into the game.
Denmark’s win meant Croatia needed to get all three points in Austria to top the group.
Luka Modric got the 2018 World Cup finalists off to a flying start, but they were quickly pegged back by Christoph Baumgartner’s header.
Two goals in three second half minutes proved decisive as Marko Livaja and Dejan Lovren headed in at the far post.
Defeat relegated Austria to League B.
The Netherlands made sure of top spot in Group A4 with a 1-0 win over Belgium thanks to Virgil van Dijk’s header 17 minutes from time.
The Dutch just needed to avoid defeat by a three-goal margin after winning 4-1 in Brussels earlier in the group.
A Belgian revival never looked likely and Van Dijk settled the game when he was left completely unmarked to head in a corner inside the six-yard box.
In the same group, Wales were relegated after losing 1-0 at home to Poland.
Karol Swiderski scored the only goal in Cardiff from Robert Lewandowski’s cushioned through ball.
World Cup News
-
FIFA World Cup
/ 4 weeks agoSon scores but Thailand hold South Korea in World Cup qualifier
Son Heung-min scored but South Korea were held 1-1 at home by Thailand in...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 1 month agoJapan-N. Korea World Cup game to stay in Pyongyang, JFA says
Japan’s World Cup qualifier against North Korea will be played in Pyongyang as planned...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 1 month agoGerman ex-FA bosses on trial over World Cup tax evasion
Three German ex-top football officials went on trial on Monday in a 13.7-million-euro ($14.8...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 2 months agoSaudi Arabia formally launches bid for 2034 World Cup
Saudi Arabia formally launched its bid to host the 2034 World Cup on Friday,...
By AFP