Greece came from a goal down to hold France to a 2-2 draw in their final Euro 2024 qualifier in Group B on Tuesday, denying Didier Deschamps' side a perfect record in their qualifying campaign.
Austria outplayed a toothless Germany to win 2-0 in their friendly on Tuesday to end their year on a high while piling more pressure on the embattled Euro 2024 hosts who had Leroy Sane sent off early in the second half.
However, Randal Kolo Muani scored just before halftime before Greece levelled in the 56th minute through Anastasios Bakasetas and Fotis Ioannidis gave the hosts the lead five minutes later. Youssouf Fofana equalised for France in the 74th minute.
The match had nothing at stake for either side after France, who finished with seven wins and a draw, and the Netherlands had claimed the top two spots to qualify for the finals and third-placed Greece had secured a place in the playoffs.
Les Bleus were looking to end the qualifying competition with a 100% record for the first time since completing the feat ahead of Euro 2004, having also achieved a perfect run to reach the 1992 tournament when coach Deschamps was playing.
Deschamps made eight changes to his starting lineup with Theo Hernandez, Adrien Rabiot and Antoine Griezmann the only players who started on Saturday when they demolished 10-man Gibraltar 14-0 in a record Euro qualifying win.
France controlled the early possession but did not create a clear chance in the opening 30 minutes and captain Griezmann hit the post from close range after the half-hour mark.
Yet the opener arrived before the break when Olivier Giroud teed up Kolo Muani who fired into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
Greece, Euro 2004 champions, levelled in the 56th minute through midfielder Anastasios Bakasetas, who struck with a volley from outside the box, and Fotis Ioannidis gave Greece the lead five minutes later.
France continued to dominate possession and Fofana equalised for the visitors with a powerful shot from distance while Kingsley Coman thought he had grabbed a winner but VAR showed his effort did not fully cross the goal line.
France substitute Kylian Mbappe, who ended the qualifying campaign with nine goals, had a last-gasp chance to seal the win but hit the bar deep into stoppage time.
Meanwhile, Austria outplayed a toothless Germany to win 2-0 in their friendly on Tuesday.
Marcel Sabitzer’s low drive in the 29th minute put the dominant hosts, who have qualified for the Euros, in front with Germany posing no threat in attack and needing 32 minutes for their first shot on goal.
Another quick passing move led to Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner chipping the ball over keeper Kevin Trapp in the 73rd, with Germany down to 10 men following the 49th-minute red card for Sane.
For Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann, who took over in September, it was the second straight loss after Saturday's 3-2 home defeat to Turkey, forcing him back to the drawing board seven months before the start of the Euros on home soil.
Nagelsmann blamed a lack of unity within the team on the pitch while also criticising an "absurd rate of loss of possession in the first half."
"At the end of the day we have to accept that we have a lot of work in front of us," Nagelsmann said. "The coaches and players have to accept it and nothing will be easy from now until the summer."
Austria shot out of the blocks and overwhelmed the error-prone Germans with a high-pressing game.
While the hosts carved out several chances, including a golden opportunity for Michael Gregoritsch who failed to beat Trapp when one-on-one, Germany had to wait 32 minutes for their first effort towards goal.
Three minutes earlier Austria had taken the lead with a four-pass counter attack that ended with Sabitzer threading a shot into the goal past two defenders and Trapp.
The Germans brought on the experienced Thomas Mueller after the break but it was the Austrians who picked up where they had left off.
German frustration boiled over in the 49th minute when Sane grabbed Phillipp Mwene by the throat and shoved him to the ground following a foul, and was dismissed with a straight red card.
It was his first red card in his 402nd game as a professional footballer for club and country.
Germany's disappointing evening was complete when Baumgartner added a second goal, with Austria missing more chances late in the game.
