Germany beat Finland 2-0 in a low-key friendly in Moenchengladbach last night which marked the final game in a Germany shirt for Bastian Schweinsteiger.
The Manchester United midfielder played 67 minutes of a game designating his testimonial before leaving the field to a standing ovation after picking up the 121st and last cap of his career.
Max Meyer and a Paulus Arajuuri own goal ensured the final scoreline in front of just over 30,000 fans with the world champions unable to make most of their chances and just going through the motions at times.
They will be in a more serious mood at the weekend, though, when they travel to Norway for their first 2018 World Cup qualifier.
All eyes were on Schweinsteiger as he wiped away the tears when presented with flowers after leading Germany out for the last time.
Meyer and Mario Goetze tried to steal the show, though, with some excellent combinations creating several opportunities for the hosts, although neither were able to supply a finish.
Robbie Keane also bowed out of international football having taking his record goal tally to 68 as the Republic of Ireland trounced Oman 4-0 at home, last night.
The 36-year-old drew level with German great Gerd Mueller with a 30th-minute volley which rekindled memories of potency during an 18-year Ireland career which is now over after 146 appearances.
Keane played for 57 minutes and was afforded a fitting send-off when he headed for the touchline to a standing ovation to signal the end of a remarkable era.
His contribution was sandwiched between equally note-worthy performances from Robbie Brady, who fired Martin O’Neill’s men into an eighth-minute lead from a sweet free-kick, and Jonathan Walters, who struck either side of the break to remind the nation of his ability to find the back of the net.
Replacing Keane is a task which O’Neill has had to contemplate during the twilight of the LA Galaxy frontman’s career, when he has started less regularly, but as a new campaign looms he now has little choice but to find a solution.
Keane was clearly emotional as he walked out ahead of his team-mates with sons Hudson and Robert to be greeted by a relatively sparse, but enthusiastic crowd.
Also yesterday, the long road to hosting the 2018 World Cup got off to an inauspicious start for Russia as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Turkey in the holiday resort city of Antalya.
A friendly between the countries would have been unthinkable a month ago, with relations having soured since November after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian border.
However, a meeting between Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Russia’s Vladimir Putin led to a thawing of relations.
Friendlies Results
Albania 0 Morocco 0
Czech Rep. 3 Armenia 0
Krejci 4
Kadlec 34; Kopic 86
Denmark 5 Liechtenstein 0
Joergensen 30, 33
Cornelius 49
Fischer 62; Larsen 84
Germany 2 Finland 0
Meyer 55
Arajuuri 77og
Ireland 4 Oman 0
Brady 8; Keane 30
Walters 34, 63
Norway 0 Belarus 1
Krivets 56
Turkey 0 Russia 0