France avoided an embarrassing defeat by Iceland with two goals in the last five minutes, including a last-gasp penalty from the substitute Kylian Mbappé, to secure a 2-2 friendly draw at the Stade du Roudourou in Guingamp.
Iceland had been out of form and regularly conceding goals and were expected to lose against opponents who had followed winning the World Cup in July by taking four points from Nations League games against Germany and Holland. Instead, goals either side of half-time from Birkir Bjarnason and Kári Árnason put Iceland on course for a stunning victory.
Hugo Lloris, Raphaël Varane, Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud had all started for the hosts, in addition to the recalled Lucas Digne and the Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembélé. As they fought to recover, Dimitri Payet, Thomas Lemar and Mbappé were among those introduced from the bench, after which an own goal by Hólmar Örn Eyjólfsson was followed by Mbappé’s late leveller.
Iceland went ahead in the 30th minute, shortly after Dembélé had gone close for the hosts. With France’s Presnel Kimpembe stricken on the ground having been hit by the ball, Alfred Finnbogason angled possession back to Bjanarson, who shot beyond Lloris. In the 58th minute the in-form Gylfi Sigurdsson crossed from a corner to Árnason, who headed from close range into the top right corner.
It was the influential Mbappé, who came on in the 60th minute for Griezmann, who ultimately inspired France’s comeback. His 86th-minute shot was saved by the substitute goalkeeper, Hannes Thór Halldórsson but ricocheted off Eyjólfsson and into the net. Four minutes later Kolbeinn Sigthórsson conceded a penalty for handball and Mbappé sent the spot-kick into the top-left corner.
Portugal took control of Nations League Group A3 with a 3-2 victory over Poland in Chorzow. Playing without Cristiano Ronaldo, they secured their second victory from two, leaving Poland and Italy level on a point. Krzysztof Piatek’s header had given the hosts the lead but goals from André Silva and Bernardo Silva – either side of Kamil Glik’s own goal – put Portugal 3-1 ahead. Jakub Blaszczykowski scored Poland’s second in the 77th minute to ensure a tense finish, but Portugal held on for the win.
In Group C4, Aleksandar Mitrovic’s double helped Serbia to a 2-0 away win over rivals Montenegro in Podgorica, leaving them top with seven points. Fulham forward Mitrovic scored from a penalty in the first half, and from close range in the 81st minute.
Romania are second to Serbia, after winning 2-1 away to fourth-placed Lithuania in Vilnius. Alexandru Chipciu gave the visitors a lead they held until the 89th minute when Arturas Zulpa equalised. Alexandru Maxim then scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to seal what had become an unlikely victory.
Kosovo’s 3-1 home victory over Malta means they sit first in Group D3, with seven points. In the same group, Azerbaijan’s 3-0 victory away to Faroe Islands leaves them second and their hosts third.
In Group B2, Russia and Sweden fought to a 0-0 draw in Kaliningrad.
Scotland suffered a feeble 2-1 defeat against Israel in Group C1 despite leading at half-time through Charlie Mulgrew’s penalty. Spain produced a Cardiff masterclass to stun Wales and send a warning shot to their Nations League rivals England. Luis Enrique’s side won 4-1 at the Principality Stadium. Argentina beat Iraq 4-0 in Riyadh thanks to goals from Lautaro Martínez, Watford midfielder Roberto Pereyra, Germán Pezzella and Franco Cervi.
Turkey were held to a goalless draw by Bosnia-Herzegovina in Rize and United Arab Emirates drew 1-1 against Honduras in Barcelona.
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