Greece 2-2 France: Draw ends France’s perfect Euro 2024 qualifying record


Greece captain Anastasios Bakasetas is mobbed after his equalising goal against France in Euro 2024 qualifying
Greece captain Anastasios Bakasetas was mobbed by his team-mates after his superb left-footed volley pulled them level

France finished Euro 2024 qualifying with seven wins from eight after drawing 2-2 with Greece.

Paris St-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani fired into the roof of the net to give France the lead in Athens.

But Anastasios Bakasetas equalised for Greece with a 20-yard volley, before Fotis Ioannidis guided home a cross.

That forced boss Didier Deschamps to turn to his bench, with Kylian Mbappe coming on to set Youssouf Fofana up for their equaliser with 16 minutes left.

The visitors, who had already qualified, thought they had found a late winner when Kingsley Coman’s deflected cross span towards goal but the referee and video assistant referee decided the ball had not crossed the line.

France, who had only conceded one goal in their first seven qualifying games, finish top of Group B while Greece, who are seeking a place at the European Championship finals for the first time since 2012, will face Kazakhstan in the play-offs on 21 March.

Should they win that game the 2004 champions will then face Georgia or Luxembourg on 26 March for a place in the finals.

Elsewhere in Group B, the Netherlands, who finished second, thrashed Gibraltar 6-0, with Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo rounding off the scoring.

The 24-year-old scored four minutes after coming off the bench as his left-wing cross drifted into the far corner.

Feyenoord’s Calvin Stengs scored his first international goals on the way to a hat-trick, while Mats Wieffer and Teun Koopmeiners were also on the scoresheet.

France and the Dutch will find out who they face in the group stages in Germany when the draw takes place on 2 December.

Line-ups

Greece

Formation 3-5-2

  • 1Vlachodimos
  • 2RetsosBooked at 40mins
  • 4Mavropanos
  • 17Hatzidiakos
  • 15RotaSubstituted forSaliakasat 85′minutes
  • 5BouchalakisBooked at 34mins
  • 6GalanopoulosSubstituted forAlexandropoulosat 67′minutes
  • 11BakasetasSubstituted forKonstanteliasat 86′minutes
  • 22Giannoulis
  • 7MasourasSubstituted forPavlidisat 77′minutes
  • 8IoannidisBooked at 75minsSubstituted forGonçalves Rodriguesat 77′minutes

Substitutes

  • 3Koulierakis
  • 9Pavlidis
  • 10Gonçalves Rodrigues
  • 12Paschalakis
  • 13Dioudis
  • 14Alexandropoulos
  • 16Chatzigiovanis
  • 18Goutas
  • 19Giakoumakis
  • 20Konstantelias
  • 21Saliakas
  • 23Tsingaras

France

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Samba
  • 5KoundéSubstituted forClaussat 64′minutes
  • 17Saliba
  • 21HernándezSubstituted forDisasiat 85′minutes
  • 22Hernández
  • 19FofanaBooked at 55mins
  • 14Rabiot
  • 11DembéléBooked at 34minsSubstituted forComanat 65′minutes
  • 7GriezmannBooked at 90mins
  • 12Kolo MuaniSubstituted forMbappéat 64′minutes
  • 9GiroudSubstituted forThuramat 70′minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Clauss
  • 3Disasi
  • 4Upamecano
  • 6Thuram
  • 10Mbappé
  • 13Todibo
  • 15Thuram
  • 16Maignan
  • 18Kamara
  • 20Coman
  • 23Areola

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