Croatia and the Netherlands booked their places in the last four of the Nations League as holders France needed a win to avoid relegation from the top tier on Sunday.
Les Bleus lost 2-0 in Denmark to finish with just one win from their six group games, but Croatia’s 3-1 win in Austria saved the world champions from the drop.
Didier Deschamps will be hoping to have several key players back from injury by the time France begin their World Cup defense against Australia on November 22.
“It was a young French team, for the most part not yet experienced at a high level,” said Deschamps.
“Tonight is a dose of reality and what awaits us in two months.”
France will also take on the Danes in the group stage in Qatar and the Euro 2020 semi-finalists showed they are more than capable of causing more trouble in two months’ time.
Both goals came before half-time when Kasper Dolberg rose to deflect Mikkel Damsgaard’s cross before Andreas Skoff Olsen volleyed home from the edge of the area.
France were without Hugo Lloris, Jules Conde, N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, Ousmane Dembele 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 for France.
A win for Denmark means Croatia need all three of Austria’s points to top the group.
Luka Modric gave the 2018 World Cup finalists a brilliant start, but Christoph Baumgartner’s header soon put them behind.
Two goals in three minutes of the second half proved decisive as Marco Levaja and Dejan Lovren headed in at the far post.
“Austria made life very difficult for us, but in the end, the win was deserved,” Modric said. “I am very happy that we are in the top four.”
Defeated Austria in League B
The Netherlands secured 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 needed to avoid defeat by just three goals after winning 4-1 in Brussels earlier in the group.
A Belgian revival never seemed likely. Van Dijk settled the game when he was left completely unmarked to head in a corner inside the six-yard box.
Wales were beaten 1-0 at home by Poland in the same group.
Carol Swiderski scored the only goal in Cardiff through Robert Lewandowski.
Turkey were already guaranteed promotion from League C, but were still embarrassed by a 2-1 defeat to the Faroe Islands.
The Feroz took a 2-0 lead through Wiljormer Davidson and John Edmondson before Sardar Griller’s late consolation saw the team move up 83 places in the FIFA world rankings.
