The Netherlands finally scored under new manager Frank de Boer as they held Italy to a 1-1 Nations League draw in Bergamo.
Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek slammed in a loose ball to end a drought of 323 minutes under the former Crystal Palace boss.
Winger Lorenzo Pellegrini had put Italy ahead after a fine pass from Nicolo Barella.
Both sides have been leapfrogged in Group A1 by Poland.
Lazio striker Ciro Immobile and Lyon forward Memphis Depay traded second-half chances but neither side could find a way through.
Poland’s comfortable 3-0 win at home to Bosnia-Herzegovina, with Robert Lewandowski scoring twice, has put them in charge of the group, with only the winners heading to next year’s finals.
Kylian Mbappe scored the winner as France kept up their unbeaten Nations League record by beating Croatia in a repeat of the 2018 World Cup final.
Mbappe converted his 16th international goal with 11 minutes remaining from Lucas Digne’s brilliant cross.
Antoine Griezmann had crashed in the opener via the underside of the bar after eight minutes.
Ex-Everton midfielder Nikola Vlasic poked in an equaliser in the Group A3 match, before Mbappe struck.
Croatia should have found another equaliser in injury time but ex-Leicester striker Andrej Kramaric scuffed a shot straight at Hugo Lloris from inside the box.
Manchester United forward Anthony Martial somehow side-footed wide from six yards out for France, while Ivan Perisic curled a free-kick narrowly over.
In Lisbon, Defending champions Portugal remained top of Nations League Group A3 with a 3-0 win over Sweden, who are staring at relegation after losing all four games.
The European champions were without Cristiano Ronaldo, who is in isolation after testing positive for Covid-19.
Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva opened the scoring and Liverpool forward Diogo Jota netted in each half for the hosts in Lisbon.
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski continued his incredible goalscoring form with two goals in his side’s victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The 3-0 win saw Poland move ahead of Italy and the Netherlands to top Nations League Group A1.
Lewandowski now has a record 63 goals for his country, and scored 55 goals in 47 games last season as Bayern won the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup.
He has scored 100 goals in his last 99 games for Bayern in all competitions, and now has eight in his last 10 internationals.
The striker, 32, was fouled early on when in on goal by Anel Ahmedhodzic, who was sent off, and from that moment the visitors’ task looked thankless.
Lewandowski had already hit the post when he rifled in the opener from the edge of the area and he then picked out midfielder Karol Linetty to head the second.
The former Borussia Dortmund striker made it three when he sidefooted home a cross from Leeds midfielder Mateusz Klich.
After Italy drew with the Dutch in Bergamo, the three points took Poland top. Only the group winners progress to next year’s finals.
Poland have two games left – Italy away and the Netherlands at home.