France welcomed Finland to the Stade de France on Tuesday with the chance to achieve automatic qualification to the 2014 World Cup.
Les Bleus needed to win to have any hope of topping Group I, and required Spain to endure a freak defeat to Georgia.
However, France will now have to go through a playoff fixture following a comfortable win.
Read how the match unfolded in our live commentary below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage from Stade de France where France take on Finland.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage from Stade de France where France take on Finland.
What a huge evening this is across Europe, as the World Cup qualifiers comes to an end for most nations tonight. Some will still have the chance to make it to Brazil at the conclusion on tonight's games via the dreaded playoffs.
What a huge evening this is across Europe, as the World Cup qualifiers comes to an end for most nations tonight. Some will still have the chance to make it to Brazil at the conclusion on tonight's games via the dreaded playoffs.
Our attention is on Group I, where France are hoping for a freak turn of events that would send to Brazil by the end of the night.
For France to qualify automatically for the World Cup tonight, Spain must lose to Georgia and Les Bleus need to make up a three-goal deficit.
However, for Spain to simply not win comfortably would be a huge shock against minnows Georgia. Even a draw would be one the biggest shocks in recent years, a Spain defeat would arguably be the biggest upset in the history of international football.
However, for Spain to simply not win comfortably would be a huge shock against minnows Georgia. Even a draw would be one the biggest shocks in recent years, a Spain defeat would arguably be the biggest upset in the history of international football.
So with all that said, France looked almost certain to finish as runners-up in Group I, which would mean that they would have to go through a two-legged playoff to reach Brazil. They could possibly meet Portugal, Sweden, Greece or Croatia at that stage.
When these two teams met for the reverse fixture last year, France edged a 1-0 win thanks to an Abou Diaby goal.
Right, let's bring you the team news, starting with the hosts.
FRANCE XI: Lloris, Debuchy, Koscielny, Abidal, Evra, Pogba, Matuidi, Ribery, Valbuena, Nasri, Giroud
Didier Deschamps has been handed a massive boost as Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny has recovered from a calf injury that kept them out of their 6-0 win over Australia on Friday.
His teammate Olivier Giroud keeps his place in attack at the expense of Karim Benzema, and he will have Franck Ribery, Mathieu Valbuena and Samir Nasri supporting him.
Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi sit in front of the defence, which also includes Manchester United's Patrice Evra, Eric Abidal of AS Monaco and Newcastle United right-back Mathieu Debuchy. Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur is the captain in the French goal tonight.
Let's take a look at the bench.
FRANCE BENCH: Mandanda, Ruffier, Zouma, Sakho, Cabaye, Benzema, Clichy, Grenier, Fanni, Payet, Sissoko, Remy
And now for the Finland outfit.
FINLAND XI: Maenpaa, Arkivuo, Pasanen, Halsti, Lampi, Ring, Eremenko, Tainio, Hamalainen, Pukki, Hetemaj
Not many household names among that pack, but you may recognise their captain Teemu Tainio, who had spells at Spurs, Sunderland and Birmingham City.
Their manager is also a native of the country, Mixu Paatelainen.
FINLAND BENCH: Heikkila, Toivio, Zeneli, Riski, Hradecky, Mattila, Kolehmainen, Sumusalo, Furuholm, Raitala, Sillanpaa
The teams are both out, France in all blue, Finland in all white.
KICK OFF! We're underway at the Stade de France.
France have started on top with Nasri pressing. He puts a ball into the box which goes behind for a corner. Nothing comes of it though.
Pogba fires in an effort from the edge of a crowded penalty area, but it comes off the backside of Olivier Giroud who is in an offside position.
It's been a decent start from the French. Finland haven't had too much of the ball as of yet.
CHANCES! Two bites of the cherry for the French. First, Ribery cuts back on the left of the box and chips the ball to the far post where Nasri's volley is blocked. He then passes the rebound back to Pogba on the edge of the area, but he can only bounce his strike wide of the left post.
GOAL! France 1-0 Finland (Franck Ribery)
What a goal this is from Ribery. The Bayern Munich man is in the form of life and he has come up with a pearler to put France ahead. He goes on a mazy run down the left, before shifting the ball onto his right foot and firing an unstoppable effort off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net. No chance for Maenpaa.
France are still dictating the play and really seem in the mood tonight. It could be a long evening for Finland at this rate.
Finland are playing quite defensively which is just allowing France to attack in numbers. Both Evra and Debuchy are getting forward a lot early on.
CLOSE! France come forward once more and this time it is Debuchy who pops up on the right. He gets to ping his shot away, but only into the side-netting.
SAVE! France nearly double their lead after Ribery crosses from the left into the box. It's over the head of Giroud, but the tiny Valbuena manages to make connection to the ball and gets it on target, but Maenpaa can hold onto it.
Abidal has a go at goal from range but the shot is lacking power and drags along the floor into the arms of Maenpaa.
SAVE! First real attack of the game for Finland, as Hamalainen runs onto a lovely through ball and takes it into the box. He tries to slot it past Lloris, but the skipper can make the block with his legs.
Fantastic challenge from Evra from behind in the box to hook the ball away, as Finland came forward in numbers.
Finland have settled now and are growing into the game. France still edging it at the moment though.
SCORE UPDATE: Spain have just taken the lead against Georgia, Negredo with the goal.
Finland have a chance as the corner finds its way to the edge of the box where Ring meets it on the half-volley, but the effort spins over.
Loic Remy has been told to warm-up, Nasri looks like he is feelings the effects of a tackle.
Finland are looking dangerous here. Hamalainen whips in a low cross which flies through the area and is headed behind by Evra.
France are back on the attack and pushing for a second, it would be a great time for them to get it as well as the away side are starting to pile on the pressure.
CHANCE! Opportunity for the hosts as Evra and Ribery link up nicely before setting up Valbuena, but he side-foots his effort over the bar.
SAVE! What a brilliant stop this is by Maenpaa to deny Giroud. The Arsenal man gets to a low cross first from the edge of the six-yard box and touches it towards goal with power, but somehow the Finland stopper can push the ball over the bar with his knees.
France are finishing this half the stronger team, but it looks as if they will only head into the break with a 1-0 lead.
We will have two minutes added time.
HALF TIME: France 1-0 Finland
So the French lead at the break in what has been a very decent opening 45 minutes.
Franck Ribery's awesome goal separates the two sides, but Finland have had chances. France though, should be further ahead.
The teams are on their way back out.
KICK OFF! The match is back underway.
YELLOW CARD Debuchy picks up the first booking of the match for a late tackle on Hetemaj.
CLOSE! Finland are just inches away from finding a leveller. Hamalainen flicks a clever little pass into the right side of the box to Pukki, but he drags his shot across goal and wide of the far post.
France continue to work their way into the Finland box, but the away side are standing strong at the back for now. The French having trouble breaking them down.
Both sides are still battling hard, but the defenders are coming out on top at the moment. No real chances for either side in this half so far, apart from that Pukki effort.
Ribery goes down under a challenge in the box demands a penalty. Nothing is given.
Nasri personifies the start to the second half. He goes on a lovely dribble and makes his way into the box, but is unable to get a shot at goal away.
YELLOW CARD Evra goes into the book for dragging down his marker.
SCORE UPDATE Juan Mata has just doubled Spain's lead over Georgia. France are going to have to settle for the playoffs barring any kind of world-shaking event.
FINLAND CHANGE Toivio is coming on in place of the captain, Teemu Tainio.
France have absolutely dominated the possession over the past 15 minutes, but have still failed to mount a chance at goal.
Olivier Giroud is passed the ball on the right edge of the box and thinks 'why not', before hitting his effort over the bar. That's why Olivier.
FRANCE CHANGES This is a double swap that will interest Newcastle fans as Remy and Cabaye are brought on in place of Nasri and Matuidi.
Valbuena whips in a corner from the right, but Koscielny heads over.
YELLOW CARD Ring goes into the book for chopping down Ribery from behind.
GOAL! France 2-0 Finland (Joona Toivio own goal)
That should do it, France have their second. The cross comes in from the right and Olivier Giroud meets it with a header at the far post. The keeper is beaten and it looks to be heading for the back of the net, but Toivio slams it in his own goal as he tried to clear it.
OFF THE POST! Remy comes fractions away from adding a third as he rises highest to win a header from just inside, but he lets out a shout of frustration as it comes back off the frame of the goal.
FINLAND CHANGE Hamalainen is replaced by Riski. Finland are taking chances...
Looks as if Karim Benzema is about to come on for France.
FRANCE CHANGE Giroud is the man to make way, as Benzema completes the like-for-like change.
MISS! Yohan Cabaye is gutted. Evra beats three men down the left and pulls back a great pass on the edge of the box, but the Newcastle man side-foots wide of the near post.
FINLAND CHANGE Pukki is off, Furuholm his replacement.
GOAL! France 3-0 Finland (Karim Benzema)
Game, set and match. Ribery jinks his way down the left before dinking a little cross to the near post, where Benzema rifles it into the top corner from the near post.
We will have three minutes of added time.
FULL TIME: France 3-0 Finland
So France will have to go through a two-legged playoff if they are to jet out to Brazil next summer. They did all they could tonight, but Spain's win over Georgia means that Les Bleus are forced to settle for second in Group I.
That's it from me. I hope you've enjoyed the coverage. Until next time, goodnight.
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