Germany missed the opportunity to go two points clear at the top of Group D after being held to a 1-1 draw by Cyprus in their Euro 2008 qualifying clash in Nicosia.
Michael Ballack's free-kick put Germany ahead before Yiannakis Okkas equalised for the home side just before half-time to ensure Germany only move level on points with the Czech Republic.
Germany coach Joachim Low, who was without a number of key players for the clash, gave goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand a rare chance to impress after Jens Lehmann had pulled out of the squad earlier in the week with flu.
Werder Bremen's Clemens Fritz was also selected in midfield as inspirational captain Ballack won his 75th cap.
Cyprus' Stelios Okkarides was named on the substitutes' bench after failing to fully recover from his knee injury.
Both sides failed to create any goalscoring opportunities in a nervy start to the encounter, before the game sprung to life in the 16th minute when Ballack spectacularly fired home a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area.
Germany continued to push forward and striker Miroslav Klose's effort from inside the penalty area forced a good save from Cyprus goalkeeper Antonis Georgallides.
But, against the run of play, the home side drew level two minutes before the interval.
Okkas drilled into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area after Stathis Aloneftis' pass.
Bastian Schweinsteiger's 18-yard free-kick was then comfortably saved by Georgallides as the sides went into the interval level.
Both teams started the second half quietly, but Germany came close to restoring their lead in the 54th minute when Schweinsteiger's excellent corner was headed wide by the lively Ballack.
Klose fired straight into the arms of Georgallides from inside the penalty area after David Odonkor's cross, before Stathis Aloneftis missed a good chance to give the hosts a surprise lead when he blasted wide from the centre of the penalty area.
Philip Lahm's excellent free-kick was then headed wide by Klose, before Ballack missed an even better opportunity when he also headed wide from close range after Lahm's corner.
And Schweinsteiger blasted over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area in the 74th minute as Germany continued to dominate the proceedings.
Ballack then missed another chance to secure all three points in the dying moments when he headed straight at Georgallides from close range after substitute Thomas Hitzlsperger's free-kick.
