Netherlands v Austria LIVE: Result and analysis as Dutch finish third and could face England after defeat

If this was supposed to be the group of death, no one told Austria. Ralf Rangnick’s endearing underdogs have reshaped the draw, and perhaps the destiny, of Euro 2024 by topping it. They beat Netherlands. More than that, though, they blitzed them; fearless and ferocious, Austria recovered from conceding two equalisers to condemn the Dutch to defeat courtesy of Marcel Sabitzer’s terrific finish.

They head to Leipzig as group winners. Netherlands, their qualification already assured, nonetheless stumbled from first to third on an eventful afternoon. It is Gelsenkirchen for them.

If Rangnick’s men still needed France to slip up to leapfrog them, and they did, theirs is a historic feat. Not since the 1978 World Cup, when Hans Krankl’s goals ensured they finished above Brazil, have Austria won a group in tournament football.

Now players such as the superb Sabitzer and the unheralded Romano Schmid have a similar feat to their name. Rangnick has another triumph for his blueprint: all-action football has been allied with the ability to respond to setbacks.

Attention now turns to England’s final game of Group C, as they face Slovenia.

You can follow all the action below, courtesy of The Independent’s live blog.

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Linked below are the further permutations for the other groups, including Group C, which finishes tonight.

Gareth Southgate’s side are through to the last-16 with a game to spare, as four points now confirms that England will finish as one of the four best third-placed teams even if they lose to Slovenia. England will top the group if they beat Slovenia. If England draw, Denmark would have the chance to leapfrog them on goal difference if they beat Serbia. Slovenia and Denmark can both finish above England but Serbia cannot due to the head-to-head.

With the conclusion of Group D, we now know were Austria and France will play in the last 16.

France will play the second-placed side from Group E (which could be any of Belgium, Slovakia, Ukraine or Romania) in Dusseldorf on 1 July.

Austria will face the second-placed team from Group F on 2 July in Leipzig. That could be any of Turkey, Czech Republic or Georgia.

The Netherlands will have to wait to confirm their place in the last 16 and their opponents.

Here’s how it ends in Group D then.

1 - Austria - 6 points, GD +2

2 - France - 5 points, GD +1

3 - Netherlands - 4 points, GD 0

4 - Poland - 1 point, GD -3

A whirlwind evening ends with a crazy finish to Group D. Pre-tournnament favourites France go through in second after three unconvincing performances, with Austria earning their billing as pre-tournament ‘dark horses’ with a first-place finish.

The Netherlands creep through in third after three of their own unconvincing performances, and they could be facing England in the next round...

The referee brings an enthralling encounter to an end, and Austria have taken first place in Group D!

A pulsating game ends 3-2 to Austria, with some brilliant play from Ralf Rangnick’s side.

France go through in second, and the Netherlands will likely be through in third.

97 mins

Austria clear and Sabitzer collects near halfway, but he can’t avoid ceding possession. Austria win it back though, and Sabitzer and Baumgartner are in the corner...

95 mins

We’re almost past the allotted amount of added time, though there’ll be some extra no doubt. Virgil van Dijk launches a long ball forward to Weghorst, but he doesn’t have the pace to get on the end of it.